Theft of videos on TikTok has become a growing issue as the platform’s popularity skyrockets. TikTok now has over 1 billion monthly active users, making it one of the biggest social media platforms in the world. With this massive audience, original videos can quickly go viral and gain millions of views.
Unfortunately, this also means it’s lucrative for bad actors to steal and repost popular TikTok videos as their own. They can gain quick fame and followers this way. According to statistics, over 30% of top videos on TikTok contain stolen content.
This content theft harms original creators by diverting views, likes, and new followers away from them. It can be deeply discouraging for TikTok users who put effort into making quality original content. As such, video theft is becoming a serious concern that impacts the entire TikTok community.
Check Views and Likes
One way to determine if someone stole your TikTok video is to compare the views and likes on the suspected stolen video to your own video’s metrics. According to research, the average TikTok video gets 14.49% view rate (Socialinsider). This means if you have 1,000 followers, you could expect around 145 views per video. The engagement rate per follower is around 5.7% (Megadigital). So for 1,000 followers, you may get 57 likes per video on average.
If you notice a copied version of your video has significantly more views or likes than your original, it’s likely your content was stolen. Check if the metrics on the duplicate video are well above your normal benchmarks per follower count. For example, if your video usually gets 100 views but the reposted version has 10,000 views, that’s a red flag your work has been stolen without credit.
Look for Reposts
One of the easiest ways to check if your TikTok video has been reposted without permission is to search for it on the platform. Start by searching for your exact video title or using keywords from the video. TikTok’s search feature will show results for videos with matching titles or descriptions.
You can also search hashtags you used in your original video to see if someone reposted it using the same tags. Go through the results carefully, watching any videos that seem similar to yours. Many times, copied videos will have nearly identical thumbnails or descriptions.
According to research by WikiHow, all of your reposted videos can be easily seen in one place. Go to your TikTok profile and tap the icon with two arrows to view a feed of only your reposts. This makes it simple to monitor if someone has reposted your content without permission.
Staying on top of frequent searches for your own videos is the best way to catch unauthorized reposts quickly. TikTok’s powerful search gives you the tools to identify copied videos and take action against copyright infringement.
Use Third-Party Services
There are third-party services that can help you find reposts of your TikTok videos. These services scan TikTok to look for copies of your original content. Some popular options include:
Repost Network (https://www.repostnetwork.com/) – This service lets you enter the URL of your original TikTok video. It will then search for any duplicates and show you a list of videos that have reposted your content without permission.
ClipSpy (https://clipspy.net/) – ClipSpy is designed specifically to find reposted TikTok videos. You can search by video URL or hashtag. It will show any identical copies of your video that it finds across TikTok.
These third-party tools search the entirety of TikTok, which gives you the best chance of finding any reposts of your stolen content. The downside is that you often have to pay a subscription fee to access the full capabilities. But for serious TikTok creators, it can be worth it to protect your hard work. Just be sure to choose a reputable service.
Contact the User
The best first step is to politely and directly ask the user to credit your TikTok video or remove their reposted content. You can comment on the reposted video saying something like “Hi [username], I noticed you reposted my TikTok video here without credit. I kindly ask that you please add credit to my @username and original video or remove this repost. Thank you for understanding.”
If they don’t respond, you can also try sending them a polite direct message explaining that you created the original content and kindly asking them to credit you or remove their reposted video. Avoid accusations, threats or anger. A kind, direct message is best.
Many creators repost content without intending harm. By politely explaining that it’s your original content and asking for credit or removal, there’s a good chance they’ll happily comply. Clear communication is key.
Report Copyright Infringement
If you believe someone has stolen and reposted your original TikTok video without permission, you can report it to TikTok for copyright infringement. According to TikTok’s copyright policy, here are the steps to report a video:
- In the TikTok app, tap the Share button on the side of the video you want to report.
- Tap Report and select “This video shouldn’t be on TikTok”.
- Select “Copyright infringement” as the reason for reporting.
- Enter your contact information and any other details about your copyright claim.
- Tap Submit to send your copyright infringement report to TikTok.
TikTok will review your report and may remove the infringing content if it violates their copyright policy. Make sure you own the copyright to the original video and can provide proof if requested. Reporting false copyright claims can lead to your account being banned.
File DMCA Takedown
Filing a DMCA takedown notice is one of the most effective ways to get infringing content removed from TikTok. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) provides a process for copyright holders to request the removal of unauthorized use of their copyrighted material. According to TikTok’s Intellectual Property Removal Requests Report, they comply with valid DMCA takedown requests for copyright violations.
To file a DMCA notice with TikTok, you need to submit a written declaration containing your contact information, identification of the infringing content, proof of ownership of the copyrighted material, and your signature. This must be submitted to TikTok’s designated copyright agent. Once received, TikTok will remove the infringing content to comply with the DMCA.
Filing a DMCA takedown is typically the most efficient way to get stolen content removed from TikTok. It provides a clear legal process to enforce your copyrights. Just be sure to follow the proper DMCA notice format and procedures when submitting your request.
Consult a Lawyer
If you find clear evidence that someone has stolen and reposted your original TikTok video without permission, you may need to get professional legal help. An attorney who specializes in copyright and intellectual property law can provide legal guidance and draft formal takedown notices or lawsuits on your behalf.
According to Jeanette Braun Law, you should consult a lawyer if your attempts to resolve the issue directly with the infringing user fail, if the infringing content has received significant views/traffic at your expense, or if you want to pursue legal action and damages.
A lawyer can issue a formal DMCA takedown notice demanding removal of the infringing content. They can also file a copyright infringement lawsuit if the content is not removed. This is recommended for clear-cut cases of theft where informal requests have not worked.
Having an attorney deal with legal matters allows you to focus on creating content while letting a professional handle the complex legal process. Their expertise can often resolve issues faster and more effectively.
Prevent Future Theft
The best way to prevent future video theft on TikTok is to watermark your videos. You can add a semi-transparent watermark with your username, logo, or copyright notice over your video. This makes it harder for others to repost your content without credit. As recommended on Reddit, you can use free or paid tools like Animotica to add animated watermarks to TikTok videos before uploading.
Other tips to prevent theft include:
- Upload your video to TikTok first before posting elsewhere.
- Report any stolen videos and file DMCA takedowns to protect your copyright.
- Avoid oversharing or posting full-length videos, which are more likely to be stolen.
- Turn off the TikTok setting that allows others to duet or stitches your videos.
While there’s no foolproof way to prevent theft, watermarking and quickly reporting infringing videos can help minimize the issue.
Conclusion
If you suspect someone has stolen and reposted your TikTok video without permission, there are several steps you can take to confirm the theft and have the content removed. Start by closely monitoring view counts, likes, and comments to spot unusual spikes that may indicate a repost. Actively search for your content on other platforms and in TikTok repost compilation videos. Use third-party services to scan for copies of your video across the internet. If you find your stolen content, politely contact the user and request they credit you or take it down. If that fails, formally report the copyright infringement and file a DMCA takedown notice to have it removed. You may need to consult a lawyer to enforce your rights. While challenging, removing stolen videos helps maintain your online reputation and integrity. Stay vigilant in monitoring your content and actively defending against theft. With persistence and the proper legal channels, you can get your stolen TikTok videos taken down.
