In response to the demand of customers and continuous changes in the future, Playstock will be frequently updating our FAQs.
You will notice that we’ve distinguished the stock footage to Commercial Use Available and Editorial Use Only. It is crucial that you precisely know the purpose of your creation and be sure to check if the purchased footage is used in its accordance.
What does Editorial Use Only mean?
Editorial Use Only content is content not cleared to be used for commercial purposes. They can only be used in videos for news reports, news articles, documentaries, educational resources, anything but with non-profit characteristics. Editorial video is not permitted to be used for commercial use such as advertisement, promotion, and any articles with the purpose of sales or marketing. In the event of commercial use, it could possibly cause violations of property/portrait rights. Editorial footage, as previously said, is prohibited from being used for commercial purposes. Using commercial use footage for editorial purposes, however, is permitted. If you submit footage that contains a certain brand logo or a recognizable figure with no release, it will only be accepted as Editorial Use Only.
What does Commercial Use mean?
Commercial use means any reproduction or release of work with the purpose of marketing for financial gains. If the video is marked as Commercial Use Available, it means you can use the video for business purposes with the intention of increasing profit and sales. Commercial use of the footage would be reproducing and editing the clip in a manner that is primarily intended for monetary advantage or financial compensation. Commercials can be used on SNS ads, brochures, blogs, films, or TV commercials.
This footage can be accepted for commercial use since all the faces are blurred enough to be unrecognizable, there are no brands or logos showing, and was taken in a public place.
What footage cannot be used commercially?
Footage will be designated “Editorial Use Only” under the circumstances stated below:
- It contains a public figure (e.g celebrity, influencer, politicians, etc)
- It contains recognizable subjects with no model release obtained (e.g Random people walking on streets, posing & moving subjects directed by the director)
This footage contains a scene that features many people walking around. Since it is difficult to submit a model release for every one of them, this footage can only be used for editorial purposes.
- It contains certain logo, service mark, and/or trademark with no property release obtained
This footage features a visible brand name, Samsung.
- It is filmed in a private or registered property/territory with no property release obtained
- It contains an advertisement, product, service, packaging being used in commercial texts
Can I use Editorial Use Only footage for commercials? Or the other way around?
Editorial footage is an item that we do not have a legal release to license for commercial purposes. It would be violating property/portrait rights to use editorial sources for the sake of making financial gains. Thus, it is illegal to use editorial footage to create a video for the purpose of gaining profit. However, it is permitted to use commercial-use-available content in your videos for editorial purposes.
In total, footage with a famous model wearing a pair of Nike pants, holding a BigMac in Carnegie Hall would have to be used for editorial purposes. Footage that features none of these matters would be cleared to be used for commercial purposes.
Related FAQs:
- Everything about Model/Property Release
- What is the difference between Royalty-Free and Copyright-Free?
