Clipping copyright and permission checklist.

Worked example

A clipper joins a campaign whose terms say clips of a podcast are welcome from a shared folder, on TikTok and YouTube Shorts, with credit. They tick written permission, scope, source and rules. They used a trending song in the edit, so the music item stays unticked and the checklist stops them: the permission covers the podcast, not the song. They remove the song or use sound the campaign allows, tick the item, and the required items are covered.

The checklist has 8 items. Five are required; if any of those is unticked the result is stop. The other three, credit, payout terms and keeping records, show as gaps but do not stop you.

Methodology: how this works

The tool counts ticked items and sorts the unticked ones into required and optional. It does not read, store or send anything. It is a way to slow down before posting, not a legal test.

Why permission comes first: copyright owners control who can copy and distribute their work, and YouTube's help page lists getting permission as one way to use someone else's content. Fair use can sometimes allow use without permission, but the U.S. Copyright Office describes it as a case-by-case judgement weighing four factors, with no predetermined percentage or length that is safe. Clip length, a credit line or a "no copyright intended" caption does not by itself settle the question.

Platforms add their own rules about reused or repurposed content and about music, and these apply even if the rights holder is happy. Read the rules of the platform you post on as well as the campaign terms. For what clip pay looks like next to other income models, see the comparison.

What this does not cover

• Legal advice or a fair-use opinion on a particular clip
• Copyright law outside the United States
• The specific reused-content rules of each platform, which you must read yourself
• Music licensing, trademark, privacy or publicity rights of people shown
• Whether a campaign organizer actually holds the rights it offers you

Results vary. This page uses the numbers you enter. It does not predict, estimate or promise what anyone will earn from clipping, and it collects nothing: everything runs in your browser.

Sources

Official pages checked 2026-10-19 (retrieved October 2026):

• U.S. Copyright Office: More Information on Fair Use
• YouTube Help: Copyright on YouTube

FAQ

Is it legal to clip someone else's video?

It depends on permission and on the facts. With written permission from the rights holder it is generally fine within the permission given. Without it, you are relying on fair use, which is decided case by case.

Is a clip under 30 seconds always fair use?

No. The U.S. Copyright Office says there is no formula or predetermined percentage or amount of a work that can be used without permission.

Does crediting the creator make it okay?

Credit does not replace permission. Some campaigns require credit as a condition of the permission they give.

What counts as written permission?

Campaign terms, a signed agreement or a message from the rights holder that clearly covers clipping, the platforms you post on and the way you will use the clip.

Does this checklist give legal advice?

No. It is general information. For a specific clip or dispute, ask a lawyer.