Did You Just Give Away the Rights to Your Videos?
If you’ve edited content using CapCut lately, you might want to think about switching to new editing software. Why? Because on June 12, 2025, CapCut quietly rolled out new Terms of Service that gives them permanent rights to your videos, including your face, voice, branding, and more. And yes, this even applies to videos uploaded before the change. I couldn’t believe it either! I’ve been using CapCut for a couple years and have hundreds of videos saved there. Trust me, I’m not exactly thrilled to start over with a new editing tool, especially after finally getting the hang of CapCut.
What Changed?
CapCut (owned by ByteDance, the same company behind TikTok) now claims:
- A perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license to your content
- The right to use it in ads, training AI, sublicensing, and more
- Full use of your voice, image, likeness, and branding
- A license that continues even if you delete your content or account
Translation? You still “own” your content, but they can do anything they want with it—forever. As you can imagine, this is no bueno.
How This Compares To Other Editors and Platforms:
| Platform | You Keep Ownership | License Revocable | Used Off-Platform | Permanent License? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CapCut | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| InShot | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| VN Editor | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Final Cut Pro | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| DaVinci Resolve | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Edits (IG) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| TikTok | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Sometimes |
| ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Limited | ❌ No | |
| YouTube | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Why It Matters for Creators
If you’re making:
- Sponsored content
- Client projects
- Educational videos
- Brand-building content with your face/voice
Then CapCut’s terms could put your business, partnerships, and privacy at risk.
What You Can Do Instead
- ❌ Stop using CapCut for sensitive or brand-related work
- ✅ Use creator-safe tools like InShot, VN, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro
- Delete old CapCut uploads and drafts
- Share this info with your fellow creators! Most people have no idea that this change even occurred.
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to assume free tools are harmless and skip over the terms and conditions, but sometimes they come with a hidden cost. As a creator, your content is your business. Protect it like the asset it is. I didn’t want to believe it either, but after doing a little digging and confirming the rumors were true, I’ll be making the switch from CapCut to InShot for short form video and Final Cut Pro for long form content.
Do you use CapCut? Did you know about this change? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Feel free to drop a comment or shoot me a message!