Not legal advice. Copyright law differs from country to country, and whether a particular use is allowed depends on the details. This article explains general principles. If money or a business decision depends on the answer, talk to a lawyer where you live.
Who owns a video posted on Threads?
The person who created it. Posting on Threads doesn't transfer ownership to Meta or to anyone who views the post. Under Meta's terms, users keep ownership of what they upload and give Meta a licence to show it on the platform. That licence covers Meta. It gives other users no rights to reuse the content.
The creator also isn't always the person who posted. A reposted clip from a TV show, a film or another creator still belongs to its original owner, whoever uploaded it to Threads.
Copyright usually applies automatically, as soon as the work is created. The video doesn't need a © symbol or any registration to be protected.
Uses that are usually low-risk
- Keeping a copy for yourself to watch offline or to make sure a post you like isn't lost.
- Downloading your own posts to back them up or publish them on other platforms. It's your content.
- Content you have explicit permission to use, for example a client's video you manage, or a clip the creator agreed to let you share.
- Content clearly released for reuse, such as posts the author has marked as free to share, or official press material meant to be shared.
Uses that need the creator's permission
- Re-uploading someone else's video to TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, or back to Threads as if it were your own.
- Using it in ads or anything that makes money: monetised channels, sponsored posts, product pages.
- Compilations made of other people's clips.
- Removing or cropping out credits or other marks that identify the creator.
Crediting the creator ("video by @username") is good manners, but credit is not permission. A credit doesn't make an unauthorised re-upload legal.
What about fair use?
Some countries, including the United States, allow limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, teaching or parody. In the US this is called fair use. Several other countries have similar but narrower exceptions, often called fair dealing.
These exceptions are decided case by case. Courts look at things like why you used the material, how much of it you used, and whether your use competes with the original. A short clip inside a video that actually discusses or criticises it is in a very different position from a full re-upload with a caption added. If your plan depends on fair use, treat it as a risk to assess, not a guarantee.
How to ask a creator for permission
Most creators respond to a short, specific request. Send a direct message that says:
- Which post you mean (include the link).
- Where and how you'd like to use it: platform, format, and whether it's commercial.
- How you'll credit them, and whether you're offering payment.
Keep their reply, a screenshot is fine, so you can show permission later if anyone asks.
What happens if you re-upload without permission
Platforms act on copyright complaints. The usual result is that the post is removed and a strike is added to your account. Repeated strikes can lead to the account being suspended. Commercial use can also lead to a claim for damages. In practice, a polite permission request is far less trouble.
ThreadSave's position
ThreadSave is a tool for saving public posts. Our Terms of Service allow downloading for personal use and prohibit using the service to infringe copyright. We don't support private accounts (here's why), and we don't host any of the media: files pass from Threads to your device as you download them.
If you own content and believe it's being misused through our service, our DMCA page explains how to report it.
