Can I Use Someone Else's TikTok or Reel in My Video?
Quick answer
Usually not without permission. A video someone else filmed is normally protected by copyright from the moment it's created, and posting it publicly doesn't give others the right to reuse it. Ask the creator, use a properly licensed source, or film your own footage. This is general information, not legal advice.
Free · Instagram, Facebook & TikTok · Only use clips you own or have permission to use.
Key takeaways
- Public doesn't mean free to use: posted videos are still owned by their creators.
- Written permission is the simplest safe route.
- Fair use and similar exceptions are narrow, vary by country and are decided case by case.
- Platform features like Remix or Duet have their own rules inside that app.
- Your own footage and licensed stock are the low-risk B-roll sources.
On this page
Who owns a video posted on social media?
In most countries, the person who films a video owns its copyright as soon as it's recorded. Uploading it to Instagram, Facebook or TikTok gives the platform a license to show it, but it doesn't hand that right to every viewer. So the clip you saw in your feed still belongs to its creator (or to whoever they've transferred rights to, like a brand or agency).
There can be more than one layer of rights in a single clip: the footage, the music, any artwork shown, and the people in it.
Why "I gave credit" isn't enough
Tagging the creator is polite, but credit isn't the same as permission. Many takedowns happen to accounts that did credit the source. Ask first, then credit as the creator prefers.
What about fair use?
In the US, fair use can allow limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as commentary, criticism or education. Other countries have different exceptions (often called fair dealing), and some have very few. Courts weigh several factors, including how much you used and whether your use replaces the original. You can't rely on a rule of thumb like "under 10 seconds is fine"; no such universal rule exists.
If your video depends on someone else's footage, treat fair use as a legal question, not a shortcut.
In-app features: Remix, Duet and Stitch
Some platforms let you build on other posts inside the app, when the creator has allowed it. Those features work within that platform's own terms. Taking a clip out of the app and reusing it elsewhere is a different thing and generally needs permission.
Safer ways to get the footage you need
Ask the creator
Send a short, specific message: which clip, where you'll use it, for how long, and how you'll credit them. Keep the reply in writing. (A permission template is coming in a follow-up guide.)
Use licensed footage
Stock libraries and paid licenses spell out what you may do. Read the license; "royalty-free" doesn't always mean "free".
Film it yourself
A phone and good light are enough for most social B-roll. See What is B-roll?
Reuse your own back catalogue
Your past posts are often the best source of cutaways. See Turn your old Reels and TikToks into a B-roll library.
What if someone uses your video without permission?
Most platforms have a reporting process for copyright, and in many places you can send a takedown notice. VDOHBoost has its own DMCA page for reporting content that infringes your rights.
How VDOHBoost fits
VDOHBoost is a free web app built for clips you own or have permission to use. Before any clip loads, you confirm your rights with a checkbox, so the tool fits the safe sources above, not someone else's posts.
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.
Free · 8 clips a day, 40 a month · exports up to 720p
Turn one of your own clips into B-roll →
FAQ
Can I use a TikTok video if I give credit?
Credit alone usually isn't permission. The creator still owns the copyright, so reusing their video outside the app generally needs their consent or a license. Ask first, keep their reply in writing, and credit them the way they prefer. This is general information, not legal advice.
Is it legal to use a few seconds of someone's video?
There's no universal safe length. Short clips can still infringe copyright. Exceptions like fair use depend on your purpose, how much you use and the effect on the original, and they differ by country. When in doubt, ask permission or use footage you own.
Can I use someone's Reel if it's public?
Public visibility doesn't grant reuse rights. A public Reel is still owned by its creator. In-app features may allow limited remixing within Instagram if the creator enabled them, but using the clip elsewhere generally requires permission.
What happens if I use a video without permission?
The owner can report it, and the platform may remove your post, issue a strike, or limit your account. In some cases the owner can take legal action. Using footage you own or have licensed avoids these risks.
Where can I find B-roll I'm allowed to use?
Film your own, reuse your own past posts, license stock footage, or get written permission from the creator. Each option gives you clear rights you can point to if anyone asks.
Summary
Someone else's TikTok or Reel belongs to them. Ask for permission, use licensed footage, or build B-roll from clips you filmed yourself. Treat fair use as a legal question, and keep permission in writing.
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