Can I embed videos from other sources on my website?
May 11, 2023 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Isabel Tressel
Dear Media Law Attorney,
I have a question regarding the embedding of third-party videos on my website. As the operator of a small online platform, I am interested in whether it is legally permissible to embed videos from other platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo on my site.
Currently, I have embedded some videos on my website that I did not create myself. Now I am concerned whether this is legally acceptable or if I am infringing on copyright or other legal provisions.
I want to ensure that I operate my website in compliance with the law and avoid any legal issues. Therefore, I would like to know from you if it is allowed to embed third-party videos on my website and what legal aspects I should consider in doing so.
If it is not allowed to use third-party videos, what alternatives are there to still include multimedia content on my website? Are there licensing options or other approaches that would allow me to use videos from third parties legally?
I appreciate your assistance in advance and look forward to your expert advice.
Sincerely,
Tina Schröder
Dear Mrs. Schröder,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding embedding external videos on your website. This is indeed a topic that touches on several legal aspects in the field of media law and should therefore be carefully considered.
In general, it is allowed to embed videos from platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo on your own website, as long as the respective video is publicly accessible on these platforms and the providers of the platforms allow embedding. Most platforms offer the possibility to use the so-called "embed code" to embed videos on other websites. By using this code, you usually agree to the platform's terms of use.
However, it is important to note that when embedding external videos, you must respect the copyright of the video creator. This means that you should ensure that the creator of the video has the necessary rights to the video and allows its distribution on other websites. Otherwise, it could lead to a copyright infringement.
To ensure that you do not encounter any legal issues, I recommend checking the terms of use of the respective platform and, if necessary, asking the video creator if embedding on your website is permitted. Alternatively, you can also look for videos that are licensed under a Creative Commons license, explicitly allowing embedding and redistribution.
If you are unsure whether you are allowed to embed a specific video, I recommend seeking legal advice to avoid potential risks.
I hope this information is helpful to you and I am available for further questions.
Best regards,
Isabel Tressel
Media Law Attorney
