Video Copyright Checklist Before You Upload (Including AI Video)

Before you upload, check five things: the music, any footage or images you did not make, brand logos and fonts, the people who appear, and whether the platform wants an AI label. Most copyright claims come from music and reused clips, so start there. This is a practical checklist, not legal advice; for a high-stakes release, ask a lawyer.

Quick facts

Biggest cause of claims: music and clips taken from films, TV, games or other creators.
AI labels: as of November 2026, YouTube asks creators to disclose realistic altered or synthetic content during upload. TikTok also labels realistic AI content.
People: you need permission to show a real, recognisable person, and AI tools that use someone's photo should only be used with their consent.
On VdoBloom: you can make your own music with the AI music generator and sound effects with the sound effect generator, pay per use with credits that never expire.
Ownership of your VdoBloom output: see watermarks and ownership on VdoBloom.

Make your own soundtrack

A claim after upload can mute your audio, block the video in some countries, send its earnings to someone else, or count against your channel. Fixing it afterwards means re-editing and re-uploading, and you lose the views you had. Five minutes before upload is cheaper.

1. Music and sound

Did you make it or license it? A song you bought to listen to is not a license to use it in a video.
Read the license terms. Stock and library music often allows some uses (personal, social) but not others (ads, client work). Keep the license file or receipt.
Watch for samples. A "royalty-free" track that samples a famous song can still trigger a claim.
Covers are not yours. Re-recording a song still uses the songwriter's composition.
Make your own. Generate a track that fits your edit with the AI music generator, for example this prompt. Our guide on adding music to a video with AI shows the steps.

2. Footage and images you did not make

Clips from films, TV, sports, games and other creators belong to someone else, even short ones.
"I gave credit" does not equal permission. A credit line is good manners, not a license.
Stock footage and photos: check the license allows your use, especially for ads.
Screenshots and memes: these are often claimed too. When in doubt, make your own visual.
Commentary, criticism and parody may be allowed in some countries under fair use or fair dealing, but these are judged case by case. Do not rely on them for ads or brand content.

3. Logos, brands, fonts and products

Another company's logo on screen can suggest they endorse you. Keep it incidental or blur it.
Fonts have licenses too. A font that came with your computer may not allow use in a commercial video.
In AI video, prompts like "in the style of" a brand or a named character can produce trademarked looks. Describe the look you want in plain words instead.
For product videos, use your own product photos as the starting image.

4. People, faces and voices

Recognisable people need to have agreed to appear, especially in ads. Get a written release for paid work.
Face swaps and avatars: only use your own photo or one from someone who has agreed. VdoBloom's face swap tool asks you to confirm consent before it runs.
Voices: a cloned or imitated voice of a real person needs their permission. Use a stock voice from text to speech if you do not have it.
No public figures or minors in AI-made scenes that put words in their mouths or actions in their hands.

5. AI disclosure labels

YouTube's help page says creators should disclose content that is meaningfully altered or synthetic and looks realistic, using the setting in the upload flow. Unrealistic content, such as clear animation or fantasy, and minor edits do not need it. YouTube also says the label does not limit a video's audience or its eligibility to earn money, and it may add a label itself if you skip it.

TikTok also labels realistic AI-made content and can apply labels automatically when a file carries Content Credentials. Other platforms have their own rules, so check each one before posting, and check the ad policies separately: ad rules are often stricter.

A good habit: if a viewer could mistake the scene for real footage, turn the label on.

Thumbnails need the same care. A thumbnail with a film still, a famous face or another channel's artwork can be reported on its own, even when the video itself is clean. Make the thumbnail from a frame of your own video or generate a new image, and keep text and logos your own.

6. Keep proof in one place

Claims and disputes are easy when you can show where everything came from. Make one folder per video project and keep:

License files, receipts or download pages for any music, stock or fonts.
Written releases from people who appear, with the date and what they agreed to.
For AI work, the prompts and the source images you used, plus your account's creation history.
A short text note listing every outside asset and its source.

It takes a minute per project and turns a stressful dispute into a copy-and-paste reply.

The 12-point checklist

#	Check	Done when
1	Music source	Made by you or licensed for this use
2	Music license file	Saved with the project
3	Sound effects	Generated or licensed
4	Third-party clips	Removed, licensed or clearly commentary
5	Stock images and footage	License covers ads or client use if needed
6	Logos on screen	Incidental, blurred or yours
7	Fonts	Licensed for video and commercial use
8	People on camera	Agreed, with a release for paid work
9	Face or voice of a real person in AI output	Their consent on file
10	AI label	Turned on if the content looks realistic
11	Thumbnail	Same checks as the video
12	Description	Credits and license notes added where the license asks

How to do it on VdoBloom: build a clean video from the start

Make visuals from your own photos or prompts with image to video or text to video. Describe looks in plain words, not brand or character names.
Generate the soundtrack with the AI music generator and effects with the sound effect generator.
If a clip you own has someone else's song on it, strip the music with the vocal remover or replace the audio.
Add a voice-over with text to speech and captions with the caption generator.
Run the 12-point table above, then turn on the AI label if the result looks real.

Generate sound effects you own

Add a voice-over with Text to Speech

FAQ

Is AI-generated music safe to use?

Music you generate yourself avoids the most common claim, which is someone else's track. Read the terms of the tool you used and avoid prompts that copy a named artist or song.

Do I have to label every AI video?

On YouTube, the disclosure is for realistic content. Clearly animated or fantasy content usually does not need it. Check each platform's current rules.

Does a label hurt my views?

YouTube's help page says disclosure does not limit a video's audience or monetization eligibility.

Can I use five seconds of a film clip?

There is no safe number of seconds. Short clips get claimed too. Use your own footage or a licensed clip.

What if I get a claim anyway?

Read what was claimed. If you have a license, dispute it with the proof. If you do not, replace the part and re-upload.

Does making a video with AI mean nobody can claim it?

No. If the AI output includes someone else's music, a recognisable character or a real person's face, the same rules apply as for any other video.