Depending on what image license you buy, the length of time you can legally use the image for will vary. In this blog, we run through the different image licenses that are available and how long each license lasts for. This should help you make sure you’re always on the right side of the law when you’re using images…
Royalty-free (RF) license
If you purchase an image with an RF license, you pay one-off fee that enables you to use the image as many times as you want to for an unlimited amount of time. You select the size of the image you need, then pay the set charge for an image size you’ve chosen. The smaller the file the lower the cost.
Make sure you pick an image that’s big enough to use in your project. Check out our file sizes page if you need help picking the right file size.
Personal use license
As long as you buy an image solely for personal use, e.g. for personal prints or a one of card, a personal use license givesyou the rights to use this image for as long as you want to.
Learn more about the personal use license in our handy blog post.
Presentation license
When you buy an image with a presentation license, as long as you use the image in slides to support a presentation or a talk, for example in Powerpoint ore KeyNote, there is no limit to the duration of time you can use the image for.
For tips on choosing the perfect image for your presentation, take a look at this great blog postÂ
Website license
If you want to use an image online, whether it’s on your social media channels, website, blog or apps, the website license enables you to do this as long as you don’t use the image in paid-for advertising. The website license gives you permission to use an image online for 5 years.
When you purchase an image, the order confirmation you receive from 64ÌåÓýwill state the dates the image license begins and ends. So, when you reach the end of the image license after 5 years, if you want to carry on using the image, as a general rule you are legally required to renew the image license to continue using it.
However, here’s where this one gets a little bit complicated:
- If you want keep using the image in a prominent place, for example on the home page of your website or as the cover image on your Facebook page, you need to renew the image on the date the license runs out.
If you don’t renew the license, you need to remove the image from your website, otherwise you are breaking the law and could end up in legal trouble.
- If the image has been used on a page that has now fallen to the back of the site, for example if you used it in a blog post 4 years earlier and haven’t used the image since, then the usage can be classed as archival and you won’t need to renew the image license.
Top tip: Always check with our customer service team before you renew as they’ll be able to advise you on what’s best for you.
Magazines, newsletters and books license
This license gives you the rights to use an image in a book, magazine or newsletter, print or digital, that has a circulation of 2,500 or less. The license duration is 5 years, which means you can actively use the image in new print runs and versions of the publication for up to 5 years, until the date the license ends.
After 5 years, if no new copies of the publication are being printed, meaning the image is no longer being actively used, you won’t need to renew the license.
However, if the book or publication is still being printed, or new editions are being created online that use the image, you’re legally required to renew the license.
Remember: this license only covers you for a circulation of 2,500. If you exceed this, you’ll need to get in touch with 64ÌåÓýto adjust the license and make sure you’re still covered to use the image.
Marketing packages for small and large businesses
Both of these licenses allow you to use an image in your marketing material for up to 5 years, as long as it isn’t in paid-for advertising (paid-for advertising includes things such as online display adverts, advertising space in a magazine and search engine ads).
So, whether your marketing material includes a leaflet, brochure or other promotional content for your business, you can use the image in this material for 5 years before you need to renew the license.
If you’re still printing marketing material that the image is used in, you need to renew the image license to avoid any legal complications.
You don’t need to renew the license if you aren’t printing any more marketing material that will feature the image.
For more information on our marketing packages, take a look at our blog ‘what do the marketing packages include?’