How to Avoid Copyright on Instagram Reels

Ever pour your heart into creating the perfect Instagram Reel, only to find its audio muted or the video taken down hours later because of a copyright claim? It's one of the most frustrating experiences for a creator. This guide walks you through exactly how to avoid copyright issues on Instagram Reels by understanding the rules and using music and video clips legally, so your content stays live and your account stays safe.

What is Copyright and Why Does Instagram Care So Much?

In simple terms, copyright is the legal right that creators and artists have over their original work. When someone writes a song, shoots a film, or writes a book, they own the copyright to it. This means they get to decide who can use their work and how. Using their song or movie clip in your Reel without permission is technically a violation of that right.

Why is Instagram so strict about this? They operate under legal frameworks like the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). To avoid massive lawsuits, platforms like Instagram have agreements with major music labels and movie studios. They use sophisticated automated systems (bots) that constantly scan newly uploaded content for copyrighted material. If a bot detects a match - even for a few seconds - it can automatically mute the audio, block the video in certain regions, or take it down entirely.

Relying on luck isn't a strategy. To build a sustainable brand on Instagram, you need to play by the rules. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to create incredible, engaging Reels without ever getting a dreaded copyright notice.

The Music Mess: How to Use Audio in Your Reels Legally

Audio is the heart and soul of most Reels, but it's also the #1 cause of copyright claims. Let's break down the safe ways to add sound to your videos.

1. Use Instagram's In-App Music Library: Your Safest Bet

The most straightforward way to add music legally is to use the audio options provided directly within the Instagram Reels editor. Instagram has licensing agreements with many music labels, giving you a pre-approved library to pull from.

However, there's a catch: the library available to you depends on your account type.

• Personal & Creator Accounts: These accounts typically have access to a vast library of popular, commercial music from famous artists. If your goal is to jump on trends using chart-topping hits, a Creator account is your best option.
• Business Accounts: Business accounts have a more limited selection. They can access Instagram's Sound Collection, which is filled with thousands of royalty-free tracks. You won't find the latest hit song from a global pop star here, but you will find plenty of great background music that won't get you in trouble. Instagram does this because using popular music for explicit commercial purposes (like in an ad or a video promoting a product) requires a different, more expensive license that they don't have.

How to add music from the Instagram library:

1. Open the Reels editor and record or upload your video clips.
2. Tap the musical note icon to open the audio library.
3. Search for a song or browse the "For You" suggestions.
4. Select the track and use the timeline scrubber at the bottom to choose the exact snippet you want for your Reel.

This is, without a doubt, the easiest and safest method.

2. Create Your Own Original Audio

Don't overlook the power of your own voice and creativity! "Original Audio" is any sound that originates from your video. You own it, and no one can flag it for copyright.

Here are a few ways to use Original Audio:

• Voiceovers: Create tutorials, tell stories, or share commentary over your video clips. Informative or funny voiceovers are incredibly effective at capturing attention.
• Record Environmental Sounds: Using ASMR, the sound of nature, or city ambiance can create a powerful mood for your Reel.
• Use Your Own Music: Are you a musician? A Reel is the perfect place to showcase your own songs!

When you post a Reel with sound that isn't from Instagram's library, it automatically creates an "Original Audio" track that other users can then use in their own Reels. This can be an amazing organic marketing tool - if your audio goes viral, every Reel that uses it will credit your account at the bottom of the screen, driving traffic back to your profile.

3. Use Royalty-Free Music Subscription Services

If the Instagram library feels too limited and creating original audio isn’t a fit for your brand, your next best option is a royalty-free music service. These are platforms designed for creators, offering massive libraries of high-quality music and sound effects that you can legally use.

Important: "Royalty-free" does not mean "free." It typically means that after paying for a subscription or a single-use license, you can use the music without having to pay ongoing royalties to the artist for each use.

Some of the most popular and creator-friendly services include:

• Epidemic Sound: A huge library of music and sound effects with a straightforward subscription model that covers your social channels.
• Artlist: Offers high-quality music and footage with a simple, universal license. You pay an annual fee and get unlimited access.
• Uppbeat: Provides a great free-tier option for creators, offering a selection of music in exchange for giving credit in your description. They also have a premium subscription with full access.

The key benefit here is that these services give you the documentation to prove you have a license. If your Reel ever gets flagged by mistake, you can use the platform's appeals process and submit your license certificate to get it reinstated.

