Can You Use Pika AI Videos Commercially? License Terms (2024)

I'm a freelance video editor using Pika 2.0 for client projects — mainly short social media clips and ad concepts. Need to understand:

• Commercial use rights on different plan tiers
• Can I use Pika-generated clips in paid client work?
• Who owns the output — me or Pika?
• How does this compare to Runway Gen-3?

Pika's commercial terms as of early 2024:

Free plan:

• Personal/non-commercial use only
• Pika watermark on outputs
• Limited daily generations

Standard ($8/mo) and Unlimited ($58/mo):

• Full commercial license
• No watermark
• You own the outputs
• Can use in paid client work, ads, social media, etc.

Comparison to Runway Gen-3:

• Runway Standard ($12/mo) = personal use only — need Pro ($28/mo) for commercial
• Pika is cheaper for commercial access ($8/mo vs $28/mo)
• Runway has longer max clip length (10s vs 4s)
• Both grant output ownership on commercial tiers
• Neither offers IP indemnification

We use Pika for rapid concept visualization — showing clients what an ad could look like before committing to production budget. Works great for that. For final deliverables, we usually reshoot or use Runway Gen-3 (better quality for longer clips).

Both tools are commercially licensed for our use. The practical tip: save your generation prompts and settings — clients sometimes come back months later wanting variations.

@AttorneyMichaelK If I generate video concepts on Pika and deliver them to a client, does the client automatically own the video? Or do I need to transfer rights?

@video_editor_freelance Same as with any AI tool — the account holder (you) owns the output under Pika's terms. You need to transfer rights to the client through your freelance contract.

Standard freelance video agreements should include an IP assignment clause covering all deliverables. If you don't have one, add language like: "All deliverables, including any AI-generated elements, are works made for hire or are hereby assigned to Client upon final payment."

Practical tip for TikTok/Reels creators: Pika 2.0 outputs look noticeably AI-generated to most viewers. This is fine for creative/artistic content but can hurt engagement for "realistic" content. I use Pika clips as one element in edited videos rather than posting raw outputs.

On the commercial front — TikTok's Creator Program pays based on engagement, and AI-generated content is permitted as long as you label it. Instagram also requires AI content labeling now.