I RECOMMEND: The YouTube Channel of Leonard French, the Copyright Attorney

Though it may not seem it, the more interesting aspects of YouTube lie not in pure video creation, but in the nuts and bolts of the process. There's making sure you're uploading the video in the right format so that time is saved on the upload, being sure you have all of the proper annotations you may need, working on the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to make sure the tags you apply to the video appear within the first few web searches, as well as applying captions (possibly in multiple languages). Most important, though, are matters of copyright.

Hold on, don't fall asleep yet. I promise, it's far more interesting than you may think.

In my time messing about on YouTube (something I've briefly mentioned here) I've seen a great many issues spring up around copyright and the production of videos. A number of content creators have had run-ins with various individuals claiming that said creators infringed upon some of their material. If not infringement, then possible slander/libel (notable examples include James Stanton aka Jim Sterling VS Digital Homicide, H3H3 aka Ethan and Hila Klein VS Matt Hoss). More often than not, the stakes for these content creators facing legal action are high, as the legal costs alone can bankrupt smaller creators well before any negative verdicts may fall upon them. Considering all of this, it's worthwhile for any content creator to be well aware of the in's-and-out's of copyright issues.

Thankfully, Leonard French's channel exists. While initial consisting of videos of his dog, Cato, eating watermelon, or or a bus slowly destroying a parked BMW's mirrors, he eventually changed his channel from a more private one to more of a public service. Drawing upon his expertise as a lawyer, he began to make videos pertaining to copyright issues on YouTube. Frankly, I think they're all pretty informative, and while not supremely comprehensive on the topic (I don't think he would ever claim they are), they certainly are well-made starting points for those looking to become involved with content creation on YouTube.

The simple fact is that a great deal of copyright law is a bit labyrinthine, and most of us know next to nothing about it. That fact makes the existence of resources like Leonard's channel immensely valuable. If you have even a passing interest in getting involved with content creation on YouTube, I highly advise you to pay a visit to Leonard French's channel.