TED Talks Usage Policy

Are TED Talks copyrighted?

Yes, they are. Creative Commons licensing doesn't replace copyright -- which remains undivided with TED Conferences LLC.

What does the TED Creative Commons license allow?

We make TED Talks available under the Creative Commons license "Attribution - NonCommercial - NonDerivative" in order to allow non-commercial entities (like bloggers, educators and groups of friends) to use them freely and easily. Important restrictions apply, though, particularly for corporations. TED's Creative Commons BY-NC-ND license allows you to display TED Talks under the following conditions:

• Attribution (BY): You must explicitly reference TED as the original source of the materials, and TED's logos within the videos and visuals as well as those of the TED Talks sponsors remain untouched and unedited.
• NonCommercial (NC): You can't use TED Talks (or any parts of them) for commercial purposes. If you are a company wishing to create a TED branded content offering, you will require a Distribution Partner License Agreement with TED. Please contact Deron Triff (deron@ted.com), Director of Content Distribution, to explore the opportunity.
• NonDerivative (ND): You cannot alter the videos in any way. This means you cannot edit, remix, cut, shorten, add overlays to them, or, well, alter them in any way.
• These conditions can be modified only by explicit permission of TED Conferences LLC. The complete text of the license can be seen on the Creative Commons (CC) license.

Does the same go for TED-Ed?

TED-Ed videos on YouTube.com/TEDEducation are licensed under YouTube's standard policy, not Creative Commons.

Can I repost or republish TED Talks on my site or blog?

Yes, as long as you follow the guidelines below:

• Type of site/company: Bloggers, news/information websites and nonprofits (by which we mean: registered 501(c)3 organizations in the United States, and the equivalent in all other countries), may make TED Talks available under a Creative Commons (CC) license, provided that they follow the rest of the guidelines on this page.
• Video player: You must use the TED (or YouTube) embeddable player. This allows us to further our overall mission by tracking video usage. Scraping video from TED.com is not permitted.
• Attribution: You must add a visible link back to TED.com
• Running talks in their entirety: You may not edit TED Talks, or alter them in any way. This is essential for preserving the integrity of the speaker's ideas.

Can I create a TED Talks service on my company's video platform?

If one or more of the categories listed below characterizes your company's business, you will require a Distribution Partner License Agreement with TED. Please contact Deron Triff (deron@ted.com), Director of Content Distribution.

• Internet Video Services such as YouTube, Hulu, Yahoo!, Netflix, AOL, Dailymotion, iTunes, Amazon, Youku, BlipTV, etc.
• Cable, Satellite or Telecommunication Operators such as Comcast, Time Warner, UPC, Telefonica, DirecTV, Sky, AT&T U-verse, Canal+, Korea Telecom, Star TV, Globosat, etc.
• Television Broadcasters such as ABC, NBC, CBS, Al-Jazeera, BBC, NHK, RAI, Deutsche Welle, CCTV, TF-1, etc.
• Radio Broadcasters and Audio Services such as NPR, BBC Radio, Clear Channel Communications, TuneIn, Audible, Spotify, etc.
• Specialized Cable/Satellite Channels such as History Channel, Discovery Channel, Sci-Fi, HBO, etc.
• Home Entertainment Devices such as XBox, Sony Playstation, Blu-ray, TiVo, etc.
• IPTV Services and Set Top Box Manufacturers such as Roku, Boxee, Apple TV, Humax, etc.
• Mobile and Tablet Manufacturers such as Samsung, LG, Nokia, Kindle, etc.
• Web Browser Applications and Stores such as Opera Speed Dial, Mozilla Market Place, Internet Explorer, etc.
• Subscription-Based Educational Services such as Films Media Group, Proquest, Safari Montage, English First, Wiley Publishing, etc.
• Other Commercial Entities such as airlines (including inflight entertainment), hotels, restaurants, and retail locations.

Can I project TED Talks to a group of people?

Yes, as long as you comply with the terms of the Creative Commons license outlined above. For projecting TED Talks, we recommend downloading the high-def video podcast rather than projecting the streaming file from the web. In fact, we encourage you to find creative ways to share TED Talks with your friends, family, students, colleagues, and communities. (See: Ways to get TED Talks.) If you're interested in throwing a TED-style event, learn more about TEDx.

Can I show TED Talks during my conference?

Yes, as long as it's within the scope of a non-commercial event, and as long as you comply with the terms of the Creative Commons license outlined above. In particular, the talks must be shown unedited, including the TED visuals and if applicable those of the partner conference or TEDx event, and those of the TED Talks sponsor, as well as the copyright information. If you wish to use TED Talks in a commercial context, please contact us with a motivated request for permission.

Can I use TED Talks in my classroom?

Yes, as long as you comply with the terms of the Creative Commons license outlined above. Many teachers use TED Talks to stimulate discussions with students or to complement course materials, and we encourage you to do so as well.

Can I re-edit and remix TED Talks?

No. Our Creative Commons BY-NC-ND license clearly states that "derivative works" of any kind (edits, cuts, re-mixes, mashups, etc.) are not allowed without explicit permission from TED and the speaker.

Can I translate TED Talks?

Yes -- join our Open Translation Project! You may even find that the talk you're looking for is already translated into your language. If you have a Distribution Partner License Agreement with TED to exhibit TED Talks on your platform, your agreement will specify the use of subtitles provided by TED.

May I use TED Talks on a television channel?

If you are a public or private broadcaster or cable network and wish to create a television series based on TED Talks, you would require a Distribution Partner License Agreement. Please contact Deron Triff (deron@ted.com), Director of Content Distribution, to explore the opportunity.

Can I use TED Talks in my documentary?

Documentary filmmakers can use excerpts of TED Talks within their films, provided the speaker agrees to the use as well. TED must secure permission from each individual speaker for any use not produced by TED. In order for us to approach the speaker with the request, you must provide TED with a brief from the filmmaker on the intended use of the footage, the film's perspective/point of view, and distribution plan, as well as brief bios on the creative team (producer, director, etc.).

If the speaker agrees, we will provide the filmmaker with footage in one of our standard formats: DVCPro NTSC, DVCPro PAL, DVCPro NTSC Anamorphic or DVCPro HD 1080i60. We do not deliver footage on tape. No licensing fees are charged, but the footage must be accompanied by an on-screen credit (generally a lower-third) referencing TED.com. We prefer the language "Full talk available at TED.com".

Requests for use within a documentary should go to our PR team at Group SJR, who can be reached at ted@groupsjr.com.

How do I request an image from TED?

Image requests should be directed to our PR team at Group SJR at ted@groupsjr.com with the email subject IMAGE REQUEST. The request should be accompanied by the following information:

• Name of publication/outlet
• Name of requested image
• Publication date
• Preferred file format
• Deadline for receipt of image

A photo credit will be provided when the image is delivered. This credit must run in full.

I’m a member of the media. How do I request an interview with a TED staffer or speaker?

Requests for interviews should be directed to our PR team at Group SJR at ted@groupsjr.com with the email subject INTERVIEW REQUEST. Your email should include the following information:

• Name of publication/outlet
• Brief background on your interview request
• Proposed publication date
• Your deadline

All other press requests, including requests to attend TED, should include the information outlined above and be directed to our PR team at Group SJR at ted@groupsjr.com. Press passes to TED are extremely limited, and press attendance will be considered on a case-by-case basis.