Is it legal to use excerpts from a movie in my YouTube video?
December 29, 2023 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Johann Kock
Dear Media Law Attorney,
My name is Uwe Fischbacher and I run a YouTube channel where I regularly publish videos on various topics. For an upcoming video, I would like to use excerpts from a film to illustrate my point. However, I am unsure if this is legally allowed.
The current situation is that I have already used some excerpts from the film in my video before considering the legal implications. Now I am worried that I may have committed copyright infringement and legal consequences could be looming.
My question to you as an expert in media law is therefore: Is it legal to use excerpts from a film in my YouTube video? What possible consequences could I face if I have already committed copyright infringement? Are there any possible solutions to legally protect my video without getting into trouble with copyright holders?
I appreciate your assistance and advice on this matter in advance.
Sincerely,
Uwe Fischbacher
Dear Mr. Fischbacher,
Thank you for your inquiry and your trust in my expertise in media law. It is good that you are considering the legal situation regarding the use of film clips in your YouTube video. Copyright infringement is a serious issue and can lead to legal consequences.
In general, it is not allowed to use excerpts from a movie in your own video without the consent of the rights holder. Films are protected by copyright and using excerpts without the rights holder's permission constitutes copyright infringement. This applies regardless of whether you are making money from the use of the excerpts or not. It also does not matter whether you attribute the source or not.
In your case, since you have already used excerpts from the film in your video, you may have potentially already committed copyright infringement. This could lead to the rights holder of the film taking legal action against you, such as issuing a warning or seeking damages. It is therefore important that you act quickly to avoid possible consequences.
To legally protect your video, you would need to obtain the rights holder's permission to use the film clips. This can be done through a licensing agreement that sets out the terms of use. Alternatively, you could also use royalty-free or public domain materials that can be used without restrictions.
In the future, it is advisable to legally secure yourself before using protected material to avoid copyright infringement. If you have already found yourself in conflict with the law, I recommend that you seek the advice of a lawyer immediately to clarify your legal situation and discuss possible steps.
I hope that this information has been helpful to you and I am available for any further questions.
Best regards,
Johann Kock, Media Law Attorney
