How to Post Movie Clips on TikTok

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Carolyn Howell

Last Updated: May 21, 2024

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TikTok takes copyright very seriously. This is why the app went out of its way to create its massive library of royalty-free music. Everywhere else on the internet, you’ll see people sharing movie clips. Are you also allowed to do this on TikTok? Let’s find out how to post movie clips on TikTok.

People watch a cartoon movie in a theater.

How to Post Movie Clips on TikTok Without Copyright

What is copyright? In simple terms, it is the right to copy or use somebody else’s work. Copyright grants exclusive legal rights to the creator of an original work or idea, particularly in artistic works.

Take note that copyright laws vary per country and depend on the type of original work. Generally, only the copyright owner has the right to reproduce, distribute, display, or use their work in any way.

Fair use policies promoting freedom of expression may exempt you from copyright infringement. Under the Fair Use Act, a person can use copyright-protected work without permission in certain circumstances. These circumstances include news reporting, criticism, reviews, research, teaching, satire, or parody.

Copyright laws protect the movies and shows we watch. If you want to share movie clips online, you will need to obtain permission from the owner. If you are using a movie clip for commercial purposes, for example, you’ll need a license to use the clip. Are there instances when you can use a movie clip without risk of copyright infringement? 

Here’s how to post movie clips on TikTok without copyright:

  • If you’re reviewing the content.
  • If you’re referencing a quote from the content.
  • If you’re sharing the movie clip straight from authorized sources to promote said content.
  • If you significantly alter the content to create something original, such as when creating a meme.
  • If you only share the clip for personal purposes, i.e., for laughs or motivation.

A photo of a film strip.

How to Upload Movie Clips to TikTok 

The reality is that the rampant sharing of copyrighted movie clips online makes infringement liability practically non-existent. Using someone’s work for profit increases the chance of copyright infringement. Here’s how to upload movie clips to TikTok: 

  1. Find an app that lets you convert and download a video into MOV, MP4, AVI, or your preferred video format. Try searching for “YouTube to MP4” on Google. 
  2. Use CapCut or your preferred third-party editing app for TikTok to edit your movie clip.
  3. Save the clip to your device. 
  4. Open TikTok, and tap the Create button.
  5. Select Upload, then select the movie clip from your device’s gallery. 
  6. Make additional edits to the clip using TikTok’s tools, or post it immediately. 

How To Use Movie Clips on TikTok: 10 Tips

How do you make sure you’re using movie clips without infringing on anybody’s copyright? Discover ten tips for how to use movie clips on TikTok within fair use protection. 

  1. Add short movie clips to your video as you would when creating a TikTok Stitch video
  2. Create a side-by-side video or Duet using a movie clip. 
  3. Create a meme from a movie still or clip. 
  4. Add text or a sticker to a movie clip to highlight a powerful quote or scene. 
  5. Use a movie clip in a funny reaction video. 
  6. Use a movie clip as a green screen effect. 
  7. Use a movie clip in a poll or survey. 
  8. Use your favorite holiday movie clip in a seasonal post.
  9. Create a montage of movie clips related to a topic you’re passionate about. 
  10. Create a picture-in-picture parody video featuring your selected movie clip.

A person films a band playing music

How Does TikTok Punish Copyright Infringement?

Not knowing TikTok’s copyright rules won’t protect you if you break them. 

When TikTok identifies a violation of its Intellectual Property Policy, it removes the content from the platform. The following also occurs soon after:

  • TikTok notifies the infringing party after it has removed the content.
  • TikTok issues a strike to the infringing party. 
  • Users can get a maximum of three strikes per IP type. If you get three strikes for any type, TikTok bans your account. For example, having two strikes each for copyright and trademark violations won’t lead to a ban. But, breaking copyright or trademark rules gets you three copyright strikes and one trademark strike, leading to a banned account.
  • Strikes you accrue will expire after 90 days. After 90 days, TikTok removes strikes from your account and won’t count them as future violations. 

A photo of a film negative shows the silhouette of a woman against a city skyline.

Create Original Content That Engages the Right Audiences

Original content is your bread and butter on TikTok. You can share other people’s videos (ideally, with their permission) to add variety to your content mix. Reposting is also an effective strategy to reach more people. But the bulk of your TikTok canon should include your original content ideas, expressions, and style. 

Whatever your content niche is, there’s an audience for you on TikTok. If you’re a creator, just keep creating videos about stuff you’re passionate about, and the right people will find you. Brands should understand what content their target market likes and make similar content to connect with them. TikTok’s algorithm connects content with interested users when they genuinely share similar interests.

Knowing how to post movie clips on TikTok is one way to create videos using existing content. You can change a movie clip to talk with your community, inspire your followers, or entertain them. Driving engagement will help you increase your relevance and visibility and gain new fans.

You can get the same results when you sign up for a High Social plan. Give yourself an added AI-powered, audience-targeting advantage with High Social’s advanced, proprietary AI technology. Share your unique content with more viewers who are genuinely interested, and they will become lifelong fans instantly. Start growing your TikTok today!

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