CapCut's latest terms of service raises big questions about content ownership
The updated terms will allow it to use your content for ads and more without asking or paying.
Despite being relatively new compared to other major mobile editing apps, the CapCut app has carved out a major space for itself in the editing market today. Founded by ByteDance, the video editing app has skyrocketed in users and market share for mobile video editing.
According to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, it commands a whopping 81% of the mobile video editing market with over 300 million monthly active users. Not bad for an app that only launched five years ago.
With that kind of dominance, changes were bound to come. In 2022, CapCut introduced a paid version to better monetize its success. Now in 2025, it’s updating its Terms of Service, and the changes have users asking serious questions about ownership and control.
Kelechi Edeh
Once you upload any content to CapCut, whether it’s a video, photo, audio clip, or even a draft, you’re giving the platform sweeping rights to use it however they like. That includes modifying it, turning it into ads, reselling it, or sharing it with third-party partners. And no, they don’t have to notify you, credit you, or pay you. What’s more, this license is perpetual (forever), global, and sublicensable.
Even your face, voice, and likeness aren’t off-limits. CapCut’s new terms allow the company to use your personal features in promotional content without asking for permission. And if you're thinking you can delete your account to opt out, bad news, the rights you've already granted remain.
While this sounds like a major red flag (and honestly, it kind of is), CapCut isn't exactly alone. TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Canva, and even Adobe all have similar terms baked into their agreements. Adobe, for instance, updated its terms last year and faced intense backlash over fears that user content could be mined for AI training and had to come out to clarify what it meant in its new terms of service. These platforms also claim broad rights to user content for AI training, recommendation algorithms, and ads.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
That said, this growing trend puts the spotlight on an important question: how much data is Big Tech really taking from us? In the age of AI, silent data scraping is almost routine.
Then again, data collection also powers good products, so how much personal data are you really willing to give up in exchange for convenience?
If you care about where your content ends up or how it’s used, it might be time to read the fine print or consider using editor-first platforms like DaVinci Resolve or VN instead. Because while these tools are powerful, your data might just be the real price of entry.
