Member Avatar for darkslide

Hello :)
I was just surfing this forum and i want to thank you, because it really helped me.
Also, i find the sections of the site very useful. Thank you! :)

I've recently started a website that embeds youtube videos, and i have a question.
From what you wrote in the article, i understood that it is ok to embed a video as long
as the person who uploaded it, is his legal owner. And that i should avoid videos that could have been uploaded illegaly on youtube.

Now, my website uses Youtube API, which returns videos directly from youtube.
So, i can't know which videos violate someone's rights and actually delete them, unless they are removed from youtube first.
I am planing to put a REPORT button on every video, that will have a redirect to youtube's copyright reporting sistem.

My website has at the moment a collection over 30,000 videos.
There are plenty of websites that also use YouTube API.
Should i be worried? What do you think?

  • 6 Contributors
  • 5 Replies
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  • 1 Week Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by Azmah

Dani AI

Generated

Short answer: embedding YouTube players via the official API/iframe is exactly the workflow most sites use, and YouTube both supplies the player HTML and enforces copyright takedowns — so many of the replies above (for example , and ) are factually correct, but the position is not risk‑free because courts and jurisdictions differ on whether embedding can ever amount to infringement. (developers.google.com)

Technical clarifications useful to ’s situation: the YouTube Data API returns a video’s embeddable/privacy/upload status (the status.embeddable, status.privacyStatus and status.uploadStatus fields) and also supplies player.embedHtml for a ready iframe. Polling those fields (or calling videos.list?part=status,player&id=...) and removing records that become unembeddable or deleted keeps the site in sync with YouTube. Note also that content owners (and enterprise Content Manager users) can disable or restrict embedding. (developers.google.com)

A few legal/policy points that add nuance to and ’s answers: follow the YouTube API Services Terms (branding, not modifying the player, quota/usage rules, no hosting or caching the video stream), and if the site wants safe‑harbor protection under U.S. law it should implement a DMCA notice-and‑takedown process and register a designated agent with the U.S. Copyright Office. False takedown claims can carry penalties, so enforce a clear workflow. (developers.google.com)

Practical checklist (short):

  • Filter API results for embeddable/public videos and store the videoId only.
  • Periodically re-check status and remove broken/unplayable players.
  • Add a “Report” flow that links to YouTube’s copyright form (or points claimants to copyright@youtube.com) and keep records of any reports.
  • Publish site DMCA contact info and a repeat‑infringer policy; consider legal review if the site is monetized or large. ()

Example API call (quick reference):

GET https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/videos?part=status,player&id=VIDEO_ID&key=API_KEY

These steps preserve the practical benefits of embedding while addressing the policy and legal points raised in the thread.

Recommended Answers

All 5 Replies

Member Avatar for twiss

I think you should not be worried. If someone has a copyright on a youtube video, he'll go to youtube, not your site. If the video is removed by youtube, it won't play on your site, too.

Member Avatar for pixelsoul

I second that comment by twiss. You are not responsible for the content on YouTube and nothing can happen to you for embedding a video on your site that is hosted through YouTube.

Member Avatar for RoyalElite96

Yes, I agree and BTW if people are not willing to allow their content on other sites they can change that under their settings. So if the embed feature is enabled you shouldn't worry about that all.

Member Avatar for Sogo7

Because the videos are embedded and therefore not uploaded to, or stored on your site then the buck stops with you-tube.

Member Avatar for Azmah

The law really depends on what country you're in and possibly the creator.

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