Legal Issue about third software like video copilot or trapcode

Dear Pond5-Member

I like to create some animations by after effects, and I am also a big fan of those video copilot products or the trapcode particular. But I ask myself how is the legal side If a do some clips by using some of third products like shockwave or element 3d from video copilot?

Video copilot writes "The Software enables You to render and create Your own Works. You cannot prerender or flatten
images created with the Software using Content or other media from any source for use as a template or stock media to offer for sale and/or use to third parties (except as otherwise indicated below) But You can create a project using the Software so long as no Content/media from any source is prerendered, and offer or sell those Works to third parties."

Thank you for your answers.

It depends on where you live as to how enforceable that clause is in the license agreement. For example, in California it's not enforceable. It's covered by copyright law under "derivative works". However, it's only true if you significantly alter the end result. You can't render a 3D object without modification. And simple modifications like color changes are not considered "significant".

Also, you can purchase "extended licenses" from many sites which give you specific permission to render items for resale.

The Videocopilot flares are a great example. You can't render them by themselves and sell it as part of an AE project, but you can include them in a much more elaborate animation and sell that.

you can use plugins to create templates, element 3D is used in all AE templates on videohive, here on Pond5, revostock and others. as for optical flares, you can also use them inside a project even if they are prerendered, but not prerender them by themselves and sell them as a stand alone package, as far as I'm noticing from the market. Beter off, try using scripts instead of plugins, and focus much on simple animations, this will save you lower file capacities for upload, save you time, and sell more as the biggest percentage of clients won't have plugins as element 3D installed, and when a project's description says it requires no plugins, selling percentage is raised.