Can I share things from the BBC?

Updated: 31 March 2022

Yes, but there are a few rules (see below).

Things you can share, AKA “shareables” normally have one or more of these buttons next to them:

  • Share
  • Embed
  • Social media buttons for posting to Facebook, Twitter and so on.

Rules about sharing BBC content

We don’t always own the copyright for shareables. Sometimes we have to get a licence or permission from the people who made it. So please stick to these rules. Otherwise the people who make content for us won’t want to again.

You’ll need to get our permission first for any business use, and you might have to pay a fee. For business use read this.

Things you can do

Use sharing buttons

To share a link to our content on your website or social media.

When you share to a social media platform their terms will apply. Do read their terms (which you can search for online).

Embed our player on your website or social media 

Just don’t:

  • Change how the player works
  • Take content out of it
  • Embed any content that doesn’t have an embed button.

Different rules apply for using iPlayer. Read about them here.

Post comments and views about our shareables

Just as long as they’re not evil.

Things you can't do

Don’t use shareables for harmful or offensive purposes

Here are some things that may harm or offend:

  • Insulting, misleading, discriminating or defaming people
  • Promoting pornography, tobacco or weapons
  • Putting children at risk
  • Anything illegal. Like using hate speech, inciting terrorism or breaking privacy law
  • Anything that would harm the BBC’s reputation.

Don’t make shareables look like they cost money

You can't charge others for using our shareables. If you put them on a site that charges, say they’re free-to-view.

Don’t make them more prominent than non-BBC content

Otherwise it might look like we’re endorsing you. And don’t make a service of your own that contains only our shareables.

Don’t exaggerate your relationship with the BBC

Don’t say we endorse, promote, supply or approve of you. Don’t use shareables for political purposes. And don’t say you have exclusive access to our content.

Don’t associate BBC content with advertising or sponsorship

That means you can’t:

  • Put any other content between the link to the shareable and the shareable itself. So no ads or short videos people have to sit through
  • Put ads next to or over them
  • Put any ads in a web page or app that contain mostly shareables
  • Put ads related to their subject alongside shareables. So no trainer ads with a shareable about shoes
  • Add extra content that means you’d earn money from them.

Don’t be misleading about where they came from

Don’t remove or alter the copyright notice, or imply that someone else made them.

Things you must do

Use the latest version. Don’t remove any embedded tagging or tracking. And make sure the content is displayed accurately.

Add one of these credits (if it doesn’t already have one):

If possible, add a hyperlink to the shareable’s original location. Make sure it works, and don’t put anything between the credit and the link.

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