How to Avoid Google AdSense “Copyrighted Content” Rejections?

One of the most common Google AdSense rejections has to do with its copyright clause. In fact, you may have been turned away from Google’s AdSense program without even realizing you were in violation of their copyright clause. “After all,” you think, “I’m not distributed pirated content! What’s the deal with this rejection?!”

To clear up some confusion about copyright violations with Google AdSense, Google has produced a short minute-and-a-half long video. It’s a fun, animated clip intended to illustrate the three most common reasons for receiving a copyright violation. Take a look at it if you’ve ever had any questions about Google’s reasons for rejecting based on copyright grounds.

According to the video, the three most common reasons for AdSense rejection based on copyright are: distributing copyrighted content, displaying other peoples’ content with frames, and linking to copyright-violating sites. Let’s explore these three in greater detail.

Distributing copyrighted content

Let’s get the most obvious one out of the way: don’t even think about distributing copyrighted content if you want to run Google AdSense or Ad Exchange on your site. This includes repurposing others’ articles, hosting copyrighted music, or distributing copyrighted ebooks. A good rule of thumb: if you don’t have the legal right to sell something, then you don’t have the legal right to run ads on it or monetize it using Google’s product. Google wants to maintain the value of its ad products, and if they allow people to run ads next to copyrighted content, then they’ll fail at this mission.

If you want to run Google AdSense ads on your site, then you should first remove all copyrighted content from your site.

Framing others’ content

If you put a frame around other people’s content and then tried to put your own Google ads around their content, then you are engaging in an activity that’s aptly called “framing”. While this is certainly less subtle and obvious than explicitly slapping others’ content right on your servers, it’s still not allowed, and Google will notice. If you link to a YouTube video, make sure you are properly embedding it — and that you have a right to embed it on your site at all.

Linking to sites that violate copyright law

Did you know that you can even be turned away from AdSense if you only link to sites that violate copyright? Many don’t. Some sites are obvious about linking to copyrighted content, acting as mini search engines intended to help find copyrighted content. Many other webmasters, however, unintentionally violate this rule. Carefully consider each site that you link to. These outbound links could affect your site’s reputation and stand among ad networks like Google AdSense.

Just double-check all of these points and you’ll successfully avoid this type of rejection. And if you are in violation of these conditions and have been turned away from AdSense, just fix the mistake and reapply. AdSense and Ad Exchange can be lucrative monetization tools; don’t blow it just because you’ve accidentally linked to a copyright-violating piracy site.

Explore Content Monitoring Tools

To prevent copyrighted content rejections and ensure compliance with Google AdSense policies, it’s crucial to have a robust content monitoring system in place. Content monitoring tools can help you identify and address any instances of copyrighted material on your website. Here are some top content monitoring tools that can assist you in avoiding copyright issues:

1. Copyscape: Copyscape is a widely recognized plagiarism detection tool. It allows you to enter a URL or upload content to check for duplicate content across the web. By regularly scanning your website’s content, you can identify any potential copyright infringements and take necessary action.
2. Grammarly: While primarily known as a grammar and writing assistance tool, Grammarly also includes a plagiarism checker feature. It can help you identify instances where your content matches existing content online, enabling you to ensure your content is original and free from copyright concerns.
3. Copyright Clearance Center: The Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) offers a range of content licensing solutions and tools to manage copyright permissions. Their services help you obtain proper licenses and permissions for using copyrighted materials, ensuring compliance with legal requirements.
4. iCopyright: iCopyright provides a comprehensive suite of tools for content protection and licensing. It enables you to control how your content is shared and used while monitoring for any unauthorized use or copyright infringement. With iCopyright, you can automate permissions and streamline the process of granting licenses to others.
5. Plagscan: Plagscan is a plagiarism detection software used by educators, publishers, and businesses. It checks your content against a vast database of sources to identify any potential instances of plagiarism or copyright violations. Regularly scanning your website’s content with Plagscan can help you maintain originality and avoid copyright issues.
6. DMCA.com: DMCA.com offers a range of services to protect your website’s content from copyright infringement. They provide a content protection badge, automated copyright takedown services, and advanced monitoring tools. With DMCA.com, you can actively monitor and address instances of copyright infringement to safeguard your website’s content.

By implementing a content monitoring tool and regularly scanning your website’s content, you can proactively identify and address any potential copyright violations, ensuring a safe and compliant environment for Google AdSense and other advertising platforms.

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Aleesha Jacob

With over seven years at the forefront of programmatic advertising, Aleesha is a renowned Ad-Tech expert, blending innovative strategies with cutting-edge technology. Her insights have reshaped programmatic advertising, leading to groundbreaking campaigns and 10X ROI increases for publishers and global brands. She believes in setting new standards in dynamic ad targeting and optimization.