Is It Legal To Add Movie Clips To TikTok? How Do You Do It?

We hear this question a lot at iDigic, and it’s a difficult one to answer.

Here’s the best summary we can come up with: if you’re talking about clips from a copyrighted movie (or TV show, or podcast, or any other media product), it’s technically illegal to use them in your TikTok video without permission. However, it might be allowable in some circumstances — and you’re more likely to have your TikTok post taken down than you are to be sued.

Let’s explore.

What Do You Mean By “Movie Clip?”

That’s an important question to deal with before we talk about copyrights and legalities. We’ve discovered that some of our website visitors are really asking how to upload a video clip to TikTok after they’ve shot the content with their phone or a video camera.

If you film your own “movie” and want to use it in a TikTok post, there’s nothing wrong with that. As the creator, you own the copyright and can use the “movie clips” any way you’d like, including posting them as TikTok content.

Those interested in the process that lets you upload your own material into the TikTok editor will find the step-by-step instructions later in this article.

Copyrighted Material and TikTok

Hollywood, TV, and Internet productions are all covered by copyright law, and the social media platform’s policies prohibit TikTok users from posting copyrighted material without permission. If you want to be fully covered from a legal standpoint, you’d need to ask for and receive authorization from the copyright owner. You’d probably have to pay a bundle to get it, too.

There are exceptions, however, and even lawyers disagree on exactly how they apply to social media content. Generally speaking, though, the so-called “fair use” doctrine allows the use of short clips from copyrighted material if they’re “transformed” by substantial editing (for example, when creating a meme), or if they’re used in a review, news story, or commentary.

Using movie clips is also less likely to trigger serious consequences as long as the content isn’t being used to generate income or profit.

Some people use digital editing tricks to prevent automated copyright detectors from finding their videos that use movie clips. Others stick with 5-10 second clips and add TikTok filters and effects, hoping they won’t get caught. However, “fair use” is only a defense that can be used in court if you’re sued for infringing someone else’s copyright. It won’t help much on TikTok.

The real risk you run when adding movie clips to your content is that your video will be flagged and taken down. If that happens, you might shrug your shoulders and say “oh, well,” but it’s smart to think about the long-term consequences. Repeated violations could cost you your TikTok account; is using a short movie clip worth losing your TikTok presence?

If you believe that it is, or you’ve obtained permission, or you believe that you have a legitimate “fair use” justification, or you simply believe that you won’t get caught, read on to learn how the process works.

How to Add Movie Clips to TikTok

Whether you want to upload self-shot video clips to be used in a TikTok video, or you’ve decided to use a short movie clip that you’ve downloaded or recorded on your phone, here’s how to get it done.

1. Make sure the clip is in a TikTok-friendly format, which may require using a third-party video editor or converter. The video should be an MP4 (although MOV files will also work), and it will show best on most people’s phones if it’s in portrait mode with a 9:16 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1080p (1080 x 1920 pixels). Clips can be as long as 60 minutes.
2. Once the optimized clip is on your phone’s camera reel, hit the “+” icon on your TikTok home screen to open the “Create” screen.
3. If you only want to post the clip, tap the “Upload” icon directly to the right of the red Record button, and you’ll see your phone’s gallery. Click on the clip you want to use. It will be uploaded to the TikTok editor, where you can do any other necessary edits and upload your final version of the post.
4. If you want to include the clip in a longer video recorded in the app, record the new section first. Then tap the “Edit” icon (it looks like a small monitor) in the right-hand menu, and once you’re in the TikTok editor, tap the “+” icon to the right of the video timeline. That will open your phone’s gallery, where you can choose the video you want to include and edit it into your content any way you’d like.

There’s nothing wrong with shooting video and uploading it to your TikTok profile, but you could be playing with fire if you regularly upload copyrighted movie clips. Now that you understand the risks, however, it’s up to you to decide if the risk is worth it.