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Photos - Use Cases

Updated
Summary: In this article, learn more about how our licenses allow you to use Photos.

To learn more about our Licenses, click a topic below:

Photo Use Cases

Can I convert a licensed photo into a cross stitch pattern that I sell?

❌ No. This would be considered sub-licensing the Asset and would not be permitted in any of our licenses.

Can I place a photo on an End Product (like a tee shirt, mug, or tote) and sell it?

✅ Yes, but special limitations apply based on your intended use:

  • Personal License: You may create unlimited non-commercial t-shirts, mugs, or tote bags.
  • Commercial License: You may sell up to 5,000 total End Products, of which you may sell up to a total of 5,000 copies. Your End Product’s design must be significantly different than the original photo; require time, effort, and skill to produce; and not derive its primary value from the photo itself.
  • Extended Commercial License: You may sell up to 250,000 total End Products, of which you may sell up to a total of 250,000 copies.

Can I embed a photo in an eBook?

✅ Yes, but special limitations apply based on your intended use:

  • Personal License: You may use the photo in an unlimited number of non-commercial ebooks, provided that the End User cannot extract the original photo.
  • Commercial License: You may use the photo in up to 5,000 commercial ebooks, which may be sold up to a total of 5,000 times, provided that the End User cannot extract the original photo.
  • Extended Commercial License: You may use the photo in up to 250,000 commercial ebooks, which may be sold up to a total of 250,000 times, provided that the End User cannot extract the original photo.

Can I create an art print using a photo and a font, then sell it?

✅ Yes, but special limitations apply based on your intended use:

  • Personal License: You may create unlimited non-commercial art prints.
  • Commercial License: Yes, you may create art prints using a licensed Photo, as long as the End Product is significantly different than the original photo; has taken time, effort, and skill to produce; and does not derive its primary value from the photo itself. You may create and sell up to 5,000 unique prints, of which you may sell up to a total of 5,000 copies.
  • Extended Commercial License: Yes, you may create art prints using a licensed Photo. You may create and sell up to 250,000 unique prints, of which you may sell up to a total of 250,000 copies.

Please see the specific terms of the font you purchased to learn more about how the font may be used.

Can I use a photo in a magazine or newspaper article?

✅ Yes, but special limitations apply based on your intended use:

  • Personal License: You may use the photo in an unlimited number of digital or print publications for non-commercial use only. Keep in mind that the End User cannot extract the original photo.
  • Commercial License: You may use the photo in up to 5,000 print or digital publications. These publications are permitted a total of up to 5,000 impressions or sales.
  • Extended Commercial License: You may use the photo in up to 250,000 print or digital publications. These publications are permitted a total of up to 250,000 impressions or sales.

Can I use a photo in a label or packaging?

✅ Yes, you may use your licensed Photo to create a package design. Packaging counts as an End Product, and the following is permitted by our licenses:

  • Personal License: You may use the licensed photo in an unlimited number of personal projects (such as stickers or containers that will not package a sold item.)
  • Commercial License: You may create up to 5,000 lifetime packages for item(s) that will sell a total of 5,000 copies. Your packaging or label must be significantly different than the original asset, and it must have taken time, effort, and skill to produce. It must not derive its primary value from the Photo itself.
  • Extended Commercial License: You may create up to 250,000 lifetime packages for item(s) that will sell a total of 250,000 copies.

Can I use a photo in an advertisement (e.g. billboard or web ad)?

✅ Yes, this is permitted with a Commercial License or Extended Commercial License but special limitations apply based on your intended use:

  • Personal License: Use in advertising is not permitted.
  • Commercial License: You may use the photo in unlimited print ads within a Local Market, and unlimited digital ads, with no limit on the number of impressions of advertisements incorporating the Licensed Asset. The ad must be significantly different than the original asset, and it must have taken time, effort, and skill to produce. It must not derive its primary value from the Photo itself.
  • Extended Commercial License: You may use the photo in unlimited print ads within a Global Market, and unlimited digital ads, with no limit on the number of impressions of advertisements incorporating the Licensed Asset.

