This page explains our working policy. It isn't legal advice. Before commercial launch, a UK IP solicitor should review the brand name and any use of Rockstar material.
Copyright and trademark are different questions
Copyright protects creative works: key art, screenshots, trailers, character designs, in-game music and the game's visuals. Trademarks protect brand identifiers such as "Grand Theft Auto", the GTA and "VI" logos and the Rockstar logo. Naming the game in text to describe what a tool works with ("a clip editor for GTA 6") is a descriptive, nominative use and a much lower risk than using its logos. Using logos or official characters as our own branding could suggest endorsement, and we avoid that.
Rockstar's published video policy
Rockstar's policy on posting copyrighted Rockstar Games material lets fans post gameplay videos of its games on a non-commercial basis. It treats leaked or pre-release footage and story spoilers as not acceptable, and allows cutscenes only as part of a larger playthrough or narrated video. Take-Two can still request removal at any time, and the policy can change. Read the current text at support.rockstargames.com. Questions about specific commercial uses go to Take-Two's copyright team.
In practice: creators clip and publish their own gameplay under that policy and each platform's rules, and choose for themselves whether to monetise, subject to those rules. GTA6CLIPPER itself is a commercial service, so we don't assume the policy covers using game footage or art to market our subscriptions.
UK fair dealing and US fair use
UK law (Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, s.30) allows fair dealing for criticism, review and quotation, and for reporting current events, with sufficient acknowledgement. The news-reporting exception doesn't cover photographs. Whether a use is "fair" depends on how much is used, whether it's needed for the point being made, and its effect on the owner's market. In the US, fair use is a four-factor test where transformative commentary weighs strongly. Neither applies automatically, and decorative or promotional use is the weakest case for both.
How our asset library classifies images
- A, original: artwork, graphics, animation and backgrounds we made or commissioned. Free to use.
- B, licensed or permitted: stock or third-party assets under a recorded licence, or material covered by recorded written permission. Used within that licence.
- C, potentially permitted Rockstar material: our own gameplay captures, or official promotional material used for genuine commentary, review or news. Assessed one use at a time, with a written reason recorded.
- D, restricted: material of unknown origin, unauthorised commercial reproductions, or official art used in a way that implies endorsement. Never published.
Mentioning GTA, commentary about Rockstar Games, original GTA-inspired designs and lawful gameplay clips are never blocked just for being about the game.
What we use instead
Where official art can't be used, we use original artwork with a similar sunset-neon atmosphere, licensed stock, or creators' own clips under their own rights declarations. We don't recreate distinctive copyrighted artwork or characters with small changes.
Reporting a problem
Rights holders can send a notice through our copyright and takedown page. We act on valid notices and keep a repeat-infringer policy.