CapCut Video Editing App Resumes Operations in the US Amid Ongoing Legal Uncertainty
CapCut, the popular video editing application owned by ByteDance, has resumed operations in the United States after a brief hiatus due to regulatory concerns. Users across the country received notifications that the app is once again functional, with the company expressing gratitude for their patience during the downtime.
The app’s return follows a recent executive order issued by President Donald Trump, which delayed enforcement actions against certain service providers for 75 days. This order was intended to provide relief to service providers who faced potential fines for maintaining the app.
However, legal experts caution that the executive order does not eliminate the legal risks associated with CapCut. Despite the reprieve, both CapCut and its sister app TikTok remain unavailable for download on Apple and Google app stores in the US.
The situation stems from the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which mandated that apps owned by ByteDance be sold to a non-adversary entity by January 19th to continue operations in the United States. Instead of complying with the sale requirement, ByteDance opted to pursue legal action, ultimately losing its case at the Supreme Court.
In a new development, former President Trump is reportedly attempting to negotiate a “joint venture” for TikTok, proposing 50% US ownership as a potential solution to avoid the ban. However, this proposal introduces additional legal complexities and uncertainties to an already convoluted situation.
As the landscape continues to evolve, users and industry observers alike are closely monitoring the situation, awaiting further clarification on the long-term fate of ByteDance-owned apps in the United States.