Provision record
YouTube Ads · YouTube Terms of Service · View original document ↗

Worldwide Royalty-Free Content License to YouTube

Medium severity High confidence Explicit document language Common · 262 of 352 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

Uploading any content to YouTube grants YouTube a worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to reproduce, distribute, create derivative works from, display, and perform that content in connection with the Service and across the broader Alphabet corporate group.

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

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

This provision establishes that the content license is sublicensable and transferable, meaning YouTube may authorize third parties or Affiliates within the Alphabet group to exercise these rights without further consent from the uploader. The license scope extends to YouTube's successors and Affiliates, not solely to the YouTube platform itself.

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
5
Months Monitored
Apr 18, 2026
First Seen
May 22, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 1689 other provisions on other platforms.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

This provision requires that uploading content to the Service grants YouTube the right to use, reproduce, and create derivative works from that content across YouTube's business and its Affiliates without compensation to the uploader. The license is sublicensable and transferable, which the agreement states extends to YouTube's successors and Affiliates within the Alphabet corporate group.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
  • Delete Your Data
    Navigate to your YouTube channel, select the content you wish to remove, and delete it. The agreement states the license continues for a commercially reasonable period after removal.

How other platforms handle this

Mailchimp Medium

we may closely review accounts that offer the following services, products, or content: Online trading, day trading tips, and stock market related content

Leonardo AI Medium

Paid Subscribers can select whether Content is public or private.

Tinder Medium

If Your Content is prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction where our Services are available, we may remove it even if it is not illegal in your location.

See all platforms with this clause type →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
By providing Content to the Service, you grant to YouTube a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable and transferable license to use that Content (including to reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works, display and perform it) in connection with the Service and YouTube's (and its successors' and Affiliates') business, including for the purpose of promoting and redistributing part or all of the Service.

Excerpt from YouTube Ads's YouTube Terms of Service

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

1.

Insight

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Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.

Applicable agencies

  • Federal Trade Commission (ftc)
    Oversees unfair or deceptive business practices and can investigate companies that mislead consumers about data collection, sharing, or use.
    Who can file: Anyone affected by the company's practices (US or international)
    What you need: Your account details, a timeline of relevant events, and a description of the specific issue
    What to expect: Complaints inform FTC enforcement priorities and investigations but do not result in individual resolution or compensation
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
YouTube Terms of Service
Entity
YouTube Ads
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 21, 2026
Last verified
May 21, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-002750
Document ID
CA-D-00069
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
29a35f30aec4fcdd01e0e440c99cf919acfeef49e92424061d5b45ab92271a6b
Analysis generated
May 21, 2026 06:32 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: YouTube Ads
Document: YouTube Terms of Service
Record ID: CA-P-002750
Captured: 2026-05-21 06:32:48 UTC
SHA-256: 29a35f30aec4fcdd…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/youtube-ads/youtube-terms-of-service/provision/CA-P-002750/worldwide-royalty-free-content-license-to-youtube/
Accessed: Aug. 11, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does YouTube Ads's Worldwide Royalty-Free Content License to YouTube clause do?

This provision establishes that the content license is sublicensable and transferable, meaning YouTube may authorize third parties or Affiliates within the Alphabet group to exercise these rights without further consent from the uploader. The license scope extends to YouTube's successors and Affiliates, not solely to the YouTube platform itself.

How does this clause affect you?

This provision requires that uploading content to the Service grants YouTube the right to use, reproduce, and create derivative works from that content across YouTube's business and its Affiliates without compensation to the uploader. The license is sublicensable and transferable, which the agreement states extends to YouTube's successors and Affiliates within the Alphabet corporate group.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 262 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with YouTube Ads?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by YouTube Ads.