The Public Domain Review

A YouTube video is automatically copyrighted to the person who uploads it. You cannot re-upload a video and claim it to be your own, but you can link to another person’s YouTube video.

However, YouTube does have videos under different Creative Commons Licenses, including public domain. Click on “Creative Commons” under search filters and then type in your keyword search as usual. In the description of the video it will list what kind of CC License is attached.

Try a Google search for public domain videos, or visit one of the sites listed in this article. Make sure you read the fine print on the homepage of any site to double-check usage restrictions, attribution requirements, etc.

There are plenty of public domain music sites out there, but just like the video sites, you have to read the fine print. Many of the sites contain music with a mix of different licenses and usage restrictions.

Royalty-free stock music sites are safer but expensive. They run around $30 a month and can charge more for commercial use.

A video editor like PowerDirector comes with a vast royalty-free stock music library for only $5.83 a month, and gives you the option to edit your video or slideshow with amazing cinematic effects.