With more than a billion active users, Instagram is currently one of the most popular social networking websites out there. Given its popularity, it naturally makes for a great place to showcase your talents. Thousands of content creators jump on the bandwagon in a bid to attain fame and popularity. So, if you’re one of them, an important skill you need to learn is how to avoid copyright on Instagram. Keeping this in mind, this article will take you through the basics of copyrights and suggest ways to avoid copyright strikes.
What is a copyright?
But firstly, let us try to understand what copyright exactly means. A copyright is a type of intellectual property that protects the original expression of the idea and hence prevents the creator from getting ripped off. This expands to all works of art like books, photographs, illustrations, art compositions, drawings, music, and film. The only prerequisite to owning a copyright is that the work of art needs to be completely original and cannot be derivative of something that already exists.
Copyright generally belongs to its original creator. They have complete autonomy over how that specific form of content is used, and to replicate it if the need arises. But, this may not be the case in all instances. If you produced the content under question under an employer, then they own the copyright and you would need their permission prior to posting it on your personal Instagram account. If multiple parties are involved, you are better off drafting a contract regarding copyright policies. There tends to be a lot of confusion or else. So, sort all these out in case you’re collaborating with a fellow artist.
How can copyrights be infringed upon on Instagram?
You might end up with a copyright strike if you try to publish or replicate an original piece of content without the permission of its original author. Before you attempt to learn how to avoid copyright on Instagram, you’ll first need to have an understanding of Instagram’s policy regarding the same. You’re prohibited from posting anything that could violate the intellectual property rights of another user. In addition to this, Instagram also encourages users to report such contentious posts. So, what are the ways you could end up triggering such a response? Some of the major instances of this include:
1) Posting content that someone else originally posted
One of the ways you could end up earning the wrath of other fellow content creators is if you end up posting content that was of someone else’s creation. So, the easy answer to how to avoid copyright on Instagram is refraining from such behavior. It’s always advisable to run a plagiarism check on all of your content prior to posting them. Try to have some written agreement in place that clearly defines the terms of the ownership of the copyright, if you’re working with multiple people.
2) Not having formal permission for using someone else’s work
When you don’t have the required permissions, your account may get flagged for copyright infringement. So, always make it a point to contact the original creator of the specific content you wish to use. They may either reject or proposal or accept it with certain terms and conditions. Some of them may want you to pay a sum of money as a licensing fee, while others might let you use it for free of cost, provided that you credit their work on your post. Whatever the stipulations, ensure that you have permission from the original author, in whatever form it may be, prior to posting it on Instagram.
3) Having an improper understanding of the exceptions to copyright infringement
Yes, there are some exceptions to copyrights, but they tend to vary from one region to another. So, you might need a refresher course in copyright law before you get to tackle the idea of copyrights. Some of the instances where you’re allowed to use copyrighted material include:
- Research studies
- Reviews
- Parodies or social commentaries
- Reporting of news
But, that’s not all of it. You’ll still need to prove that the use of your copyrighted material is fair. This decision depends more on the circumstances surrounding the post, rather than on personal bias and opinions. These policies work differently for different accounts. So, you could end up getting called out for copyright infringement and your account might get flagged. Seeking legal counsel regarding the fair dealing exception is advisable.
How to avoid copyright on Instagram?
One of the ways you can get a lot of traction on your posts is by using the appropriate music or songs. But, there’s still a glaring issue of copyrights that you’ll need to circumvent. So, how to avoid copyright on Instagram, especially when it comes to music?
-
Give credit to the creator of the song wherever possible
Like we discussed before, the simplest answer to how to avoid copyright on Instagram is by giving credit to the original creator whenever you can. You could always try asking them if it’s possible for you to use their track in your post. Some may agree since their visibility improves, some may choose to reject your proposal, while the remaining might charge you a sum of money as licensing fee. This little step could potentially end up saving you from a world of trouble as Instagram’s algorithm is getting more and more rigorous with its copyright infringement policies.
-
Alter the music slightly
Another effective way to avoid getting a copyright strike while using music is by making slight changes to it. You’re hence cutting down on the chances that Instagram’s detection program picks up on copyright infringement. You can make use of one of the different video editors available to slightly alter the track by adding background music. Some of the most popular options include:
a) Magisto
This application is an all-in-one video editor available for download on both Android and iOS devices. What’s impressive about Magisto by Vimeo is that it comes with an intuitive AI program that makes the process of editing videos a whole lot simpler. You can add eye-catching graphics, special effects, filters, and musical tracks to improve the visibility of your posts on Instagram. They do have an extensively sourced licensed song library, so copyright issues should not be a matter of concern.
This one-of-a-kind video editor is currently free to download off the Google Play Store. But, the premium version entitles you to a lot more features like
- More innovative styles and templates
- Access to more than 3 million stock photos and videos
- Fully customizable color and fonts
- No Magisto watermark
b) Videoshow
Similar to the previous entry, Videoshow is also an all-in-one video editor app that works on all Android devices. From hundreds of ready-made templates and striking filters to video dubbing and a licensed music library, there’s no dearth of features on this application. The one clear advantage to Magisto is that there is no watermark even in the free version of the application. But, you will need to brave through advertisements to be able to make proper use of the application.
c) FilmoraGo
Thanks to its powerful video editing software, FilmoraGo is one of the most popular applications of its kind. You can seamlessly mix videos and photos together using FilmoraGo’s video studio which is fully equipped with a ton of effects and pre-made templates. This application is particularly renowned for its user-friendly platform and easy 3-step processing, namely select, create and share. FilmoraGo can be downloaded on both Android and iOS devices.
d) LumaFusion
LumaFusion is more suited for professionals like filmmakers and journalists, but it still merits a mention in this list. You’ll get live audio mixing, tools for color correction, a Lock and Load stabilization tool to stabilize your videos, animation tools, and unlimited keyframes, as well as access to online guides to get you started. Sharing projects on your social media handles are also easier, and LumaFusion allows you to have complete control of video quality, frame rate, and format. It‘s currently only available for iOS you can get it for $29.99 only on the App Store.
Adobe Premium Rush, Quik, Kinemaster, Apple Clips, InShot are some of the other options.
-
Make use of copyright-free music
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of altering music to avoid copyright on Instagram, you can always use end up using copyright-free music. There are a ton of websites that offer the same. Some of the popular ones include:
a) AudioJungle– This is one of the biggest libraries of copyright-free music on the Internet. You can either choose to subscribe to the service on a monthly basis or buy a soundtrack individually
b) Pond5– This website offers more than just music. Stock videos, effects templates, SFX are all on offer here
c) SoundStripe– Great option for those looking to avoid copyright on Instagram with an extensive royalty-free music library. Monthly plans range from $12 to $66
d) Audioo– If monthly subscriptions aren’t your thing, then you can go for Audioo which offers a lifetime membership at a modest $299
Ben Sound, Artlist, Premium Beat, Hook Sounds constitute the other options.
Conclusion
It goes without saying that if you need to have a clear understanding of copyrights if you are trying to make the most of your Instagram account. So, how to avoid copyright on Instagram? You can entirely avoid posting content that wasn’t created by you or getting formal permission from the original creator prior to drafting your post. As far as music is concerned, you can either try to slightly alter the music track or make use of royalty-free music available on the Internet.