What is your opinion of people who report copyright infringement of classical music content on YouTube?

Only the lawful copyright owner has the legal authority to report a copyright infringement to the website, or to sue for infringement or file criminal charges. Anybody in the entire world has the right, if not obligation, to report a crime when they see it. Reporting civil violations of the rights of others is a personal choice.

Personally, I believe that anyone whose rights are being violated should welcome anyone's information about possible violations, so they can be investigated as necessary.

Classical music recordings only become public domain when their copyrights expire, i.e., 95 years after publication in the USA or 70 years most other places. Under US copyright law, sound recordings made prior to 1972 have NO copyright expiration date, at least until state copyright laws are pre-empted in 2067, and this includes recordings made prior to 1923.

I agree with Renaissance Man. Youtube has more advantages than disadvantages for classical music.

Youtube has increased exposure and accessibility of lesser-known music to a wider audience. Many a times I've found a piece of Bach/Mozart that I've never heard before on Youtube and I actually went to buy the original CD as I know the quality on original CD is much better.

As for ANY piece of classical music, there would be many versions available on Youtube from different record companies, professional performers, amateur performers or even computer-played "vocaloids" or midis. So it doesn't really make a difference if one youtube video is deleted for copyright infringement because they will be many versions of that piece available to "replace".

For exclusive works like movies, deletion of its Youtube video for copyright infringement would be more appropriate because like what some people mentioned here, artistes and companies need to be paid for their works. Despite that being said, some movies are OUT OF PRINT and original DVDs are not available in the stores;- for these kind of movies, please put on Youtube.

That's a double-edged sword for the record/film companies.

You tube had a parody of a movie about the last 10 day's of Hitler's life. He rants and raves, and quite a few users created some pretty funny subtitles to go with is. I.E. Hitler learns there is no Santa Claus, Hitler finds out the the pad (I) didn't have multitasking capabilities. Football games lost on the last play, Hitler suffers identity theft, and many more Absolutely hilarious situations. The scenes are the same, so you knew which person would have the intro, punchline etc.

The reality is, that if these parodies were not on youtube, I would have never found out about this movie and it's quite good) and buy it on DVD

If the song isn't yours and you used without permission, you're the copyright infringer. Even if the video is your own work...

YouTube is now strict with copyrights infringement so when they noticed it, eventually their video is being muted or banned if persist

that's why I only use music or soundtracks from Ezvid free video & slideshow maker because it is YouTube legal and is copyright clean so I don't literally abuse others music in the end.

Ezvid is also nice because it's very easy and simple to use. You can add text slides, add a background music or even record your own voice while music is playing at the same time THEN u can immediately upload finished videos to YouTube directly.

I have made my living full-time in professional music (95 percent classical )and music education, since 1971. I report every infringement I see. Why? Becasue I like being able to cash a paycheck - and do not want to be replaced by pirated music, or have today's composers stop writing. I have had to go nose to nose a few times with ignorant people, who think "All music should be FREE" - well, what if I decided that everything in their HOUSE should be free, and I can come on over and take anything I want, whenever? The old joke was that rappers all rap about robbing banks, etc. - and then call a lawyer when somebody samples one of their hits. These laws exist to protect intellectual property - if YOU cannot see that, then you are not a pro in the business, clearly.

Added - ooh - TAG - you're it! A very immature person with at least six or seven accounts is royally pissed at me for another answer, so is following me around, giving me multiple TDs. Like I care. Of course, this just makes it easier for all of us to identity them, and add their multiple account names to our Abuse Reporting - walk about Stupid Criminals! Gotta laugh . .