Royalty-Free vs Licensed vs Your Own Footage: B-Roll Sources Explained
Quick answer
Your own footage is the simplest: you hold the rights. Royalty-free stock means you pay once (or nothing) and reuse it under the library's license, not that it's free of rules. Creative Commons footage always needs attribution and may forbid commercial use or edits. Always read the specific license.
Instagram, Facebook & TikTok · Only use clips you own or have permission to use.
Key takeaways
- Own footage: you control it (watch for music and people).
- Royalty-free still comes with a license.
- Every Creative Commons license requires attribution.
- NC means non-commercial only; ND means no shared edits.
- Keep a record of every license.
On this page
Your own footage
Clips you filmed are yours to edit and reuse. Watch for things inside them you don't own: background music, artwork, or people who didn't agree to appear. (Shoot B-roll on your phone)
Royalty-free stock
"Royalty-free" means you don't pay a royalty each time you use it. You still get a license with terms, which may limit things like resale, use in logos, or sensitive contexts. Some libraries are free, others paid. Read the terms for each library.
Rights-managed and custom licenses
Some footage is licensed for a specific use, period or region. Fine for campaigns, but you must stay within the scope.
Creative Commons
Creative Commons offers six licenses, and all require credit to the creator (BY). Some add:
- NC (NonCommercial): no commercial use.
- ND (NoDerivatives): you can't share edited versions.
- SA (ShareAlike): shared adaptations must use the same license.
For B-roll you'll trim and crop, ND licenses don't allow you to publish the edit. Creative Commons also asks you to indicate if you changed the work.
Footage from other creators
Needs their permission. (Permission template)
Which to choose
| Source | Best when |
|---|---|
| Your own | Authentic, on-brand shots |
| Royalty-free | Generic scenes you can't film |
| Creative Commons | Non-commercial projects, with credit |
| Licensed from a creator | A specific shot you need |
Keep records
Note the source and license for every clip. (Organize your library)
How VDOHBoost fits
For B-roll you already own, VDOHBoost turns segments of your own Instagram, Facebook or TikTok posts into clips for your library.
In VDOHBoost the flow is Paste → Trim → Done:
- Paste a link to your own clip
- Tick the rights checkbox
- Press "Get clip" and wait for loading
- Trim the clip on the "READY TO TRIM" screen
- Choose a crop: Original, 9:16, 1:1 or 16:9
- Export, then "Download MP4"
VDOHBoost exports up to 720p.
Reuse footage from your own post →
FAQ
Does royalty-free mean free to use any way I want?
No. Royalty-free means no per-use royalty, but the footage still comes with a license that sets the rules.
Do all Creative Commons licenses require credit?
Yes. All six Creative Commons licenses require attribution unless the creator has waived it.
Can I edit Creative Commons footage?
Unless it's an ND (NoDerivatives) license, you can share edits, but you should note that you changed the work. ND footage can't be shared in edited form.
Can I use CC NC footage in a sponsored post?
NC licenses forbid commercial use, so a sponsored post is generally not allowed.
Is my own footage always safe to use?
Mostly, but music, artwork or people in the shot may need separate clearance.
Summary
Own footage is simplest; royalty-free and Creative Commons still have licenses; read them, credit properly and keep records.
Ready to crop your own clip?
Paste a link to an Instagram, Facebook or TikTok clip you own or have permission to use.
Paste a link to your clip