What About Ripping Audio From Other Reels?

Using a trending sound is a great way to increase your reach, but you have to be careful. When you tap the audio at the bottom of someone else's Reel, look at its source.

• If it takes you to an official audio page for a famous artist, it means the audio came from Instagram’s library and is generally safe for you to use (permissions still depend on your account type).
• If it's labeled as "Original Audio" from another creator, you can use it. However, proceed with a little caution. If that creator illegally used a copyrighted song to create their "Original Audio," any Reel using it - including yours - is at risk of being flagged down the line. It's safer to stick to audio that you know is licensed or truly original.

Big Myth: Debunking the "15-Second Rule"

A common myth floating around is that you can use any song as long as your clip is under 15 seconds. This is completely false. Copyright law does not have a "15-second rule" or a "30-second rule." Using even five seconds of a copyrighted track without a license is still an infringement. The automated bots don't care about duration, they care about matching audio fingerprints. Don't risk your account on this myth.

Beyond Music: Avoiding Copyright on Visual Content

While music is the most common cause of copyright claims, the visual content in your Reel matters, too. You can't just screenshot your favorite TV show or use clips from a blockbuster movie and assume it's okay.

Stick to Your Own Footage

The simplest rule is to only use videos and photos you've filmed or created yourself. When you're the one holding the camera, you own the footage, and you have nothing to worry about.

Use Stock Video and Photo Services

Just like with music, there are services dedicated to providing legal, high-quality video clips and images for your content.

• Free Stock Footage: Websites like Pexels, Unsplash, and Pixabay offer vast libraries of free-to-use video clips and photos. Always check the license for each clip, but most are "free for commercial use" without attribution required.
• Paid Stock Footage: Subscription services like Storyblocks, Artgrid, and Envato Elements offer an even broader and more curated selection of professional-quality video for a monthly or annual fee.

Can I Use Movie Clips? Understanding "Fair Use"

You’ll often see Reels that include clips from popular movies or TV shows, sometimes with a creator’s voiceover on top. This is an extremely gray area that falls under a legal concept called "Fair Use."

Fair Use allows for the limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like commentary, criticism, news reporting, and parody. However, "Fair Use" is not a permission slip, it's a legal defense you might have to argue in court. Instagram’s content moderation bots generally can't distinguish between infringement and fair use - they just see the copyrighted material and flag it.

Creating transformative work - like an in-depth video critique or a clear parody - has a better chance of holding up, but simply placing a text overlay on a movie scene isn't enough. For most creators, relying on fair use is a high-risk strategy that's best avoided.

Big Myth: "Giving Credit" Makes It Okay

Another myth is that you can use any content you want as long as you "give credit to the owner" or write "I do not own this music" in your caption. This provides zero legal protection. Tagging the artist doesn't pay their bills, and it doesn't grant you a license to use their work. The copyright holder still has the right to file a takedown notice against your content.

What to Do if You Get a Copyright Notification

Even if you're careful, mistakes can happen. If Instagram flags your Reel, don't panic. Here's what generally occurs and what you can do:

1. You'll get an in-app notification explaining that your video was muted, blocked, or removed because it may contain copyrighted content.
2. The notification will usually tell you what content was flagged and who the rights holder is.
3. It will give you the option to appeal the decision.

If you believe the claim was made in error - for example, if you licensed the song through a service like Epidemic Sound or if the footage is your own - you should absolutely appeal. During the appeal process, you can provide an explanation and upload documentation (like a license certificate) to prove you have the right to use the content. If your appeal is successful, your audio or video will be restored.

However, if you know you used the content without permission, the best course of action is to accept the removal and delete the Reel. Consistent copyright violations can lead to more severe penalties, including account restrictions or even a permanent ban.

Final Thoughts

Navigating copyright rules on Instagram might seem complicated, but it all comes down to a simple principle: use content that you have the right to use. By sticking to Instagram's official music library, creating your own original audio and video, or using licensed content from legitimate royalty-free services, you can build your brand without fear of takedowns.

You put so much effort into planning campaigns and producing quality Reels, it’s crushing when that work goes to waste over a preventable copyright issue. After seeing so many creators struggle with unreliable legacy tools, a big part of why we created Postbase was to build a modern management platform that's actually designed for video-first content. Managing your schedule with a visual calendar gives you a clear view of your content, helping you plan everything out so you can focus on creativity, not compliance.