Wondering to know whether permission is needed to use people in YouTube Videos or not? No worries! Because that’s what we’re going to discuss in this guide. Let’s dive in!
In general, any footage shot in a public place can be uploaded to YouTube without permission from anyone you may have captured on film. There are certain places within the public like restrooms, courtrooms, doctor’s offices, and other places where there is an expectation of privacy in which you cannot film subjects without their permission. In order to shoot videos in a private setting such as inside someone’s home, office, or car, permission is necessary.
In most cases, verbal agreements are fine. But there are circumstances where it would be better to have a written release. There are stricter privacy laws regarding children, particularly if they can be identified in the video. If anyone under 18 is involved, it is best to have the parents sign a release. So they are fully aware of how the footage will be used.
If you are shooting a video that will be used for commercial purposes, in that case, you will need to have written permission from everyone featured in the footage. This includes footage for a commercial for your business, testimonials from customers, and any contest used to generate income.
As a rule of thumb, it is best to have permission before you film someone else. Create a document for events. Verbal agreement on the camera such as “Can we use you in this video to go on our YouTube channel and a yes response of “Yes” will work. However, for footage with children and footage used for commercial purposes, written documentation is necessary.
Brief yet very informative article! This will surely make people aware when to ask permission if they are shooting a video that will be uploaded in Youtube. I agree that it is always best to it is best to ask permission before we film someone else. Thank you for reminding us about this.
Yes! Glad you find it helpful.