AdRev review: AdRev Steals Revenue from YouTube content publishers with false copyright claims
AdRev for a Third Party is allegedly some kind of content publisher that helps musicians find videos on YouTube that are ripping off their creative work, so that they can not only claim copyright, but earn ad revenue from those videos. As it turns out, AdRev is a copyright troll that deliberately posts false claims on YouTube videos it has no legal claim to, in order to get all revenue generated from those videos. It has been caught blatantly posting claims on public domain music, sound effects from video games, original compositions, and royalty free music. In fact, one of the biggest targets of AdRev are videos that use royalty free music or gameplay footage.
It makes sense why if you think about it. Many years ago, YouTubers were struck with copyright claims from legitimate corporations like WMG, Sony, etc. So they started turning to royalty free or public domain music to use as background music. Some genius realized that since big name companies would no longer be bothering YouTubers anymore, he could start claiming copyright on anything that Sony, WMG, or some other major corporation don't have a legal claim to.
No matter how many times content creators successfully file a dispute, AdRev keeps filing a new claim against the video, so this is why I'm posting this review. AdRev wants to keep playing games and stealing revenue from other people's work it has no basis to, so it's time to start publicly calling out this sham of a company for what it is. I am also hoping that a government official or lawyer will see this complaint and start taking legal action against this company.
17 comments
The same thing happened to me when I was trying to privately share updates on a TOP SECRET project for the future of Six Flags Great America with "Six Flags Entertainment Corp." and "Six Flags Great America, Inc." (Affiliate of "Six Flags Entertainment Corp")! AdRev Publishing (according to your complaint) is obviously a Fraudulent company (associated with only YouTube, and not the actual developers) making false claims on the copyrighted content (without the actual Copyright holder's consent)! This is highly illegal (since the company must make the discretion on whether to submit Copyright Claims or Content ID claims)! If AdRev Publishing doesn't change their Game Plan, and start discussing the situation with the actual Copyright holder, I may have to put the FBI on official notice (regarding this matter), as this may not continue (under U.S. Federal Law, as it is way too above it)! Overall, in the case of this particular complaint, I agree (in a way)! However…, the only thing I won't agree about is that these claims are happening because the Copyright holder is partnered with the AdRev Publishing Content ID system (which is YouTube Verified), so Copyright holders that need to address Copyright quickly (without having to find the video manually) can do so (without wasting too much time on their part)! For this reason, AdRev Publishing isn't a scam! In fact, here's a custom photo of all their partners to prove it!
The same thing happened to me when I was trying to privately share updates on a TOP SECRET project for the future of Six Flags Great America with "Six Flags Entertainment Corp." and "Six Flags Great America, Inc." (Affiliate of "Six Flags Entertainment Corp")! AdRev Publishing (according to your complaint) is obviously a Fraudulent company (associated with only YouTube, and not the actual developers) making false claims on the copyrighted content (without the actual Copyright holder's consent)! This is highly illegal (since the company must make the discretion on whether to submit Copyright Claims or Content ID claims)! If AdRev Publishing doesn't change their Game Plan, and start discussing the situation with the actual Copyright holder, I may have to put the FBI on official notice (regarding this matter), as this may not continue (under U.S. Federal Law, as it is way too above it)! Overall, in the case of this particular complaint, I agree (in a way)! However…, the only thing I won't agree about is that these claims are happening because the Copyright holder is partnered with the AdRev Publishing Content ID system (which is YouTube Verified), so Copyright holders that need to address Copyright quickly (without having to find the video manually) can do so (without wasting too much time on their part)! For this reason, AdRev publishing isn't a scam! In fact, here's a custom photo of all their partners to prove it!
When AdRev Publishing files a Content Id claim against one of your videos on YouTube, you won't know exactly which one it is, but it may be one of these. By the way, these images were ripped from AdRev Publishing's official site, so you don't need to memorize them anymore (due to the fact that they just fade in and out (4 slides all together). With this image, it makes it even easier to remember what was there, and therefore simply cannot be remembered by the human mind like that so easily!
I hope this information I looked up, and gathered, helps for anyone having questions about AdRev Publishing, and finds it extremely useful (compared to just viewing it on the official website)!
