Should I Use Other Brands’ Clips to Create a Video?

[Kopfi]

It is definitely not legal. A case could be made if you transform the original art into a new media – free use.

But as soon as you have a commercial interest behind it, it gets trickier.

Will other brands go after you? Probably not. But perhaps.

[HirokiKuse]

I’ve used short brand clips before, fair use can cover commentary, but it’s always a bit of a gamble with takedowns. Crescitaly helps me push those reels out faster so the reach is worth the risk.

[rmric0]

There’s some nuance to this…

Assuming you’re in the United States you can use portions of copyrighted material for education or commentary under the Fair Use doctrine. With that said fair use isn’t a get out of jail free card, it’s an affirmative defense that you’d have to make at a trial in the very unlikely event that someone wanted to take you to court.

With the way a lot of systems work, you’re most likely to run afoul of issues with longer clips and especially with the use of copyrighted music.

[GetNachoNacho]

You’re smart to ask first, brand ads are usually protected, so reposting their footage can trigger takedowns or limit your reach. A few safer alternatives are:

* Use stills/screenshots for commentary instead of full motion clips.
* Recreate the style yourself (parody, analysis, breakdown).
* Stick to stock footage or brand-approved press material.