Who Owns the RAW Footage After a Video Is Done?

The short answer

It depends on your agreement. A lot of people assume that if they paid for the video, they own everything that was shot. That is not automatically true. In most cases, paying for a finished video gets you the right to use that video. The raw footage (everything the cameras captured, including outtakes) often stays with the production company unless the contract says otherwise.

This is general information, not legal advice. For high-stakes projects, have a lawyer review the contract.

What "raw footage" actually means

People use the term loosely, so it helps to separate a few things:

• Raw footage: the unedited video and audio files from the shoot, including b-roll and outtakes.
• Project files: the editing timeline, graphics and settings that let someone re-edit the video.
• The final video: the finished, exported edit (and any cutdowns or versions).

Each one can be handled differently in a contract, so ask about them separately.

How ownership works in Canada

In Canada, the person who creates a work is generally the first owner of its copyright, unless they made it as an employee in the course of their job. Hiring a company to make a video does not automatically make you the copyright owner. A transfer of copyright (called an assignment) generally needs to be in writing and signed by the owner. What you normally get is a licence to use the finished video in the ways you agreed.

That is why the contract matters so much. It is where all of this gets spelled out.

Three common setups

Why production companies often keep raw footage

• It is their working material. It can be reused if you need a re-edit or a new cutdown later.
• File size. A single shoot day can produce hundreds of gigabytes. Handing it over means time, drives and storage.
• Quality control. Outtakes, unflattering moments and rough takes are not meant to be seen or reused out of context.
• Rights. Some footage includes licensed material that cannot be passed along freely.

Why you might want it

• You want to re-edit with a different editor or agency later.
• You need an archive for compliance or record-keeping.
• You want to reuse b-roll in future content.
• You are planning to switch vendors and do not want to lose your assets.

What cannot always be handed over

• Licensed music and stock footage. These licences are usually tied to a specific project and use.
• Footage of people. Releases normally cover specific uses, so reusing the footage somewhere new may need new permission.
• Locations and third-party content. Permissions can be limited.

What to ask before you sign

1. Will I receive the raw footage, when, and for what fee?
2. Will I receive the project files (the edit timeline)?
3. How long will you store the footage, and what happens to it afterwards?
4. Can I give it to another editor or agency to re-edit?
5. Where and for how long can I use the finished video?
6. Can you use clips from my project in your own portfolio or marketing?
7. Who is responsible for music licences and talent releases?

Then get the answers in writing.

A practical tip

If you want to keep your options open (for example, you are planning a video series or might switch agencies), say so at the start. It is far easier to price in raw footage delivery up front than to ask for it six months later. If you want to talk it through before anything is signed, get in touch. You can also read how video production pricing works, or see our video production services.