Can You Legally Download Clips from New Releases Like 'Legacy' and 'Empire City' for Promo Edits?

Hook: If you make promo edits or review videos, the takedown notice is your worst nightmare — here’s how to avoid it

Creators and publishers are under pressure in 2026: studios and distributors have tightened automated copyright enforcement, AI tools make detection faster, and festival markets are circulating exclusive footage earlier in the pipeline. If you want to use short clips from new releases — think Legacy or Empire City — for reviews, reaction videos or promos, you need a clear, practical legal playbook that minimizes takedown risk and preserves your monetization options.

The current landscape (why 2026 is different)

Two industry signals underline the change in risk this year. In January 2026 Variety reported that HanWay Films is showcasing exclusive Legacy footage at the European Film Market in Berlin — footage that often circulates in buyer screenings and EPKs before public release. Around the same time Deadline confirmed Empire City was actively filming in Australia, generating early production stills and on-set clips. Studios and sales agents are distributing high-quality assets earlier, and platforms have built better automated detection and reporting chains to protect those assets.

What this means for creators: platforms (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, X, Vimeo) increased automated takedown and Content ID accuracy in late 2025. Legal outcomes hinge less on blunt rules and more on context — so your process and recordkeeping matter. Below are the up-to-date, practical steps to safely use movie clips for promo edits in 2026.

Core legal concepts — quick primer for creators

• Copyright: The studio or rights holder owns the film and trailer content by default. That covers motion picture, soundtrack, and promotional assets.
• Fair use / fair dealing: Not a free pass. In the US, fair use is a facts-and-context test (purpose, nature, amount, market effect). Other jurisdictions use similar but different doctrines (e.g., UK fair dealing). Always treat fair use as a defense, not a right.
• Licenses: If you want guaranteed clearance for promos or reuse in commercial contexts, you need a license (sync license for video + music clearances as required).
• Creative Commons: Studios rarely release new commercial films or trailers under CC. CC assets are useful when you need guaranteed reuse without negotiation.
• Platform policies: Even if you think your use is fair, platforms often remove content when they receive a copyright complaint. You’ll need to appeal or counter-notify.

Can you legally download trailer clips and short excerpts?

Short answer: sometimes — but “sometimes” depends on source, purpose, and the steps you take. There are three common scenarios:

1. Using officially released trailers/EPKs from studio channels or press portals: safest if you follow the studio’s stated terms. Many studios allow embedding trailers. Downloading and republishing often requires permission.
2. Using short clips for review/critique: potentially defensible under fair use, if transformed and contextualized, but it’s not risk-free and can trigger automated takedowns.
3. Using clips in promotional edits intended to advertise a product or event: usually requires an explicit license; fair use is unlikely to protect straightforward promotional use that substitutes for a licensed promo.

Official press kits and festival screeners — your first stop

Studios and sales agents (like HanWay) often supply EPKs — electronic press kits — with stills, trailers and b-roll to accredited press and festival buyers. If you have legitimate access to an EPK, read the included terms carefully. An EPK may permit editorial use (reviews, feature stories) and prohibit promotional redistribution. When in doubt, ask the PR contact.

Fair use in practice — a four-point checklist

Fair use is evaluated case-by-case. Use this checklist to structure your edits and claims:

1. Purpose & character: Is your use transformative? Add commentary, criticism, analysis, or new creative context. Reaction clips that simply re-cut the trailer with minimal commentary are weakly transformative.
2. Nature of the work: Fiction films and trailers are highly creative and therefore receive more protection; factor that into your risk tolerance.
3. Amount used: Use only the portion necessary for your point. Shorter clips (5–20 seconds) used for criticism are more defensible than posting a full scene or full trailer.
4. Market effect: If your clip could substitute for the original or harm the studio’s market (e.g., using the best set piece that would reduce demand for the film), it weighs against fair use.

Practical rules-of-thumb

• Prefer short, low-res clips for critique; keep original-file resolution lower than official assets when possible.
• Always include substantive, time-coded commentary that discusses the clip point-by-point.
• Do not embed full trailers as standalone uploads if your channel is promotional/commercial without permission.

Fair use is a defense, not a right. You can rely on it in court — but platforms remove first and adjudicate later. Your workflow must assume an initial takedown is probable unless you have explicit permission.

How to download trailers and clips safely (practical steps)

If you must download clips for editing, follow these secure practices to reduce security, legal, and takedown risk.

Step 1 — Source assets from official channels

• Use studio YouTube channels, official Vimeo pages, or the distributor’s press site.
• Look for press/EPK downloads (often labeled as “press resources” or “for media use”) — these frequently include licensing notes.

Step 2 — Avoid shady downloader software

Third-party “trailer downloaders” often bundle adware, violate terms of service, or produce poor-quality files. If you need a downloader for offline editing, use vetted, open-source tools and run them on an isolated workstation. Our recommended checklist:

• Prefer official download links in the EPK.
• If you must use a tool, choose a reputable sandboxed command-line utility that’s been audited (and run it in a sandbox).
• Keep antivirus signatures updated and avoid installers that request extra permissions.

Step 3 — Transcode and watermark

Transcoding to lower resolution (720p or 480p) for review clips can reduce takedown attractiveness. Adding a small editorial watermark and clear commentary overlay strengthens the transformative case. Keep original downloaded files offline and archived for recordkeeping.

