If I use other authors’ videos on my website, could I risk or incur in any copyright violation?

That’s an interesting question pertaining copyright and more specifically what is known as fair use of other authors’ work.

The answer essentially depends on what you mean by ‘using other authors’ videos’ on your website; in general terms there are several possible scenarios: -The tutor adds links to other authors’ videos on his or her website. In this case the links redirect to the original platform where the video were first uploaded and are viewed within that platform; that’s perfectly fine, does not constitute any copyright infringement and your website helps the original author and platform generate traffic.

-The tutor embeds other authors’ videos on his or her website. In this case the videos are viewed on your website but are embedded; when a video is embedded it is still connected to the original location where the video was first uploaded to, and all views taking place on your website will add to the view count on the original platform and count as external. Therefore both the original platform and original authors are benefitting from the video views which take place on your site. That does not constitute any copyright violation.

-You download the videos, do not make any modification to them and re-upload them on your website. That’s a nebulous area since the videos are disconnected from the original platform and the platform is not directly benefitting from the views or benefitting only marginally from them. You are still helping the author advertise his work since the videos’ authorship is clear. Still, that may constitute a copyright violation, to be sure better check the copyright laws in your country.

-You use parts of other authors’ videos and include them in your videos, for example to debate a specific topic. While this may at first appear to be a clear copyright violation, it usually isn’t provided you ask permission to the original author to use part of his or her videos in your videos.

-You download other authors’ videos and re-upload them on your website, but visitors only have paid access to them. That constitute a clear violation of copyright laws. Likewise, if you make a DVD with videos which are not yours and sell them.

While the guidelines above apply to most countries, If you are using other authors' work on your website and you are in doubt, just consult your local copyright laws to make sure that does not constitute any copyright violation. This post is only meant to provide general guidelines based on the author's experience.

Online tutoring, fair copyright use, problems with copyright, fair use of other authors’ work