When making video content, the use of unauthorized film and television clips may involve copyright infringement issues, so great caution is required. The following are some methods for legally using unauthorized film and television clips, but please note that these methods do not guarantee complete avoidance of legal risks, and the specific circumstances may vary depending on national and regional laws. It is recommended to consult a legal professional if necessary. ### 1. **Fair Use Principle (Fair Use)** -**What is fair use? **Fair use is a principle in copyright law that allows unauthorized use of copyrighted works under certain circumstances without constituting infringement. Fair use is usually applicable to purposes such as education, commentary, news reporting, and parody. -**Four factors of rational use**： 1. **Purpose and nature of use**: Whether for commercial or non-profit educational purposes. 2. **Nature of copyrighted works**: The use of fictitious works (such as movies) is more likely to be regarded as infringement than the use of factual works (such as news reports). 3. **Quantity and substance of use**: Whether the fragments used are only a small part of the work, and whether the core part of the work is used. 4. **Impact on the market**: Whether the use will affect the market value or potential market of the original work. -**Precautions**: Fair use is a vague legal concept, and the specific judgment depends on the court's ruling. Even if you believe that your use complies with the principle of fair use, the copyright owner may still file a lawsuit. ### 2. **Get permission** -**Contact the copyright owner directly**: If you wish to use a certain film and television clip, the safest way is to contact the copyright owner (such as the film company, producer or distributor) directly and obtain written permission. Although this may involve costs, it avoids legal risks. -**Use copyright management companies**: Some companies specialize in managing the copyright of film and television works, and you can obtain permission to use them through them. ### 3. **Use of public domain works** -**What is the public domain? ** Works in the public domain refer to works whose copyright has expired or has never been protected by copyright. You are free to use these works without obtaining permission. -**How to determine whether the work is in the public domain? ** The term of copyright protection in different countries is different. For example, in the United States, movies released before 1928 are usually in the public domain. ### 4. **Use works licensed by Creative Commons** -**What is Creative Commons? **Creative Commons (CC) is a license agreement that allows creators to freely share their works. You can use film and television clips with a CC license, but you need to comply with license conditions, such as attribution, non-commercial use, etc. -**How to find CC licensed works? ** You can search for film and television clips with CC license on the Creative Commons website or other resource libraries (such as Vimeo, YouTube). ### 5. **Use movie trailers or officially released clips** -**Movie trailers**: Movie companies usually release trailers on official channels, and these clips can usually be used for commentary, analysis, or news reports. However, it should be noted that even trailers may be protected by copyright, so you still need to be cautious when using them. -**Officially released clips**: Some film companies will release certain clips of movies for public use, usually for promotional purposes. You can check the movie's official website or social media channels. ### 6. **Create imitations or parodies (parodies) works** -**parody**: In some countries, parody (imitation or parody) works may be protected by fair use. You can use film and television clips by creating imitations or parodies, but be careful not to directly copy the core content of the original work. ### 7. **Use non-copyrighted or free resources** -**Non-copyrighted resource library**: Some websites provide non-copyrighted film and television clips, and you are free to use these resources. For example, websites such as Pexels and Pixabay provide free video material. -**Free resource library**: Some creators on platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo will share free video materials, and their license agreements must be followed when using them. ### 8. **For comment, analysis or educational purposes** -**Comments and analysis**: If you use film and television clips for comment, analysis, or teaching, this may be considered fair use. For example, the use in movie reviews, video analysis, or educational courses. -**Indicate the source**: Even if you think your use is legal, it is a good practice to indicate the source of the fragment and copyright information. ### 9. **Avoid using core content** -**Use non-core clips**: If you must use film and television clips, try to avoid using the core parts of the work (such as the key plot and climax), and choose non-core clips instead. This may reduce the risk of infringement. ### 10. **Consult a legal professional** -**Legal advice**: If you have questions about the legality of using film and television clips, it is best to consult a copyright law expert. They can provide legal advice based on your specific situation to help you avoid potential legal risks. ### Summary There are certain legal risks in using unauthorized film and television clips, especially in commercial use. The safest way is to obtain the permission of the copyright owner, or to use resources licensed by the public domain and Creative Commons. If you believe that your use complies with the principle of fair use, you still need to exercise caution and consider legal advice.