What are YouTube Content ID - Reference Overlaps

A "Reference Overlap" occurs when multiple content owners submit the same or similar reference files to the Content ID system. In such cases, the system will identify and notify the affected content owners about the overlap. The Content ID system will then present these content owners with options to manage the matching videos, such as:

It's important to note that the Content ID system is not infallible and may occasionally result in false positives or mismatches. Content creators who believe their videos have been incorrectly flagged can appeal the claim through YouTube's dispute resolution process.

Overall, YouTube's Content ID system is designed to strike a balance between protecting copyright owners' content and allowing fair use and transformative content creation on the platform.