Distribute Image License For Free

Public versus private places First of all, let's be clear that you are always free to sell photos of any subject without permission or a signed release, with one big exception: You cannot legally photograph people in private places without their expressed permission.

Images licensed under the CC0 are free from copyright restrictions. This means you can copy, modify and distribute the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Although CC0 doesn't legally require users to cite the source, it is often appreciated (and the right thing to do).

You send a letter to the holder asking for permission and stating how you intend to use the image. The holder sends a letter back granting you permission. Your request should be as specific as possible in describing the intended use of the image.

Unless the content is in the public domain, someone who posts it without permission and/or attribution may be liable for copyright infringement. People also get in trouble for posting illegal ography, including revenge .

The right to publish a copyrighted image is controlled by the copyright owner, so each copyrighted image that you use must have permission or fall within an exception to the general copyright statue, such as public domain, fair use, or open access.

Bottom line: Photographs taken in public settings are almost always fair game. You may post and publish them for any purposes other than commercial or promotional or in any way that implies a connection or endorsement. Here's a sample Release you are free to use.

Image licensing refers to the practice of selling a licence to use your image in a specific way, rather than selling your photo outright to a buyer.

If you take photos of people, places or things and publish them, you need permission. Understanding when to use a photo release form will save you the headache of copyright infringement issues.

But are stock images free to use? A big and resounding NO. The photographer or author of a stock photo makes it available for licensing, meaning you can pay a fee to get the right to use the stock image in your designs legally.

Commercial or other licenses: These images have non-Creative Commons licenses and can be from either sites available at no charge or commercial sites that require payment.