Why is Facebook blocking my video with music?

There are a few potential reasons why Facebook may be blocking your video that contains music:

Copyright Infringement

The most common reason videos with music get blocked on Facebook is due to copyright infringement. If you are using a popular song in your video without permission from the artist and record label, Facebook’s automated copyright detection system will likely flag your video and block it from being viewed.

Facebook has deals with many major music labels and publishers to allow their songs to be used in videos. However, there are still many songs that are not covered by these deals. If you use one of those songs without permission, your video will get blocked.

To avoid copyright problems, only use music in your videos that you have licensed directly or that is in the public domain. Royalty-free music libraries are a good option for legally using music without issues.

Third-Party Claims

In some cases, a third-party company may file a copyright claim against your video even if you have rights to use the music. This can happen if:

The company falsely believes your video infringes their copyright

There is a dispute over who owns the rights to the music
The music is licensed but the terms were violated (e.g. monetizing a video with a non-commercial license)

If you receive a third-party claim but believe your video follows proper copyright rules, you can dispute the claim through Facebook’s right management system. Provide information that shows your rights to the content, and the claim may get retracted after review.

Accidental Flagging

In rare cases, Facebook’s automated systems may accidentally flag your video even when no copyright infringement exists. This can happen if:

The music sounds similar to a copyrighted song
Information about the song is inaccurate or missing in Facebook’s database

There are flaws in the automated detection system

If you’re certain your video is 100% original and authorized, submit an appeal to Facebook. Explain the situation and provide evidence that backs up your claims. Mistaken flags do happen on occasion, and appeals help improve the automated systems.

Restrictions in Specific Countries

In some countries, there are greater restrictions on using copyrighted music without authorization. For example, in Germany, rights holders can demand large fees if their music is used without permission.

So your video may be fine worldwide except for being blocked in Germany or a few other specific countries. Check if your video is just blocked in certain regions due to local music laws.

How to Avoid Music Blocks

Here are some tips to help avoid getting your Facebook videos with music blocked:

Use music from free libraries like Free Music Archive and Bensound that explicitly allow reuse

Buy royalty-free music licenses from sites like AudioJungle and Soundstripe
Use music under Creative Commons licenses that allow commercial reuse
Edit songs to create unique covers/remixes

Commission a composer to create original music for your videos
Dispute invalid copyright claims through Facebook’s tools

With the right music licenses or original compositions, you can include great tunes in your videos without copyright issues. Just be cautious when repurposing popular songs without permission.

What happens when your video is blocked?

Here’s what happens when Facebook blocks a video due to copyright or licensing issues:

The video will be taken down and inaccessible to viewers
You will get a notification explaining why the video was blocked

The video won’t be deleted, but will remain blocked until the issues are resolved
You have the option to dispute the block if you believe it was a mistake
If the block stands, you will get a “copyright strike” on your account

Multiple strikes can lead to penalties like being banned from posting videos

So it’s in your best interest to resolve any blocks quickly, either by editing the video or disputing invalid claims. This will minimize disruptions to your account.

Does Facebook notify followers when a video is blocked?

No, Facebook does not directly notify your followers when one of your videos gets blocked. However, there are a couple of ways your fans may realize a video is no longer available:

They will see the video is “unavailable” if they try to view it
The video will disappear from your profile and Page video lineup
Your follower count on the video will freeze as no new views can happen

But followers who didn’t try watching the blocked video could easily miss that it’s gone. So indirect signals like frozen view counts are the only way for them to tell.

If a popular video of yours gets blocked, it’s a good idea to post a replacement with a short explanation. That way fans aren’t left wondering what happened to that great video they wanted to see again.

Can you edit a blocked video and repost it?

Yes, in many cases you can edit a blocked Facebook video to resolve the issues and then repost it. Here are some examples of edits that may allow a blocked video to be restored:

Removing or replacing copyrighted music
Trimming out short music clips that triggered blocks
Adding proper attributions if claims were about lacking credits

Blurring logos or artwork if claimed to be infringing
Adding written explanations if claims were false positives

Minor tweaks like these can often fix otherwise great videos with small, fixable issues. The key is addressing whatever caused the specific block – copyright claims, trademark issues,missing credits, etc.

However, if the entire premise of your video goes against Facebook’s rules, editing may not be enough. Blocks due to hate speech, nudity, dangerous acts, and other community standards violations typically require starting over with new, policy-compliant concepts.

Can you delete and re-upload a blocked video?

Deleting and re-uploading an identical blocked video will likely result in it getting blocked again. Facebook’s systems will detect it is the same video file.

However, you may be able to re-upload a video after editing it to resolve the issues that triggered the block. For example:

Editing out copyrighted content
Removing segments flagged for policy violations
Anonymizing faces if privacy claims were raised

Make substantive edits, change the file itself, and provide explanatory info upon re-upload to have the best chance of getting a blocked video restored. But the same exact file will often get blocked again even if deleted and re-uploaded.

Can you get your Facebook account terminated for posting blocked videos?

Yes, it’s possible to get your entire Facebook account terminated if you repeatedly post videos that get blocked for serious violations.

