Image Types
There are two different types of images found on Stockmore, Commercial and Editorial. There are different usage rights and permissions associated with each group that allow you to use a photo created by someone else. Whether you’re adding an image to an article, designing a corporate advertisement, using it as a piece of art for your home, or planning to display it in a catalogue, you need to have the proper rights or license to do so.
Editorial Use
Editorial use means the image is used to tell a real story, report news, or illustrate facts — for example, in newspapers, blogs, documentaries, or textbooks. These uses are about information, not advertising, and generally don't require model or property releases.
Commercial Use
Commercial use means the image promotes or sells something — such as in advertising, packaging, marketing materials, or brand campaigns. These uses usually require model and property releases, because they imply endorsement or association.
Tip
If you're unsure which applies, ask: "Am I using this image to inform, or to sell?"
If it's to inform — editorial.
If it's to sell — commercial.
Personal Use
Additionally, in some countries, there is the ability to purchase an image for personal use. For instance, in Canada, copyright law (section 29.22) provides a specific "personal use" exception that allows individuals to reproduce copyrighted works, including photographs, for their own private purposes without permission, as long as certain conditions are met. This is different from "fair dealing", which covers purposes like research or education and would fall under the banner of Editorial. The exception emphasizes non-commercial, individual use and applies to lawfully obtained images.
What is Allowed?
- Framing and hanging in your home: Reproducing a photo for your own enjoyment, such as printing it for home display or transferring it to your personal device.
- Creating a personal scrapbook or photo album: Incorporating the photo into a handmade book for your private collection.
- Using as device wallpaper: Setting the photo as the background on your personal phone, computer, or tablet.
- Making a custom mug or coaster for personal use: Printing the image on one item solely for your household (not for gifting or resale).
- Incorporating into a personal journal or diary: Printing the photo inside a private notebook for reflection or inspiration.
What is Not Allowed?
- Source Must Be Legal: The original must come from a non-infringing, lawfully owned or accessed source.
- No Circumvention of Protections: You cannot bypass technological protection measures or digital locks to make the copy.
- Strictly Non-Commercial and Individual: Prohibited if used for profit, promotion, or by organizations.
- Public Sharing or Distribution: Posting online or sharing with others does not qualify as purely personal use.
Remember, these uses must remain strictly private and non-commercial to comply with typical licensing terms. If the photo involves any public display, sharing, or multiple copies, it could cross into restricted territory.