YouTubers and digital creators are selling their unused video clips to AI companies like OpenAI, Google, etc, that need exclusive content to improve their algorithms, often earning thousands of dollars for each deal.
Companies like OpenAI, Google, and Moonvalley are paying many creators for access to their unpublished videos, as this unique content is valuable for training AI systems.

These AI firms pay between $1 and $4 for each minute of footage, with higher prices for better quality or different formats.
For instance, 4K videos and those captured by drones or created with 3D animations tend to sell for more.
Most unused footage from platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok typically goes for around $1 to $2 per minute.
In 2024, companies like OpenAI, Meta, and Adobe launched AI video generators that create realistic videos from text prompts, but they require vast amounts of data for training, sometimes needing millions of hours of video.
Dan Levitt, a senior executive at Wasserman, which represents popular social media stars, notes that there’s a growing need for more footage in the industry.
He believes that in the next couple of years, licensing footage could be a profitable opportunity for creators, but warns that this chance might not last long.
Many content creators produce hundreds of hours of video each year for platforms like YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok, but a lot of it remains unpublished, meaning they don’t earn from it.
Selling this unused content to AI companies provides creators a way to earn beyond traditional advertising deals.
Moonvalley states that most of its training data comes from creators and filmmakers who want to license their video content.
Representatives from Google and OpenAI have declined to comment on these developments.
AI companies have faced backlash for using publicly shared content without compensating the creators, leading to lawsuits from news publishers, actors, and individual creators regarding copyright violations.
Levitt emphasizes that anything posted publicly can be taken, urging creators to consider licensing agreements.
Talent agencies are collaborating with licensing firms like Troveo AI and Calliope Networks to help manage the rights of the vast amounts of footage owned by creators.
These companies negotiate with numerous creators, gather their footage, and then license it in bulk to AI companies, while some AI firms also work directly with the creators.
Marty Pesis, co-founder of Troveo, mentions that they have paid creators over $5 million.
Most agreements include clauses that prevent AI companies from creating exact replicas of creators or using footage in ways that could harm their reputation.
Andrew Graham from Creative Artists Agency, which represents many creators in talks with AI companies, emphasizes the importance of fair compensation and protection for their clients.
CAA also represents popular figures like Amelia Dimoldenberg, known for her celebrity interviews, and Alan Chikin Chow, a YouTube shorts creator with a massive following.
Graham expresses concern about ensuring clients receive proper compensation and protection for their content.
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