Austech

Skyhooks guitarist Bob Starkie dies aged 73 after a battle with cancer

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-29/skyhooks-guitarist-…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw57F...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYSdj...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcmfb...

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 7

Austech

It's probably not surprising that there are less and less Youtube Channels like mine remastering music videos as even if you play by the rules no one else does. Youtube really needs to update how they deal with copyright and stop penalising people who are effectively innocent parties. This weeks example - Pink Floyd - Live At Pompeii.


I remastered this concert and it came out really really well. I did it twice, one copy has the original 5.1 sound and the other 2 channel stereo. Now previously you could not upload this concert. No problem. Then I noticed "they" changed things as I saw some others had uploaded it. By "they", I refer to the copyright holder SME - Sony Music Entertainment. When both above mentioned copies of the video were uploaded, I received the following message for each :


"𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭-𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞"


I think that is pretty straight forward, yeah ? I can safely post it. It's the same message that has gone out ever since I have been on Youtube that the copyright holder allows it's use on Youtube and doesn't restrict it. So I published both copies. At first the 2 channel stereo version got the most views, then after a few weeks the 5.1 started overtaking it in popularity. Then 4 days ago I received an email from Youtube about the 5.1 channel version :

" 𝐇𝐢 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡,


𝐖𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨. 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐰, 𝐰𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞:


𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐝 - 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐢𝐢 𝟏𝟗𝟕𝟐 - 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝟒𝐊 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝
𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐮𝐫𝐥: 𝐡𝐭𝐭𝐩𝐬://𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐞.𝐜𝐨𝐦/𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡?𝐯=𝐍𝐁𝐤𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐊𝐜𝐒𝟔𝐐
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝: 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐢𝐢 - 𝐌𝐂𝐌𝐋𝐗𝐗𝐈𝐈
𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲: 𝐒𝐌𝐄
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨: 𝐘𝐓𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬@𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜.𝐜𝐨𝐦


𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞.


𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝟏 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬, 𝐰𝐞’𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥. 𝐓𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞. "



Despite the seriousness, I can only laugh at the final sentence directly above.
"𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞"

Sigh............ I did NOT upload content that I am not allowed to use. I uploaded content that stated quote "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞"

So where does this leave me ?
At the moment, it leaves me with a copyright strike on content I was allowed to use. It also leaves me not knowing what to do, as I have two copies of that content on my channel. I turned the other concert to "unlisted" as I attempted to make contact with the copyright holder.

So I sent them an email to the address that was provided as the contact email for the complaint. See below :

Dear Sir/Madam/Other title,

I refer to the below mentioned video in the forwarded email and the actions taken against my Youtube account by Youtube in regards to a claim made by you.

I uploaded the video in good faith and in return received on screen notice that there were no copyright restrictions and the copyright holder allowed it to be used on Youtube.

Less than 2 months later, it would appear you have made application to Youtube to remove the video and thus apply a penalty to my account in the form of a copyright strike.

"You received a copyright strike
You now have 1 copyright strike. If you get multiple copyright strikes, we’ll have to terminate your channel. To prevent that from happening, please don’t upload videos containing copyrighted content that you aren’t allowed to use."

The great irony of the above is that I am NOT uploading copyrighted content that I am not allowed to use. I am uploading content that states : "Copyright-protected content found. The owner allows the content to be used on YouTube".

I think most reasonable people, such as Rick Beato, would find it unfair that something can be uploaded with permission only to then have permission withdrawn and a penalty made against the uploader.


I would note I have previously had a positive relationship with Pink Floyd and video uploads. My channel is not monetised, I do not make a cent on anything I do, I am simply a fan of music from the 70's, 80's and 90's.


I also do not engage in selling your content illegally, despite many regular offers. Unfortunately doing the right thing seems to get you nothing other than a kick in the groin in our current day and age.

I would point out that you could have just blocked the video and not penalised me, and would ask that you repeal your current action so that the copyright strike is removed from my account. Or that you cancel the current claim and as soon as I am notified I will pull the video down manually.


I do note that I have two versions of that concert on my channel. The one I have just mentioned, and another with 2 channel stereo. Just like the one you have removed, the other states : Copyright-protected content found. The owner allows the content to be used on YouTube. Are you now going to do the same on this video as well and I end up with two copyright strikes and potentially the end of my channel ? I have been forced to switch it to unlisted until I can get a clear idea of whether it is being treated the same as the other.

Happy to work with you, but it's hard to do so when information conflicts badly. This statement : "Copyright-protected content found. The owner allows the content to be used on YouTube" should be what an uploader can depend on when the content is licenced through a major studio. But regardless, happy to work with you.

Regards,
MY FULL NAME (redacted for this post)





Now that was 3 days ago. And I have heard nothing back from them.

My only options are a retraction, which is what I refer to above and cant get if they don't answer me and there is one other, more serious option.

