Why You Don't Own the Raw Footage When You Hire a Video Production Company: Explained

When you hire a video production company to create videos for you, it's essential to understand that you typically don't own the raw footage. This means you don't have the original video files that were shot during the production process, and you can't use them to create new videos or make changes to the existing ones.

The reason for this is that the raw footage is considered the intellectual property of the video production company. When you hire them to create videos for you, you're paying them to use their expertise, equipment, and time to capture and edit footage that meets your needs. They own the rights to the footage they create, and you're essentially licensing the use of that footage for your particular project.

This is standard practice in the video production industry, and it's designed to protect the creative and financial investment that the video production company makes in creating your videos. Without this protection, it would be difficult for video production companies to stay in business, as they would be at risk of losing their intellectual property and being unable to recoup their investment costs.

While you don't own the raw footage, you typically have the right to use the final video product in whatever way you agree with the video production company. For example, if you hired a company to create a promotional video for your business, you can use that video on your website, social media channels, and other marketing materials. You can't use the raw footage to create new videos or make changes to the existing ones.

There are some cases where you may be able to negotiate to own the raw footage. However, this is typically a more expensive option, requiring the video production company to give up its intellectual property rights to the footage they create.

In summary, when you use a video production company to create videos, you typically don't own the raw footage. However, you have the right to use the final video product in whatever way you agree with the video production company. It's essential to keep this in mind when working with a video production company, so you can understand your rights and limitations when it comes to the footage that's created.