In this article · 5 sections
Stock photos save time, but each one comes with a licence that controls how you can use it. Misunderstanding stock photo licenses is a common cause of copyright demand letters. Here's a simple guide.
Main types
| Licence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Royalty-free (RF) | Pay once (or via subscription), use multiple times within the licence terms. Not "free of cost" |
| Rights-managed (RM) | Licensed for a specific use, duration, region or medium |
| Editorial use only | For news, education or commentary, not for ads, products or business promotion |
| Extended licence | Extra rights, e.g. merchandise or large print runs |
| Creative Commons | Free licences with conditions: BY (credit), SA (share alike), NC (non-commercial), ND (no derivatives) |
| Public domain / CC0 | No copyright restrictions (still check people and trademarks shown) |
Things that catch businesses out
- Editorial photos of brands, events or celebrities used in marketing
- NC (non-commercial) Creative Commons images used on business sites
- Missing credit when CC BY requires attribution
- Images with recognisable people but no model release, used in sensitive contexts
- Licences tied to a single user or project reused for other clients
Keep records
For every image: file name, source URL, licence type, date, invoice/licence ID. This answers any image copyright notice in minutes.
Alternatives
- Your own photos (best for local trust). See stock vs real photos
- Free commercial-use libraries. See free stock photos for commercial use
- AI images (check platform terms). See AI content and copyright
FAQs
Can I use a royalty-free image forever?
Usually yes within the licence terms, but check if your plan's licence survives cancelling a subscription.
Is an image from Google Images royalty-free?
No. Google shows images from other sites; licences vary. See photo copyright.
This article is general information, not legal advice.
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