YouTube has rolled out a new Shorts feature that lets creators splice 1-to-5-second clips from any public long-form video into their short-form content. It's YouTube's answer to TikTok's popular Stitch function, and the company is betting it will help Shorts gain ground on a rival that still dominates short-form video.
But the feature raises a critical question for creators: Is borrowing someone else's content a leg up or a raw deal?
The tool works by pulling micro-clips from public YouTube videos and embedding them directly into Shorts. The original creator gets credited with a link, but that's where the upside ends—for now. There's no compensation mechanism built in, though YouTube tells us it's developing a long-term monetization model.
How the Splicing Tool Works
The feature lets Shorts creators grab snippets between 1 and 5 seconds from any public YouTube video. When a Short includes a clip, the original creator receives attribution but no revenue share.
By default, every video on YouTube is eligible for remixing. Creators who want to opt out must manually disable the setting in YouTube Studio. One caveat: music videos with copyrighted content from YouTube's music partners are excluded from the feature.
There's a significant gap in creator control when it comes to Shorts themselves. While long-form creators can opt out of having their videos spliced, Shorts cannot be removed from the feature at all. The only workaround is deleting the Short entirely—which also removes every other Short that used that content.
This creates a troubling scenario: a creator could wake up to find a viral Short deleted, erasing millions of views because someone elsewhere decided to pull the plug on their original clip.
The Monetization Gap
The $100 million YouTube Shorts Fund remains the primary payment vehicle for creators. Payouts range from $100 to $10,000 based on audience size and engagement, but these are distributed from a centralized pool—not tied to specific videos. A remixed clip generates nothing extra for its original creator.
YouTube says it's working on a more sustainable monetization framework that it plans to release in coming months. Until then, creators have limited financial incentive to let their content be spliced.
Who Should Care:
- Long-form YouTube creators worried about unauthorized clip usage
- Short-form creators seeking royalty-free audio and video sources
- Brands exploring influencer partnerships on YouTube
- Privacy-conscious creators with restrictive content policies
What Creators Actually Say
We reached out to several YouTubers for their take.
On whether they use Shorts:
Jaime Rivera of PocketNow hasn't started yet. Michael Fisher (Mr. Mobile) says he won't, calling most short-form content "extremely valuable"—a sarcasm-laden reference to the low-effort clips flooding platforms. Practice of Technician says his team is planning for Shorts but hasn't launched yet. Utsav Technician runs a separate Shorts channel.
On whether the feature works for them:
"For fair use content and feedback, sure," says Rivera. Practice avoids using other channels' footage altogether, noting creators have always had options to download and repurpose content. Utsav Technician frames it positively: "It's like free advertisement for the channel."
On the threat to original content:
Fisher is blunt: "95% of the stuff I serve is just stolen clips from other creators, diminished and compatible with out-of-context music or AI-generated subtitles." He prefers long-form content and sees no reason to engage with Shorts features. Others see more upside— Rivera calls the feature "one of the backbones of how news is covered," and Utsav Technician argues low advertising rates make pure content copying unsustainable anyway.
On TikTok vs. YouTube Shorts:
When asked which platform they prefer, Rivera picks TikTok without hesitation: "It just has a much better discovery algorithm." Fisher doesn't use either platform seriously.
What to Watch
Watch for YouTube's promised monetization update, which could reshape creator incentives. Also monitor how the opt-out system evolves—if enough creators block their content, the feature's utility diminishes significantly. Android rollout is still pending, which will expand the creator pool considerably.
The feature is live on iOS now.
Key takeaways
- The splicing tool gives Shorts creators easy access to long-form clips but offers original creators only attribution, not compensation
- Creator opinions split between seeing it as free promotion and viewing it as a vehicle for low-quality content theft
- YouTube still trails TikTok on discovery, which may limit how much the feature helps Shorts gain ground
Frequently asked questions
Can I prevent my videos from being used in Shorts?
Long-form creators can opt out in YouTube Studio. However, Shorts themselves cannot be removed from the feature—only deleted entirely.
Do I get paid if someone uses my video in a Short?
Not currently. YouTube is developing a monetization model but hasn't released details. The existing Shorts Fund pays based on overall performance, not specific remixes.
How long can the clips be?
One to five seconds maximum.
Are there restrictions on what can be remixed?
Videos with third-party copyrighted music are excluded. Private videos and content restricted by copyright holders are also blocked.
Can I track who uses my videos?
Yes. YouTube says creators can monitor spliced videos through YouTube Analytics, and notifications for remixed content are rolling out soon.