YouTube paid promotion label on an AI-generated sponsored video

If an AI-generated video features sponsorships, endorsements or other commercial relationships, YouTube says you must select the paid promotion button in the video details, which adds a disclosure label at the beginning of the video. Sume generates the file; the label is a setting you make on YouTube, not something a Sume request sets.

Rule text is from YouTube Help, read 2026-10-01. This is not legal advice; YouTube's page also says you and your partners must follow applicable legal requirements.

What does YouTube say about paid promotion?

The page says that if you feature branded content, sponsorships, endorsements, or other commercial relationships, you have to let YouTube know by selecting the paid promotion button. It adds a disclosure label at the start of the video. The branded content must also comply with Community Guidelines and Google Ads policies, with some exceptions.

Is that the same as the AI disclosure?

They are separate controls. This page covers commercial relationships only; it says nothing about AI. YouTube's altered or synthetic content disclosure is a different question, covered in what needs disclosure. A sponsored AI video may need both, so read each rule on its own.

What does Sume control on the file?

Format only. Avatar videos accept aspect_ratio of 1:1, 3:4, 9:16, 4:3 and 16:9, and standalone video captions burn captions onto a public video URL. Nothing in the docs read sets a YouTube label or adds an on-screen sponsor tag for you, so add any on-screen sponsor mention in your own edit.

What should I do before uploading?

Generate and caption the video, upload it, open video details, select paid promotion if there is a commercial relationship, and answer the AI disclosure separately. Related: YouTube AI content policy.