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What is copyright? • How to obtain copyright protection • Protecting copyright on TikTok • Copyright infringements • Account strikes and bans
What is copyright?
Copyright is a legal right that protects original works of authorship, such as videos and music. Copyright protects an original expression of an idea (for example, the specific way a video or music is expressed or created) but does not protect underlying ideas or facts.
How to obtain copyright protection
In general, you obtain copyright protection when you create an original work.
Copyright protection only extends to original expressions. It doesn't extend to ideas, procedures, methods of operation, or mathematical concepts. For example, a person may own the copyright to a film, but not the underlying plot or themes that are expressed in the film.
There is generally no requirement to register a work in order to obtain copyright protection, although doing so may facilitate dispute resolution in certain jurisdictions.
Protecting copyright on TikTok
Can you post another person's copyrighted content on TikTok without their permission?
Our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines don't allow posting, sharing, or sending any content that violates or infringes upon another party’s copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property (IP) rights. This includes the use of another person's copyrighted content without proper authorization or legally valid reasons.
Under certain circumstances, you may be legally permitted to use another person's copyrighted content without their permission. This includes fair use and exceptions to copyright such as quotation, criticism, and/or review of the copyrighted content.
Copyright infringements
What to do if your copyright has been infringed on TikTok
If you believe that someone has infringed your copyright on TikTok, you may directly contact the person to resolve the matter. Alternatively, you may submit a Copyright Infringement Report to request the removal of the alleged infringing content from TikTok through our online form or in-app.
To report intellectual property infringement on TikTok:
1. In the TikTok app, tap the Share button on the side of the post you'd like to report.
2. Tap Report.
3. Tap Counterfeits and intellectual property.
4. Tap Intellectual property violation and follow the steps to report.
Important things to know about reporting copyright infringement:
• You'll need to provide all required and accurate information in your submission or your complaint may be denied.
• You must be the owner of the infringed work or an authorized representative to submit a copyright infringement report. Please ensure that supporting documentation identifying you as the owner or authorized representative is included in the report.
• If you intentionally submit a misleading or fraudulent report, it may lead to liability for damages under laws in applicable countries.
• The information on this page primarily covers user-generated content. To better serve your needs, we have dedicated IP teams supporting TikTok Shop and TikTok for Business. You can contact us through this online form to report copyright infringements in advertisements, or through this online form to report copyright infringements on TikTok Shop.
What happens after a copyright infringement claim has been submitted to TikTok?
All copyright infringement claims will be reviewed by our team of IP specialists. We'll assess whether the report contains all the necessary information for us to investigate the claims and has been submitted by the copyright owner or their authorized representative. We may reach out to you to provide any missing information. We recommend responding promptly to minimize any delays.
If we identify a violation of our Intellectual Property Policy, we'll remove the content from the platform. We'll notify both the reporter and the reported person of the action taken.
What to do if your content has been incorrectly removed for copyright infringement
You'll receive an in-app notification if your content has been removed for copyright infringement. If you believe your content was incorrectly removed because you're authorized to use the copyrighted content or you believe you have the right to use the content, you can also submit an appeal through the notification in the app. You'll need to provide all required information, including your contact information and any evidence to support your claim. Otherwise, your appeal may be denied.
The following appeal reasons, without any valid supporting evidence, are generally not accepted:
• Only a small portion of the work was copied and not the entire work.
• There are others who are also posting similar content.
• You don't claim to own the copyright to the content.
• You didn't know you weren't allowed to post the content without permission.
• Posting the content is protected under the right to freedom of speech.
If your appeal is approved, we'll reinstate your content.
Account strikes and bans
What happens to your TikTok account if your content is removed for copyright infringement?
Under our repeat infringer policy, we issue a strike to someone if their content was removed due to copyright infringement. There is a limit of 3 strikes for each IP type, then we'll permanently remove the account. We count strikes for copyright and trademark infringements separately. For example, if you obtain 2 strikes for copyright infringement and 2 strikes for trademark infringement, your account won't be banned. However, if you obtain 3 strikes for copyright infringement and one strike for trademark infringement, your account will be banned. Accrued strikes will expire from your record after 90 days. We may also remove violations if the copyright infringement report is retracted or your appeal is approved.
We reserve the right to immediately remove any account for a violation of our Community Guidelines, regardless of the number of strikes.
How to avoid having your content removed for copyright infringement
You should only post original content on TikTok. If you intend to use content that belongs to somebody else, it's advisable for you to obtain their permission beforehand.
Under certain circumstances, you may be allowed to use another party's copyrighted content without their permission. For example, if the content is in the public domain or is otherwise permitted by law.
Keep in mind that a lack of knowledge isn't a valid defense against copyright infringement.