Can I Sell Images That Are Free For Commercial Use?

Yes, if you are using images that are royalty free or have a Creative Commons license. However, it is important to understand the terms of your licensing agreement carefully.

Single-use rights allow businesses to use an image on a one-time basis for specific projects or purposes. This type of license is very easy to manage.

Model Releases

Model releases are agreements between photographers and models that release the model from any liability in case of a future lawsuit over use of their photos. The agreement allows the photographer to license photos for commercial use, without fear that a subject could sue them over claims of privacy or false light.

The need for a model release can be largely determined by the purpose of the photo in question. If a photograph is purely for artistic purposes, or if it is used to illustrate a newsworthy topic (such as the protest images featured here on dPS), then the need for a model release can be deemed unnecessary. On the other hand, if a photographer takes photos of people to sell to businesses to be used in advertising or as part of a branding campaign, then they will definitely need to have model releases signed before they can license their photos for commercial use.

When determining whether or not a model release is needed, it is also helpful to consider the type of license that the photo is going to be sold with. Photos that get sold with editorial licenses do not need model releases since they will be used for the purpose of reporting on a specific event or subject matter. However, photos that are sold with commercial rights will require model releases if they feature identifiable people or property.

There are a number of different model releases available, from simple to complex. A basic model release will suffice for most photographers, but there are also releases that include more detailed information such as the ability to record sound and video with the model. There are even releases specifically for minors that will require a guardian or parent to sign on behalf of the child being photographed.

Ultimately, the need for a model release depends on how the image will be used and the level of risk involved. Photographers should always keep model releases at hand and be prepared to use them where necessary. It may be worth consulting with an attorney to help determine the correct license for a particular image if in doubt.

Creative Commons Licenses

Creative Commons licenses are an option for photographers looking to share their work. These licenses provide an alternative to traditional copyright, allowing photographers to set restrictions on how their images can be used and to whom. They can also be used to define what type of compensation a photographer may expect in return for their image being used commercially. There are six types of Creative Commons licenses. The CC BY Attribution licence allows for reuse, modification, and sharing of a photo as long as the creator is properly credited. The CC BY No Derivatives licence allows for remixing and building upon a creative work but does not allow for commercial use.

When an image is sold as a Rights Managed license, the photographer defines a specific scope of usage for the image and the fees that need to be paid for that use. This can include a limit on the number of times the image can be used and whether it can be modified or not. It can also include specific terms like a requirement that the photographer must be credited for the use of their images.

Many professional photographers choose to write their own licence agreements and list them as part of the price for each image that they sell. Other photographers will use an image-selling website or an agency that takes care of licensing for them. Licence agreements can be as simple as an email paragraph with bullet points outlining to the buyer how the photo can be used, or they can take on much more legal weight and be a legally binding document.

It’s also possible to sell photos that are free for commercial use, though these images will often be subject to additional restrictions compared to those licensed as Rights Managed. These restrictions are typically the result of a specific creative purpose being fulfilled – for example, a non-profit company using an image as part of their charitable activity. In these cases, it can be difficult to determine if the image is truly free for commercial use, so the licence agreement should clearly state this.

Rights Managed Licensing

Rights Managed licensing can be a great way to make more money than you would with a Creative Commons license. It allows you to specify how, where, and for how long your image can be used. It can also include a requirement that the image be credited to you.

You can create a Rights Managed pricing profile on your site and apply it to galleries or individual images. This allows you to set how much you want to charge per image, and also lets you decide whether or not to require a model release. You can also add other restrictions to the agreement, such as a maximum use per year or whether or not the image can be used for commercial purposes.

If you choose to offer Rights Managed licensing, it’s important to make sure that your licensing agreement specifies what kind of usage the image can have. This will help to prevent any confusion between you and the buyer. It can also help to clarify that the image is being licensed for a specific project, such as an advertising campaign or editorial piece.

Another important part of a Rights Managed licensing agreement is determining who the end-user of the image will be. This can be the person who is purchasing the photo, or it could be a company or agency that is using the image for a specific project. It’s important to clarify this so that there are no issues in the future if you have a different client that wants to use the same image for something else.

Another option is to make your Rights Managed licence exclusive, which will prevent the image from being licensed to any other clients for a certain amount of time. This will add an extra level of protection for you if you feel that a particular image is especially valuable. However, this can add to the cost of your image licences since they will be more expensive for the buyer. If you decide to go with this option, it is usually best to add this as a separate clause in your agreement.

Taking Risks

When it comes to images, there are very few instances when a work is ‘copyright free’. Every work is copyrighted from the moment of its creation unless the copyright owner specifically releases it into the public domain.

The best way to determine the right license for a particular image is to contact the copyright owner directly or use a platform that makes it easy to do so. A little research upfront can save you the headaches of a major copyright infringement case, or the expense of hiring a lawyer to defend you.

The internet abounds with beautiful, eye-catching imagery that can elevate your content or project. It’s important to remember that most of the images you find on the web are not available for you to use without permission or a licensed agreement from the copyright owner. Failure to do so could result in significant legal and financial penalties.