My Youtube channel has been targeted by AdRev recently. I've had three disputes which have been rejected. AdRev has a webpage where you can go to submit a request to remove the claims, which generally work, but the problem still exists-- I only use music that is cleared for YT and they continue to harass me despite this.
What we need is some sort of class action suit we can bring against them-- or failing that, I need a court order for them to STAY AWAY from my channel!
Adrev are rubbish from every point of view in my opinion. Bad customer support, unless they want something. Ive seen no earnings from them on my dashboard, yet my earnings according to youtube should of been £10. They're ripping me off. If your thinking of joining or even applying, DO NOT!
Just a warning for you!
They still haven't let me un-partner which I'm not sadly stuck with an ignore every single one of my disputes trying to leave their network. Guess I got myself into this and hopefully you guys don't end up in the same position! DO NOT APPLY!
The tipoff is they ask for a photo ID when you first sign up. That smacks of fishy and makes one suspicious enough to look online as to what others think of them. Glad I Googled them.
I really think that YouTube/Google and AdRev all works together, Why? YouTube believes in fact fraudulent AdRev with their false claims. YouTube knows what's going on but don't take care of us at all. They should AdRev stop their illegal claims but don't check anything. It would be gentle when they show us a thread. How long is this still going on? It cost us plenty of time to response all claims and looking back which music or sounds we've used. So now AdRev earn money with our vids and our music license. I've read that someone had such false claim in his video on the music that his little daughter played on her violin :-)
Theres so much talk here. But yet no one is taking any action. These are simply just complaints. Words without actions. There are so many people here. Literally get together. All of you. And sue this fraud company. Maybe by yourself you may be just person. But right here. There are so many 1 people! All of you should contact and work together to take this fraud to court!
They say "We pay you for your music vids." Why? Because the Grand Evil Entity known as GOOGLE doesn't? They're supposed to !
When is our government going to stand up to corporations like Google and Apple who are commiting vast crimes against artists and breaking copyright law? Oh, that's right ..Obama is too busy taking selfies and Ginsberg is passed out drunk.
WHEN IS THIS GOING TO END?! The music industry is currently like the Wild West! Who are these people saying "Just give us your music, we'll do the rest" That is amatuer, unprofessional and most likely criminal.
AdRev has constantly given me copyright notices for licensed songs that are in my video, and what's worse, they don't even have the right to monetize most of these songs. I have told them that if I can't monetize the content, they can't either, because they are giving a false claim, the song is up, protected with fair use laws. That song can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLq0e5NHa5U
When u contact them they want to see YOUR license? Where is THEIR license?
AdRev is a scam and they targeted one of my original songs I wrote 100% myself. They need to be shut down. What I create I own, not some fascist business.
any one earning with adrev monetized videos?
He knows about Google? Why did Google clears this scam? I believe that Google would erase this organization. Also, I noticed on my videos that the company adrev often claimed rights. And it's not official company? It's not only a wily hacker who managed to gain access to the content id? It would then Google should be resolved quickly. It's undoubtedly fraud if someone earning on someone else's work so the public should take action against this. Otherwise, it's the laundered fraud. Unjust enrichment, misrepresentation, loss of profits caused, and would have found so much more. There is no doubt that someone is committing fraud. Google consider to be the fairest society that I know. I can not believe that would cover or somehow participated in this fraud. Either does not know or company concerned adrev misled Google who thinks that everything is in order. I write about Google even though it should have done long ago a lot of people. But who knows, maybe it's about how we argue and Google about it does not know.
I made some college films years ago we had a cabinet full of royalty free music. I tried to upload these projects and guess what adrev comes after me for copyright what copyright? It is disgusting that a company can steal all your earnings on a video. music is only a 3rd of any video. one part music one part sound one part moving image or images. I can understand a percentage of the earnings but not the lot. I have also seen others comment on how adrev trys to steal your money. It is stealing lets face it can I sue them for stealing my copyright on my moving images then?
I wrote a song back in 2011 and it was never made public. I just tried to use it on Youtube 9 years later and Adrev is claiming copyright on the song. How the hell can they do that? What a scam!
Would you believe they claimed a YouTube copyright violation for my kid playing Chopin's Minute Waltz (on a private video link, no less)? Fred's been dead over 170 years. There should be legal penalties for this out-of-control automatic harassment.