Licensing options when fair use isn’t enough

If your promo edit is intended as an advertisement, a trailer mashup for a brand campaign, or you plan widespread distribution at scale (festivals, paid placements), obtain a license. Typical licenses you may need:

• Sync license for the film footage
• Master use license if you use a specific recorded soundtrack
• Publicity clearances if you use actor likenesses beyond what’s covered in the promo materials

Contact the studio’s PR or sales agent (for Legacy that might be HanWay Films; for Empire City, contact the production company or distributor). Be ready to describe the edit, distribution channels, audience size, and monetization plans. If you need help structuring licensing requests or micro-licenses, look for creators’ marketplaces and licensing marketplaces that broker small sync deals.

Takedown risk: what happens and how to respond

Platforms generally react the same way:

1. An automated system (Content ID or a fingerprinting service) detects the clip and issues a claim or takedown.
2. The rights holder can monetize, mute, block, or request removal.
3. You can file an appeal, a fair use counter-notification, or negotiate a license.

Immediate steps when you get a takedown or claim

• Do not delete evidence; keep the original project files and timestamps.
• Check the claim details — is it a manual takedown or an automated Content ID claim?
• Prepare a concise appeal stating your fair use rationale (transformative purpose, amount used, etc.). Include timecodes and commentary notes.
• If appeal fails and you believe you are right, consider a counter-notice — but know counter-notices can lead to litigation in some jurisdictions; consult counsel if the stakes are high.

Template: concise fair use appeal structure

Use this structure when filing an appeal on platforms:

• State identity of claimant and video timestamp.
• Explain the transformative purpose (critique, commentary, education), referencing the specific clip and how it’s used.
• Note the amount used and why that amount was necessary.
• Note you are not substituting the original and indicate whether you monetized.

Recordkeeping & audit trail — your best protection

Maintain a folder for each project that contains:

• Source links and screenshots of original upload timestamps
• EPK or PR emails with any stated permissions
• Transcripts of commentary and timecodes mapping commentary to clips
• License agreements or correspondence requesting permission

This audit trail will help in appeals and, if necessary, in court. For hands-on tools that help with local project backups and labeling, see field reviews of desktop preservation kits and workflows.

Creative Commons & alternatives — when you don’t want legal risk

If you want zero risk, use content that’s explicitly licensed for reuse. Options:

• Creative Commons (CC BY, CC BY-SA) — must follow attribution rules. CC0 is safest (public domain).
• Stock footage — many services provide cinematic clips and b-roll for promos with clear sync licenses.
• Licensing marketplaces that broker short film clip rights for creators, which can be economical for small social promos.

Case study: a safe review edit for Legacy (practical walkthrough)

Scenario: You want to publish a 3-minute review video of Legacy using two 10-second clips from the official trailer to illustrate plot points.

1. Source official trailer from the studio’s YouTube channel; check the video description and studio press site for usage notes.
2. Download only the two 10-second segments using a vetted, open-source tool in a sandbox; transcode to 720p.
3. Structure your review: 30–45 seconds of original opening commentary, 10–20 seconds clip with time-coded critique, 60–90 seconds analysis, and a closing summary — demonstrate that the clips are used as evidence in your critique.
4. Add visible commentary overlays and a watermark; include timestamps and reference slides to increase transformation.
5. Upload with an explicit fair use statement in the description, link to the original trailer, and keep PR correspondence and EPK capture in your project folder.
6. If a claim arrives, file an appeal citing the four fair use factors and link your project folder evidence.

When to get a lawyer — and how to budget for licensing

Hire counsel if you:

• Plan high-volume commercial uses across paid channels
• Receive multiple takedowns or a litigation threat
• Need a negotiated sync/master license for a campaign

Licensing fees vary: a small social promo license could be a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on territory and length. Always request written terms. Also consider creator monetization options like platform badges and alternative revenue channels — for new opportunities see Bluesky’s cashtags and Live Badges.

2026 trends & future predictions — plan ahead

• Automated enforcement will continue to improve via AI fingerprinting — expect faster and more accurate takedowns for short clips.
• Studios may expand EPK access paired with license tiers for verified creators — proactive clearance options will become more common at festivals and markets.
• Creators who integrate a clearance-first workflow (EPK checks, low-res derivative assets, clear commentary) will face fewer interruptions and better monetization outcomes.
• New marketplaces will emerge to provide pay-per-use clip licenses for scenes and trailers, shifting some secondary-market friction into transparent micro-licensing.

Quick checklist — publish promo edits the safe way

• Start with the studio press site or official channel.
• Use the minimum clip length necessary and make it transformative.
• Transcode to lower resolution and add editorial overlays.
• Keep thorough records: EPKs, emails, timecodes, project files.
• Be ready to appeal: craft a clear fair use explanation with evidence.
• If the edit is promotional/commercial, obtain a written license.
• Prefer CC or stock footage if you require guaranteed reuse.

Final thoughts — balancing creativity, legal risk, and growth

Creativity thrives on remixing and commentary, but copyright systems and platforms are quicker than ever at policing unauthorized use. In 2026, the smartest creators adopt a hybrid approach: rely on fair use where appropriate and low-risk, secure licenses for commercial promotions, and use CC/stock assets for guaranteed reuse. That combination protects your channel, preserves monetization, and keeps you working with industry partners rather than against them.

Call to action

Need vetted tools and templates? Download our Creator’s Promo Clearance Checklist, curated list of sandboxed downloader tools, and a ready-to-send PR permission template. Visit thedownloader.co.uk/resources to get the pack and join our weekly briefing on legal trends for creators — stay ahead of takedowns and future-proof your edits.

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