YouTube has millions of registered users. Here are a few rules of the road to keep in mind when choosing and using your YouTube username:
- Be creative - Sometimes similar usernames may create confusion or even lead other users on the site to believe you are impersonating them. To avoid these issues, choose an original username that doesn't overlap with another known name on the site. Choose a username that reflects who you are as an individual.
- Don't namesquat - YouTube usernames are in high demand. As a general rule, users are expected to be an active member within the YouTube community.
- Show respect - Usernames that contain profanity, hate speech, or racial slurs aren't welcome on YouTube and may cause your account to be suspended.
- Be careful with brands - Depending on the content of your user page, picking someone else's trademark as your username may be infringing. So be careful if considering using a name that may be someone's trademark.
As a result, users need to be creative when choosing a username. Often, however, there are usages that are against YouTube's Community Guidelines. As a general rule, users are expected to be an active member within the YouTube community and should not partake in activities that may be considered impersonating, squatting or infringing. If a user is found to be partaking in such activities, the user may be removed from the site.
Impersonation
Impersonating another user by copying their channel layout, using a similar username, or posing as them in comments, emails or videos is considered harassment and is a violation of our Community Guidelines.
In order for us to take action and remove these types of profiles, we need to hear from the person who is allegedly being impersonated to determine the validity of the claim. If you see a profile that you think may be impersonating another user's, let them know about it and have them report it through YouTube's YouTube's Safety Center.
Username Squatting
In general, users are expected to be active members within the YouTube community. If an account is found to be overly inactive, the account may be reclaimed by YouTube without notice and made available for registration by another party. Inactivity may be considered as
- Not logging into the site for at least six months.
- Never having uploaded video content.
- Not actively partaking in watching or commenting on videos or channels.
In cases of username squatting, YouTube may release usernames typically in cases of a valid trademark or impersonation complaint.
Trademark
Using someone else's trademark in a username, in and of itself, is not necessarily infringing. However, if there is content on your user page that would confuse viewers into believing that the trademark owner created or sponsors your page or content, then the trademark owner's rights are likely being infringed and we will need to reclaim your username. So it's important to be sensitive to other people's trademark rights when choosing a username.
If you are a trademark owner and you believe your trademark is being infringed due to a username issue, please note that YouTube is not in a position to mediate trademark disputes between users and trademark owners. As a result, we strongly encourage trademark owners to resolve their disputes directly with the owner of the username. Trademark owners can contact the user through YouTube's private messaging feature.
YouTube takes allegations of trademark infringement very seriously so if you are unable to reach a resolution with the account holder in question, please submit a trademark claim through our Trademark complaint form.
