Overview
The video highlights severe issues with CapCut's updated terms of service, warning users—especially professionals—against using the app due to far-reaching rights granted to the company over user content and personal data. Alternative video editing tools are recommended, alongside general advice for evaluating app user agreements.
Problems with CapCut's Terms of Service
- CapCut’s terms grant ByteDance an unconditional, irrevocable, exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, and worldwide license to all user content.
- CapCut can sell, modify, use in advertising, or create derivatives of your videos without your permission or compensation.
- Users lose the ability to promise exclusive rights to clients, making professional use commercially risky.
- CapCut obtains rights to users’ names, images, and personas, allowing use in ads without consent or approval.
- Users waive all rights to review or object to how CapCut uses their content or likeness.
- Music creators face risks as CapCut claims non-exclusive rights to music, potentially violating label or copyright contracts.
- CapCut may disclose user identities to anyone alleging intellectual property infringement, regardless of claim validity.
- CapCut can terminate accounts at any time without warning, justification, backup opportunity, or refund.
- Terms require users to indemnify CapCut against all legal claims, while limiting CapCut’s own liability to $50 US.
- All legal disputes are subject to Singapore law and arbitration, complicating legal recourse for most users.
Risks for Specific User Groups
- Professional video editors and musicians are particularly affected, facing loss of exclusive rights and potential contract violations.
- Anyone uploading creative work risks loss of control and privacy.
- Users may have personal data exposed to malicious claims.
Recommended Alternatives to CapCut
- DaVinci Resolve: Free, professional, offline editor by Black Magic Design.
- Adobe Premiere Pro: Paid, reliable professional option.
- Vegas Pro (formerly Sony): Paid, competent video editor.
- Movavi Video Editor: Affordable, user-friendly for beginners.
- Free options: Microsoft Clipchamp, OpenShot, KDN Live, Shotgun, iMovie (Mac), Vita (mobile), and built-in editors on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok.
Tips for Evaluating App Agreements
- Watch for terms like irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, and transferable in user agreements.
- Examine context for these terms and reconsider using apps with broad, risky clauses.
Recommendations / Advice
- Back up all content from CapCut immediately and stop uploading new content.
- Inform others who use CapCut about these issues.
- Switch to alternative editing software before starting new projects.