Image License Types

Contents:

• Paid licenses
• How to find out about a license
• How important is it to respect copyright

Paid Licenses

Image usage agreements can create the false impression that you can use an image indefinitely for the money you pay. However, there are certain limitations. Let's look at the four most common paid image licenses.

• Royalty-Free — the buyer pays once and can use the image indefinitely. Exclusive rights remain with the artist: they can sell the image multiple times to anyone. Additional terms are also included in the contract, such as a print run limit for the buyer. If the contract allows for no more than 100,000 copies, say, a medium-sized business owner could print it on their advertising flyers, while Marvel Studios would have to purchase an extended license for a movie poster.
• Extended Royalty-Free — the same, but with no print run limit. By purchasing this license, the client can use the image billions of times for an unlimited period.
• Editorial — these are paid images that cannot be used for commercial purposes: they are only suitable for illustrations in the media, with the exception of advertising. They may contain logos of other brands and people who did not consent to appear in advertising.
• Rights-Managed is a license for placing an image in a specific project (or projects). It can be used to obtain exclusive rights to use the image or limited rights to use in a specific region.

On paid stock platforms, the most common license is the Royalty-Free license. It is intended for commercial use, especially in cases where the product circulation does not exceed certain limits. The Rights-Managed license, although less common, is a more expensive alternative and is available primarily at large stock sites. This license provides stricter terms of use, making it attractive for projects with high demands on exclusivity and rights control.

How to find out about a license

On the stock website, information about licenses will be clearly presented. If all images have the same license, it will be described in one section. If different licenses are available, information will be provided in the product cards. The option to choose between multiple license types with different prices for the same image is also often provided. This allows users to easily navigate and select the most suitable option for their needs.

When choosing between Royalty-Free and Extended Royalty-Free licenses, it's important to consider the size of your project. Royalty-Free is suitable for most cases, while Extended Royalty-Free provides additional rights, which can be useful for larger projects. It's also worth considering the differences between a paid Royalty-Free and a free CC Attribution license. If you prefer not to attribute the author, a paid Royalty-Free license is a better option. It's important to carefully review the terms of each license to choose the most appropriate option for your needs.

Many stock platforms, in addition to standard licenses, impose additional rules on image usage. For example, some sites prohibit the sale of images downloaded from their platform and recommend against posting these images on competitors' sites. When using stock photos, it's important to carefully review the terms of each specific platform to avoid copyright infringement and ensure legal use of the content.

How Important is Copyright Respect?

Digital content piracy remains a pressing issue, despite the importance of copyright compliance. The more people purchase a particular image, the more difficult it is to monitor its use and prevent infringement. This leads to many cases of piracy going unpunished. However, if an infringer is caught, they face legal action and a significant fine. Respecting copyright not only protects content creators but also promotes a fair market.

Purchasing licensed images is a convenient and affordable way to provide your project with high-quality visual content. Such images are usually inexpensive, especially if exclusive rights are not required. Don't ignore free stocks with a CC0 license, where you can find a wealth of useful materials for various projects. These resources offer unlimited image usage, making them a great choice for saving money and getting quality content.

To save money on image purchases, start with free photo stocks. If you're interested in a specific topic, follow the work of photographers you like—this will keep you up-to-date on their new publications. Finding high-quality free images can be time-consuming, so plan ahead: save not only images for current projects but also those you might need in the future. If you decide to purchase images from a paid resource, consider the desired size: medium-format photos are often cheaper than full-size versions. This will help you optimize costs and use resources efficiently.

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