YouTube has introduced new rules for fan channels, with which the platform wants to prevent channels that copy videos from other channels. From August, fan channels must, among other things, label themselves as a fan account.
Under the new rules, fan users must indicate in their channel name and handle that they are a fan, writes YouTube. So they can’t use the same name and avatar as another account, or use spaces and alternate characters like a 0 instead of an o to pretend to be another account. Fan accounts are also not allowed to simply re-upload content from another channel.
YouTube says the rules protect channels and users, including by preventing an account’s name from being misused for other purposes, while making it clearer to fan accounts “how they can celebrate their favorite creators.” The new rules come into effect on August 21.