Embedding YouTube video in a Course

May 07, 2024

Good Afternoon ~

I am curious to know the copyright rules for embedding a YouTube video into a course on First Aid. 

Also, has anyone ever used a YouTube video and then the video no longer worked in a course you made for someone else? How did you find out? What did you do?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

8 Replies
Alex Milyaev

Good afternoon!

Regarding copyright rules for embedding YouTube videos into a First Aid course, YouTube allows embedding of videos provided they are not copyrighted or the distribution is explicitly allowed.

In other words, you won't be able to embed a video into your course if the author has prohibited it.

However, it's important to remember that when you embed a video, it may display advertisements, which certainly does not align with the status of any reputable company.

Ange CM

Hi Tricia, 
My advice is, never use 'free' stuff for clients.

If need be, due to budget restraints get assets from verified sites such as Wikimedia, unSplash..., and Public Domain (Note: Countries have different copyright laws as to what is legally Public Domain). Make sure you attach the legal permissions and credit the author, details for usage are on the sites.

My general rule of thumb for clients:

  • client provided material:
    In your contract state it, and get a written declaration from the client that they own the copyright and have all the permissions for usage.
  • original material created by you/your team:
    Lease to the client, sign a buy-out, or work-for-hire...
    Always get permission releases signed with terms and usage: people, property ...
    https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/when-to-use-a-photo-release-form
  • material provided through the client's stock agency account:
    Do not provide via your own stock account, you will be responsible if the asset is misused. Accounts with stock agencies are fairly affordable, and they take legal responsibility for copyright violations - if the image/video/illustration was used as per their usage terms.
  • written permission from the author:
    Although, if a link, as mentioned above, it can still be made unavailable to share, taken offline, have a ton of advertising,  or even be changed/edited...)
    Note: Written permission is tricky and needs to be verified in writing, there are many things online where the supposed author is not in fact the author.
    Even if the author is bona fide, there are pitfalls: the people in the image/video have not signed release forms for their image to be used: the music, poem, sentences, words... are copyright; there is no property/brand permission, etc.

    *This "general rule of thumb" is not exhaustive and, it is not provided as legal information.
    * Always do the research. In general this is the client's job, but there are outliers.