diff --git a/src/core/edit-session.ts b/src/core/edit-session.ts
index b880e68..10083f0 100644
--- a/src/core/edit-session.ts
+++ b/src/core/edit-session.ts
@@ -402,10 +402,12 @@ export class Edit {
 
 	/**
 	 * Look up a clip by its stable ID.
-	 * @returns The clip or null if no clip with that ID exists.
+	 * @returns A copy of the clip, or null if no clip with that ID exists. Mutating the
+	 * returned object has no effect on the edit — use `updateClipById` to make changes.
 	 */
 	public getClipById(clipId: string): Clip | null {
-		return this.document.getClipById(clipId)?.clip ?? null;
+		const clip = this.document.getClipById(clipId)?.clip;
+		return clip ? structuredClone(clip) : null;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -720,7 +722,8 @@ export class Edit {
 		// Cast to Clip since clipConfiguration is ResolvedClip internally but compatible at runtime
 		const track = this.tracks[trackIdx];
 		if (!track || clipIdx < 0 || clipIdx >= track.length) return null;
-		return track[clipIdx].clipConfiguration as unknown as Clip;
+		// Copy so callers can't mutate (or freeze) live player state through the return value
+		return structuredClone(track[clipIdx].clipConfiguration) as unknown as Clip;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -1027,7 +1030,8 @@ export class Edit {
 		if (trackClips.length === 0) return null;
 
 		return {
-			clips: trackClips.map((clip: Player) => clip.clipConfiguration as unknown as Clip)
+			// Copy so callers can't mutate (or freeze) live player state through the return value
+			clips: trackClips.map((clip: Player) => structuredClone(clip.clipConfiguration) as unknown as Clip)
 		};
 	}
 
diff --git a/tests/edit-clip-operations.test.ts b/tests/edit-clip-operations.test.ts
index 7d926db..f93ae50 100644
--- a/tests/edit-clip-operations.test.ts
+++ b/tests/edit-clip-operations.test.ts
@@ -732,6 +732,37 @@ describe("Edit Clip Operations", () => {
 		});
 	});
 
+	describe("defensive copies from public getters", () => {
+		it("getClipById returns a copy — freezing it does not break in-place document updates", () => {
+			const clipId = edit.getClipId(0, 0);
+			expect(clipId).not.toBeNull();
+
+			// Hosts may store returned clips in state that deep-freezes (e.g. immer autoFreeze).
+			// updateClipInDocument mutates the stored clip in place (the canvas resize/drag path),
+			// so a leaked live reference would make this throw "object is not extensible".
+			Object.freeze(edit.getClipById(clipId!));
+
+			expect(() => edit.updateClipInDocument(clipId!, { width: 100, height: 100 })).not.toThrow();
+			expect(edit.getClipById(clipId!)?.width).toBe(100);
+		});
+
+		it("getClip returns a copy detached from live player state", () => {
+			const copy = edit.getClip(0, 0);
+			expect(copy).not.toBeNull();
+			(copy as { start?: number }).start = 999;
+
+			expect(edit.getClip(0, 0)?.start).not.toBe(999);
+		});
+
+		it("getTrack returns copies of clip configurations", () => {
+			const track = edit.getTrack(0);
+			expect(track).not.toBeNull();
+			(track!.clips[0] as { start?: number }).start = 999;
+
+			expect(edit.getTrack(0)?.clips[0]?.start).not.toBe(999);
+		});
+	});
+
 	describe("clip operations undo integration", () => {
 		it("addClip undo removes the added clip", async () => {
 			await edit.addClip(0, createVideoClip(0, 5));