If I use only part of a photo to make a design, what license will I need?

Use of part of a photo would still be considered use of the licensed Photo. Please choose a license based on your intended End Use.

Can I create a digital template and use the photo as a placeholder?

⚠️ The only capacity in which this would be allowed is if you were to use a photo as a placeholder in a flattened image that depicts a template you created, but the actual photo was not offered along with the template. You may not use the photo in any way that allows it to be extracted by any other user. Under the Personal License, commercial use of the photo is prohibited.

Can I embed a photo in a WordPress theme and sell the theme?

❌ No; this would be considered redistribution and would not be permitted under the terms of our licenses.

However, you may use purchased photos as placeholders in mockups and preview images of your theme, but you are not allowed to include these photos in the final sold product.

Can I use a photo as inspiration for a piece of artwork?

✅ Yes, you may use a licensed photo in this way, but special limitations apply based on your intended use:

  • Personal License: You may use the licensed photo as inspiration for non-commercial artwork.
  • Commercial License: You may use the licensed photo as inspiration for artwork (for commercial or non-commercial use), as long as the end result of the artwork is significantly different than the original photo, and has taken time, effort, and skill to produce. The final artwork must not derive its primary value from the Photo itself. You may create up to 5,000 End Products, of which you may sell up to a total of 5,000 copies.
  • Extended Commercial License: You may use the licensed photo as inspiration for artwork (for commercial or non-commercial use). You may create up to 250,000 End Products, of which you may sell up to a total of 250,000 copies.

Can I use a photo as inspiration for my artwork without purchasing a license?

❌ No; in order to use a photo to create any End Product - even one for non-commercial or educational use - you must purchase a license.

Can I use a photo in a logo and/or branding?

✅ Yes, if you purchase a Commercial License or Extended Commercial license, you may use a licensed Photo as part of your logo, as long as the original photo is modified and not the dominant element of the logo.

However, you must disclaim the asset if registering for Trademark protection, and you may not enforce any rights on the asset itself.

How many photos from one seller may I use in one product or project?

There is no limit to the number of photos that you can purchase from one shop owner and use in a single product or project.

Can I add a photo to a digital photo pack that I sell?

❌ No; this would be considered redistribution and would not be permitted under the terms of our licenses.

Can I place a licensed Photo on an internal company server for all of my designers to use?

❌ No; this would be considered redistribution and would not be permitted under the terms of our licenses. Each person who would like to use the photo will need to have their own seat of the license.

Can I use a photo as part of a book or album cover design?

✅ Yes, you may use a licensed photo to create a book, ebook, or album cover. Each cover design would count as 1 End Product, and the following is permitted by our licenses:

  • Personal License: You may use the purchased photo in an unlimited number of personal projects (such as the cover of a book you display on your coffee table or give as a gift to friends.)
  • Commercial License: You may create up to 5,000 lifetime book covers for physical books/ebooks for book(s) that will sell a total of 5,000 copies. The book cover must be significantly different from the original purchased asset, require time, effort, and skill to produce, and not derive its primary value from the photo itself.
  • Extended Commercial License: You may create up to 250,000 lifetime book covers for physical books/ebooks for book(s) that will sell a total of 250,000 copies.

Please keep in mind that if you create an ebook or digital album cover for commercial use, the End Product must prohibit the end user from extracting the original photo.

Can I use a photo as the only element in a book or album cover?

  • ❌ Commercial License: This is not permitted. Album and book cover designs are treated and viewed as standalone designs in many cases. For example, on digital distribution sites, the cover is often the only element shown (for example, sites like iTunes, Amazon, etc.). Additionally, cover designs are often used on their own on subsequent products for sale such as t-shirts, posters, etc. For this reason, with a Commercial License you are not permitted to purchase a photo and use solely that unchanged photo as a cover of an album or book.
  • ✅ Extended Commercial License: Yes, this is permitted. You may use a licensed photo as-is on a new book or album cover for commercial use.

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