Runway prohibits using any image, video, or audio of a real person as input or in generated content without that person's permission.
This analysis describes what Runway's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This provision has broad practical implications for users who work with real-world footage or audio, including in commercial, journalistic, or creative contexts, as it requires affirmative consent from the depicted individual.
Interpretive note: The policy does not define 'permission' or specify whether implied, contractual, or statutory consent suffices; the absence of fair use or public interest carve-outs may create tension with applicable law in some jurisdictions.
Users who generate content incorporating the likeness, voice, or image of real people without documented consent risk account suspension; this includes use cases such as AI-generated video of public figures, voice cloning, and deepfake-style content for any purpose.
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"Use of an image, video, or audio of another person without their permission— Excerpt from Runway's Runway Usage Policy
(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Right-of-publicity laws vary significantly by U.S. state, with California's Civil Code Section 3344 and equivalent statutes providing robust protections for commercial use of likeness. The EU's GDPR treats biometric and identifying data with heightened protection. The EU AI Act includes specific provisions on biometric identification systems. Emerging U.S. federal proposals addressing AI and likeness rights are relevant context. (2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium to High. The scope of this prohibition is broad and may restrict legitimate journalistic, documentary, historical, or parody use cases that may be protected under applicable law. The policy does not carve out fair use, public interest, or journalistic exceptions, which are recognized under U.S. and EU law. (3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: California, New York, and Illinois have strong right-of-publicity statutes. In the EU, GDPR's biometric data provisions and national personality rights laws create additional compliance layers. The policy's prohibition on audio of another person without permission may engage voice cloning regulations that are emerging in multiple jurisdictions. (4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Enterprise customers in media, advertising, and entertainment should assess whether their content workflows can demonstrate consent for all real-person likenesses and audio used with Runway's tools. B2B contracts should address how consent documentation is maintained and what liability flows if a third-party submitter cannot demonstrate permission. (5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Legal teams should assess whether the policy's consent requirement aligns with the company's own practices regarding training data and model development. Compliance programs should include documented consent verification workflows for enterprise use cases involving real-person content.
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This provision has broad practical implications for users who work with real-world footage or audio, including in commercial, journalistic, or creative contexts, as it requires affirmative consent from the depicted individual.
Users who generate content incorporating the likeness, voice, or image of real people without documented consent risk account suspension; this includes use cases such as AI-generated video of public figures, voice cloning, and deepfake-style content for any purpose.
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