YouTube can place ads on your videos and charge viewers to access your content, and you have no right to any share of that money under these terms unless you have a separate agreement like the YouTube Partner Program.
This analysis describes what YouTube Ads's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This clause establishes that YouTube's default position is to monetize user content without compensation, making the YouTube Partner Program the only contractual path to revenue sharing for creators.
Creators who upload content without a separate monetization agreement receive no revenue from ads placed on their videos, and payments under partner agreements are reclassified as royalties subject to potential tax withholding.
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"You grant to YouTube the right to monetize your Content on the Service (and such monetization may include displaying ads on or within Content or charging users a fee for access). This Agreement does not entitle you to any payments. Starting June 1, 2021, any payments you may be entitled to receive from YouTube under any other agreement between you and YouTube (including for example payments under the YouTube Partner Program, Channel memberships or Super Chat) will be treated as royalties. If required by law, Google will withhold taxes from such payments.Excerpt from YouTube Ads's YouTube Terms of Service
(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The reclassification of creator payments as royalties has tax withholding implications under US Internal Revenue Code provisions governing royalty payments to foreign persons, particularly for international creators.
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This clause establishes that YouTube's default position is to monetize user content without compensation, making the YouTube Partner Program the only contractual path to revenue sharing for creators.
Creators who upload content without a separate monetization agreement receive no revenue from ads placed on their videos, and payments under partner agreements are reclassified as royalties subject to potential tax withholding.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 230 platforms. See the full comparison.
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