Do You Need to Be a Videographer to Use Videos on a Website?

Creating a meaningful and groundbreaking business /personal video takes a lot of talent, time, and resources. Whether you’re directing/producing the video in a closed vicinity or in an outdoor setting, the process can be time-consuming and expensive. However, the problem is that after all the hard work you’ve put in to produce a phenomenal final product, sometimes people can just claim your work as their own and publish them on various online platforms. No matter how outrageous and horrendous it sounds, this practice is still very much common in the modern world and is used by many marketers, to up their business product in a small time period. 

However, all of this can be avoided if the other party buys the copyrights or ask for the creator’s permission before sharing his/her content. Now coming to the main topic, do you need to be a videographer to use videos on a website? The answer is NO! Yes, you heard that right. In this modern day and age, you don’t need to be a videographer or produce a piece of content to get its ownership. This guide isn’t about how to become a videographer, but if you can post videos/content of other people on your websites or online platforms without being a content creator yourself!! 

Legal Guide to the Use and Publication of Video Recordings

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Generally, it is perfectly fine to post a video on your website that you created yourself. Once you make a video, it is automatically copyrighted and you own its full rights, unless or until stated otherwise by a sharing service. However, if the video is based upon or consists of images of people under 18, you might be needing a release form from a guardian. On the other hand, if you plan on using someone else’s videos or content on your website, you’ll need his/her permission for that. There are a number of laws that surround using someone else’s recordings and publishing them. The problem doesn’t end at buying content, how you intend to use and publish that content can also affect your legal liability. 

Top 3 Video Sources on Internet

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Let’s face it, most people love videos and would prefer a video over a static image any time of the day. People just like to have a look at moving and colorful visuals. In coming years, video content will account for 82 percent of the Internet traffic, business and consumer. Many small business are also using stock video clips in marketing campaigns.

Whether you’re an aspiring videographer or still in the initial stages of thinking on ‘how to become a videographer’, having a look at some of the other videographers’ work might help you out in the process. Therefore, if you’re thinking of posting some of their content on your website or blog to help you grow in the process, don’t forget to look out for the rules. Therefore, we looked into the rules about using videos from top 3 video sources on the internet, i.e.  Vimeo, Instagram and YouTube on your website.

1. The Rules for Posting Videos from YouTube

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YouTube, one of the most famous online videos sources, has almost half a billion videos. Currently, the site has two billion users per day on average. Most YouTube videos are open to public use and you can post them on your website or blog. In 2011, YouTube allowed the masses to use videos with Creative Commons Licenses. Currently, it has just two primary copyrights,

  • Conventional Copyright – In which the owner has full ownership of the content and the standard YouTube license is very much restrictive. Therefore, to use it in any way, you need to get permission from the creator.
  • Creative Commons CC BY – This type of copyright provides a standard way for video creators to grant permission to another person to use their work, while giving them credit. Despite being commercial in nature, these videos are available for posting on your blog or website. That’s why, CC BY is the most permissive CC license.

Steps to find Creative Commons – Licensed YouTube Videos

If you’re having difficulty with finding the licensed videos, follow these easy steps,

  • Search for these videos through the Creative Commons Search Tool
  • Once you get the desired video, click on the ‘share’ icon and then the ‘embed’ icon
  • YouTube will provide you an embed code for posting the video on your website
  • Lastly, the YouTube embed code will automatically attach an attribution link beneath your video, that’ll take the viewer back to the original source

2. The Rules for Posting Videos from Vimeo

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Vimeo is another video-sharing website that’s common among videographers and content creators. It hosts more than a million videos and attracts more than 100 million unique users per month. It was originally made as a separate space for film artists to share and promote their art, and to encourage them in the process. If you’re thinking of using videos from Vimeo, you’ve come to the right place! You can also learn about a lot of creative video ideas for your business through these Vimeo videos. It possesses a separate section for Creative Commons-copyrighted videos, and you can find the videos in all six types of Creative Common licenses.

Steps to find Creative Commons – copyrighted Vimeo Videos

To find copyright free content on Vimeo, follow these easy steps

  • Sign up for a free Vimeo membership account
  • Go to the Vimeo Creative Commons section
  • Beneath one of the six license headings (named as  Attribution Share Alike, Attribution, and so on), click on the browse button
  • Then click the magnifying glass icon in the upper right portion of the webpage to search that entire section
  • Find a download button beneath the video and you’re done

According to the Creative Commons licensing, when posting the Vimeo videos on your website or blog, you need to provide a back link to the original video. Furthermore, Vimeo also states in its legal FAQs that “It’s always a good idea to contact the video maker if you want to use a video”. That’s because, sometimes, even a stock photographer/videographer has copyrighted his/her content for financial purposes.

3. The Rules for Posting Videos from Instagram

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Instagram is the most popular photo and video sharing platform that is owned by Facebook. Users post their everyday life in the form of spontaneous pictures or short videos, through the free Instagram app. Currently, the service has 1.1 billion monthly active users, and almost 500 million everyday users.

Steps to find Creative Commons – copyrighted Instagram Videos

The process of posting Instagram videos on your website/blog can be a little tricky. According to Instagram, you can use the public videos and repost them wherever you want, as long as you use the Instagram’s embed codes. Additionally, the Instagram Privacy Policy says, “User Content that you make public is searchable by other Users and subject to use under our Instagram API.”

On the other hand, creators make their videos with tons of hard work, earn through those short videos and most of them even write it in their bio that you can’t steal or repost their content (even with credit). Therefore, in order to not face any copyright issues later, it’s always suggested to take permission from the owner or buy the copyrights through proper channels. That only means you’re being considerate of the efforts that another fellow creator has put in his/her work!

Repost with Credits – Grow Together!

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In a nutshell, you do not need to be a videographer to use someone else’s videos on the website. This also doesn’t mean that you start stealing someone else’s hard work, labelling it as your own. That is a disgrace to not only the artist, but the art itself. If you’re thinking of posting videos form different online video sources on your website/blog, make sure to pick the ones that free from any kind of copyrights. If not, then you must buy the copyrights. Additionally, reposting others’ videos with credits (or through proper channels) will only help you grow together with other like-minded creators, and you’ll learn how to make better videos for your blog!