Examples of offenses that could lead to account termination include:

Posting pirated movies and music
Sharing pornographic or sexually explicit content
Including hate speech, harassment, or bullying

Threatening violence in videos

Issues like copyright and privacy complaints generally won’t get you banned outright. But violations of Facebook’s community standards in multiple videos can result in your account being disabled.

To avoid termination, ensure all the videos you upload comply with Facebook’s rules. Edit or remove any problematic videos immediately when notified they’ve been blocked.

What happens when your account is terminated for blocked videos?

If Facebook terminates your account due to repeated violations in blocked videos, here’s what happens:

You will no longer be able to access your Facebook account
All your content including posts, photos, videos will be deleted

You will not be allowed to create a new Facebook account
Any Pages you administered will be removed or transferred to others
You lose access to any Facebook services and tools you used

So account termination has severe consequences. It essentially erases your entire presence on Facebook with no route to get it back.

Avoid account deletion by playing by Facebook’s rules. Remove any problematic content before it leads to serious violations. And contest questionable blocks before they accumulate into account-level actions.

How long does a Facebook video block last?

The duration of Facebook video blocks depends on the specific reason for the block:

Copyright claim blocks – Usually last until the claim is retracted or resolved through Facebook’s dispute process.
Community standards blocks – Can last from 24 hours to permanent, depending on severity and number of violations.
Privacy complaint blocks – Typically last until edited to resolve the privacy issues cited.

Country-specific blocks – Remain in place just for the countries with restrictions, indefinitely.
Mistaken blocks – Get lifted upon successful appeal to Facebook.

Blocks tied to policy violations tend to last longer as penalties for going against Facebook’s rules. Copyright issues get resolved more quickly when properly disputed.

The fastest resolution is to address the causes of blocks through editing, documentation, or compliant re-uploads. That avoids drawn-out appeal processes.

Should you delete a blocked video from Facebook?

There are pros and cons to deleting versus leaving up a blocked Facebook video:

Pros of Deleting	Cons of Deleting
– Removes violations from your account	– Loses original engagement and comments
– Frees up video quota space	– Followers wonder where it went
– Avoids further strikes if severe	– Harder to edit and repost video

In most cases, leaving blocked videos up but hidden from view poses little downside. Copyright issues in particular are safest to keep on file in case disputes arise.

But if violations are severe, deletion helps clean the slate. Video can always be re-edited and re-uploaded if needed.

Does Facebook send warnings before blocking videos?

Facebook does not directly warn users before blocking a video for the first time. The first notification comes after the block occurs via:

An on-screen message when trying to view the video

A notice in Video Publishing Tools explaining the block
An email detailing why the video was removed

However, Facebook does provide general publishing guidelines to try avoiding blocks in the first place. And multiple blocks on an account can lead to warnings that future violations may get penalties.

Unfortunately though, the first block on a specific video will come without warning. Only editing guidelines and block dispute tools can be leveraged after that initial surprise block.

Can you request a manual review of a blocked video?

Yes, after a video is blocked on Facebook, you can request a manual review through these steps:

Click “Request Review” on the block notification

Select the reason you are requesting review
Provide additional details defending your video
Confirm your account information

Submit the request and await human review

Manual reviews assess borderline judgment calls that automated systems can’t reliably make. Explain why your video should be reinstated under Facebook’s rules and exceptions.

Note that only one review request is allowed per block. So make your case clearly the first time before a final decision is made.

Should you dispute Facebook video blocks immediately?

It’s usually best to dispute a Facebook video block immediately after receiving notification. Benefits of disputing right away:

The block is fresh so details are easy to recall
Quick action limits lost views and followers

Any strikes against your account are removed faster
Ongoing policy violations can be halted sooner

However, if you need time to prepare a proper dispute, collect documentation, or edit the video, a short delay is fine. Just be sure to dispute within Facebook’s time limit – usually just a few days.

Prioritizing swift dispute submission optimizes your chances of getting the block removed quickly with minimal impact.

Why are some songs blocked on Facebook but not others?

There are a few reasons why some songs get blocked on Facebook when used in videos, while other songs avoid blocks:

Licensing agreements – Facebook has deals with certain labels/publishers but not all.
Publisher disputes – Multiple claims over rights can lead to blocks.

Automatic detection – System flaws lead some songs to be flagged erroneously.
Song popularity – Blocks are more likely on widely recognized hit songs.
Publisher diligence – Some aggressively police usage, others ignore it.

Securing proper licensing, using less mainstream music, and avoiding disputed claims helps reduce chances of blocks. But inconsistencies still arise from tech limits, label policies, and licensing gaps.

Conclusion

Facebook video blocks due to music copyright issues can be frustrating, but are manageable. Using permitted music sources, editing to comply with rules, and swiftly disputing invalid claims reduces disruption.

Exercising caution and diligence when incorporating music into videos minimizes surprise takedowns. But engaging properly with Facebook’s dispute process gets legitimate content restored.

With the right music choices and prompt compliance practices, Facebook video blocks don’t have to halt your streaming aspirations and social engagement.