Can I use Runway ML Gen-2 videos in commercial client work?

I'm a freelance video editor and I've been playing around with Runway ML's Gen-2 for a few months now. The quality has gotten really impressive for certain use cases, especially abstract backgrounds and transitions.

Now I want to start using it for actual client projects. A production company hired me for a corporate video and they want some "futuristic" B-roll that would be expensive to shoot or create in After Effects. Runway could generate exactly what they need in minutes.

Questions I need answered before I pitch this to them:

• Can I use Runway-generated videos commercially? Their pricing tiers are confusing.
• Who owns the copyright to AI-generated video? Is it different from AI images?
• Do I need to disclose to the client that it's AI-generated?
• What if I use an image I created as the starting point for img2vid?

Anyone using Runway for commercial work already? Would love to hear how you're handling this.

I've been advising production companies on AI video tools. Let me break down Runway's terms as of January 2026:

Runway ML Commercial Rights by Tier:

• Free tier: NO commercial rights. Personal/non-commercial use only.
• Standard ($15/mo): Commercial rights included. You can use outputs in commercial projects.
• Pro ($35/mo): Commercial rights + higher generation limits + priority processing.
• Unlimited ($95/mo): Full commercial rights + unlimited generations + API access.
• Enterprise: Custom terms, usually with additional IP warranties.

The key language in their ToS (Section 5): "Subject to your compliance with these Terms, Runway grants you a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute the Outputs for any lawful purpose, including commercial purposes."

So yes, paid subscribers can use outputs commercially. But the copyright question is much more complicated.

I run a small post-production house and we've been using Runway commercially for about 8 months now. Here's the practical reality:

What we use it for:

• Abstract backgrounds and textures for motion graphics
• Transition elements and visual effects accents
• Concept visualization before actual shoots
• Social media content where quick turnaround matters more than perfection

What we avoid:

• Hero shots or anything that's the "main event" of a piece
• Anything with recognizable people or branded elements
• Broadcast work for major networks (their legal teams ask questions)

No issues so far. Our clients generally don't care how we make the sausage as long as it looks good and is delivered on time. We do mention "AI-assisted elements" in our project notes but most clients don't even read those.

Now for the harder part - copyright for AI-generated video:

The legal landscape is even murkier for video than images. Here's why:

The U.S. Copyright Office has been clear that purely AI-generated content lacks the "human authorship" required for copyright protection. But video is inherently more complex than a single image. When you use Runway, you're often:

• Writing detailed text prompts (creative input)
• Selecting from multiple generations (curatorial judgment)
• Using source images you created as starting points (derivative work)
• Editing, trimming, color grading the output (post-production creativity)
• Combining AI clips with other footage (compilation/arrangement)

All of that human creative involvement strengthens your copyright claim. The final edited video is almost certainly more protectable than a raw, single-prompt AI generation.

The practical takeaway: You have commercial USE rights from Runway. Whether you can sue someone for copying your AI video is less clear. But honestly, the same copyright uncertainty exists for Midjourney images and most commercial users aren't losing sleep over it.

See also: Midjourney commercial rights discussion - similar issues apply.

Thanks for the detailed breakdown. Follow-up question that's been bugging me:

What if I use a copyrighted image or video as the source material for Runway's img2vid or video-to-video features? Like if I grab a stock photo I licensed and use that as the starting frame?

Or worse - what if I accidentally use something I don't have rights to? Does Runway's ToS cover me at all?

This is where it gets tricky, and it's the same issue that comes up with image-to-image in tools like Midjourney or Stable Diffusion.

Using reference images you DO own/license:

• If you created the source image, you're fine. The AI output may be considered a derivative work.
• If you licensed a stock photo, check the license terms. Many stock licenses DON'T allow using images as AI training input or generation seeds. Getty, Shutterstock, and Adobe Stock all have specific language about this now.
• If it's Creative Commons, check which CC license. CC-BY might be okay, CC-NC definitely isn't for commercial use.

Using reference material you DON'T own:

This is risky. Runway's ToS makes YOU responsible for the inputs you provide. Section 7 typically includes language like: "You represent and warrant that you have all rights necessary to provide the Input and to grant the rights granted herein."

If you feed someone else's copyrighted video into Runway and create a derivative work, you could be liable for infringement. Runway won't indemnify you for that.

Best practice: Only use source material you created yourself or have explicit rights to use for AI generation. When in doubt, start from text prompts only.

Since we're talking about AI video for commercial work, let me throw in a comparison of the major players. We've tested all of them for client projects:

Runway ML Gen-2/Gen-3:

• Best overall quality for realistic motion
• Clear commercial rights on paid plans
• Good documentation of their terms
• Established company, less likely to disappear

Pika Labs:

• Free tier is generous but commercial rights are murky
• Paid plans include commercial use
• Great for stylized/animated looks
• ToS is less detailed than Runway's

Kling AI (from Kuaishou):

• Impressive quality, especially for longer clips
• Chinese company - terms may be governed by Chinese law
• Less clear what happens to your inputs (data retention)
• We avoid for client work due to jurisdictional uncertainty

Stable Video Diffusion (open source):

• No ToS restrictions if you run it locally
• You're fully responsible for outputs
• Quality still behind commercial options
• No one to sue you, but also no one to protect you

For commercial work, Runway is still our go-to. The extra cost is worth the clearer legal footing.

Adding some thoughts on disclosure requirements since @VideoEditor_Marcus asked about that:

Current disclosure landscape for AI video:

• No federal US requirement to disclose AI-generated content in most contexts (yet)
• California AB 2655 requires disclosure for AI-generated election content
• EU AI Act has transparency requirements for AI-generated content, including video. If your work will be shown in EU markets, this matters.
• Platform policies vary - YouTube, TikTok, and Meta all have (or are rolling out) AI disclosure requirements

Contractual considerations:

Check your client agreement. Does it require "original work"? Does it prohibit AI tools? Many older contracts don't address this, but newer ones increasingly do. Some production companies are adding "AI-free" clauses after the SAG-AFTRA strikes raised awareness.

My advice: Disclose proactively. Say something like "This project incorporates AI-generated visual elements created using industry-standard tools." Most clients won't care, and the ones who do will appreciate the transparency. Better to have the conversation upfront than have it become an issue later.

Related threads: ChatGPT output ownership | GitHub Copilot and code ownership

Update: I pitched the AI B-roll approach to my client and they were totally fine with it. Actually, they were excited because it meant faster turnaround and lower cost than shooting or doing everything in After Effects.

Here's how I'm handling it based on this thread:

• Using Runway Pro plan ($35/mo) - commercial rights confirmed
• Only using my own images or text prompts as source material
• Editing all outputs in Premiere - color grading, trimming, compositing with other footage
• Added a line to my project agreement: "Project may incorporate AI-assisted visual elements"
• Keeping records of my prompts and generation process

The corporate video is going well. About 15% of the final piece will be Runway-generated backgrounds and transitions. Client is happy with the results and the budget.

Thanks everyone for the guidance. This thread was exactly what I needed to feel confident moving forward.