Is it legal to use tv footage?

In fairness, the original poster didn't specify how exactly he wanted to use the footage. If by "use" he meant watch and enjoy his own personal, private home viewing, then yes it's legal.

But pretty much any other use is restricted. Sorry.
 
If you have a VCR say, you can tape and watch it at home. You can't redistribute it unless your licenced. If your vid is for a group of friends, hey, whatever. But legally no, ofcourse not.

You need permission on some level.

//But , there's something called Royalty Free Footage that is legal you can use.
 
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The only way you can ever really get away with using media without express permission in your own production is if, say, you are running a news podcast every week and you want to show an image or a video clip that was seen on ABC News, you can show it under "fair use." This is tricky though, and you have to be careful of all the little catches.

From what it sounds like, this would not apply to your situation, you would need their permission.
 
If, say, you were doing a review of the new Knight Rider, you could get away with using a small amount of relevent footage under fair use. If you wanted to use that footage for your own production and not give any credit, you'll probably get sued into the next decade.

Please specify what you want to use the footage for.
 
I should also add that I do not believe that ESPN owns the right to the football game footage, even if it's from their own broadcast. I believe it's the property of the NFL or NCAA (depending on whether it's pro or college).

Either way, unless its for some sort of news gathering or editorial use, someone is going to sue you into the next decade if you don't get permission first.
 
Hey don't believe everybody else here... it's perfectly legal to use TV footage... for example, a great way to win an emmy is to record an emmy winning show and then replace the beginning and ending credits in windows movie maker. People say I'm crazy... until they see the big pile of emmys in my garage.
 
MattinSTL said:
Hey don't believe everybody else here... it's perfectly legal to use TV footage... for example, a great way to win an emmy is to record an emmy winning show and then replace the beginning and ending credits in windows movie maker. People say I'm crazy... until they see the big pile of emmys in my garage.
Click to expand...

Bwahahahahaaaa! That's awesome, Matt. :cheesy:
 
Two rules of thumb:

1) Assume it's copyrighted (because almost everything is)

2) Assume Fair Use doesn't cover you (it's much narrower than anyone seems to think)
 
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