Which clips are you allowed to use in a pack?

The principle: a video belongs to someone

A film, a TV series, a music video, a YouTube or TikTok video are protected by copyright from the moment they are created, with no registration or notice needed. The people who appear in them also have rights over their image. Sharing a clip on a website, even a short one, even as a joke, requires permission from the rights holders, apart from very specific exceptions.

In France, where TryToAct is run, there is no “fair use” as there is in the United States. The short-quotation exception is designed for text and fits video very poorly; the parody exception exists, but it is judged case by case and does not cover simply reusing a clip. In practice, for a public pack, assume the clip has to be yours or explicitly free to use.

What you can use without hesitation

The safe sources are the ones where you are the author, or where the author has already said yes to everyone.

• Your own videos: a sketch filmed with friends, a holiday video, a short film you made. You are the author. If people appear in it, ask for their agreement before publishing.
• Works under a Creative Commons licence that allows changes and sharing (CC BY, CC BY-SA). Check the exact licence: an “ND” (no derivatives) tag rules out dubbing, an “NC” tag rules out any commercial use.
• The public domain: films whose rights have expired. In Europe, that is generally 70 years after the death of the last author (director, screenwriter, composer…). Careful: a restored version or a new score can be protected again.
• Free stock video libraries (Pexels, Pixabay, Wikimedia Commons, the Internet Archive for some collections), reading the licence of each file.
• A clip for which you have written permission from the rights holder: a YouTube creator who agrees, a production company that gives you the green light. Keep the exchange.

What to avoid

A clip from a commercial film or TV series, a music video, a TV show, a Twitch stream or someone else’s TikTok video: without permission, these can’t be published in a public pack, however short. The fact that the clip is already everywhere, that it’s “a meme” or that the author “won’t mind” changes nothing legally.

People filmed without their knowledge, or in an embarrassing moment, also raise issues of image rights and dignity. A pack that mocks an identifiable real person can be removed on a simple report.

Videos found under a free licence but with copyrighted music are a common case: the music has its own rights. Cut it, or replace it.

How it works on TryToAct

When you publish a pack, Creator mode asks you to confirm that you hold the necessary rights or permissions for every element: video, images, voices, music. This declaration is saved with the pack. A pack meant for the public library is then reviewed before it appears.

A rights holder who believes a pack uses their work without permission can report it from the Copyright page, without an account. After review, the pack is removed and its creator is told why. Packs you keep for yourself and your friends, without publishing them in the library, remain your responsibility.

The simplest option, and the funniest, is still to film your own scenes: homemade packs made with friends are the ones that get played most at parties, because everyone knows the actors.

Frequently asked questions

Is a ten-second clip allowed?

No, length doesn’t create permission. A short clip from a protected work is still protected.

Can I use a video if I credit the source?

Crediting the source is good practice, but it isn’t permission. You need a licence that allows sharing and modification, or the rights holder’s agreement.

What happens if my pack is reported?

The team reviews the report. If the pack is removed, you are told why and can reply or provide your permission through the Contact page.