"If you believe you're not at fault in one or more of the instances above, you can appeal this removal by submitting a counter notification. There may be severe legal consequences for submitting a counter notification with false information."

I am considering doing the above but need to do some further research in regards to what can happen to me legally. Certainly I would not be giving any false information. As far as I am concerned I am in the right and I think people would agree with me based on the evidence I have posted above.

I have a lot on my plate as it is at the moment so will do some research on it over the weekend.

Cheers
Austech

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 31

Austech

Sad news that former Dragon guitarist Robert Taylor has passed away aged 74. Taylor provided that very distinctive Dragon guitar sound of the 70's and although he played with them in to the 80's their newer (80's) songs took a different direction.
Thanks for the memories Robert, here's one that has the classic Taylor guitar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmib8...

1 month ago | [YT] | 9

Austech

About a month ago I mentioned here that I noticed that my 4K remaster of Pink Floyd - Live at Knebworth had been pulled down. A quick search showed that I wasn't the only one to cop it, it looked like every copy of it got the chop.

Apart from the pull down, they divided it in to about 10 separate copyright claims making it a nightmare. However they didn't think that anyone would be so stupid as to contest every one of the claims and my concert is now back up and public.....I don't know how long for. Anyway, enjoy David Gilmour belting out the Comfortably Numb solo in the rain in 1990, fantastic stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En7gj...

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 12

Austech

Earlier this year I mentioned that I did not have the money to renew my video software ( around $230AUD) and tried to get some support in the way of donations and got.....nothing. Just after that time, Topaz brought out a new version, version 7. When I first purchased it was named I think version 2 from memory, they then brought out version 3 in October 2022 after saying they couldn't do any more with the previous version due to limitations in the code (you had to delete the old version and install the new). As I owned the software, there was no additional cost as long as you paid the yearly subscription for updates.

Topaz have now updated version 3 from 2022 in to the new version 7 (which I believe is actually just an update and not a delete old and reinstall new) in to subscription only with no access for those with owned licences. So I now have a version (version 6) for which there are no further updates. It was nice of Topaz to sh!t in the face of those who supported them by buying their products when they started up. I hope that with AI software moving so fast that this cash grab blows up in their face and competitors can provide just as good a product at a better price in the future. Life is just one big subscription these days.


If I want to use the current Topaz Video, they want $460AUD a year from me and the same again every 12 months. Or if I commit to paying monthly for a year then I can pay $50AUD a month, which would mean it costs me $600AUD a year. If I don't make the 12 month commitment, then it's $90AUD a month.....that would be $1080AUD a year. Previously I would have had to pay about $230AUD a year to be able to receive downloads and stay uptodate.

Topaz Photo, again which I own and use for thumbnails and photos now cant update, is $307AUD a year renewed each year. Or $32AUD if I commit to a 12 month contract, if not it's $60AUD a month.

Topaz are trying to force people to subscribe to their full suite of ALL software for a cost of about $615AUD a year billed each year as many people will use video and photo as a minimum. If you make a 12 month contract, it's $57AUD a month or just monthly no contract its $106AUD.....or $1272AUD a year.

Obviously this out of my financial range and it really hurts when you have to pay USD so I will plod on with my old unsupported software. I can still work with remastering photos pretty well ( I still have to do a lot of manual work to get a good result like this) but I think video technology will improve out of sight soon and that will make it a bit pointless trying to keep up.

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1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 14

Austech

Sad news that former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley has died aged 74.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM_83...

1 month ago | [YT] | 11

Austech

I recently remembered that I had a go at remastering Freebird from Knebworth in 1976 and when I uploaded it 2 years ago it was blocked. One week ago I decided to challenge the copyright block and although nothing has happened in regards to an answer on that, for some reason it is visible. It wont come up as a new video, so I thought I would mention it here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7wXt...

2 months ago | [YT] | 8

Austech

It would seem that my remaster of Pink Floyd Live At Knebworth has been pulled down at some stage, no notification sent at all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En7gj...
Also every individual video from that concert has also been blocked worldwide. Having a search for the concert, it would seem I am not the only one who copped it. It would seem that to make it difficult, instead of just one copyright claim being on the concert, they have made claims individually. Probably to put people off from challenging them. But type fast I can :) And have appealed all of them. So if in 30 days you can see the concert, it was worth the work.

2 months ago | [YT] | 11

Austech

Pink Floyd - Live At Pompeii is now up and running on my channel for Pink Floyd fans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBknc...

2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 9

Austech

A few months back I had a play around with Pink Floyds Live At Pompeii. It came out to great acclaim in 4K at Imax cinemas followed by a Bluray release. But the Bluray was not in 4K. So I decided to see what I could do with it, not just by making it 4K, but by improving the quality of it. I selected one song from it, Echoes part 2. It was immediately blocked under copyright, I appealed and lost. However I just noticed it is now visible. Tell me what you think of the quality of this bizarre for the time concert movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPVb5...

3 months ago | [YT] | 3