Selling Your Photos on Stock Platforms: Retaining Rights and Uses

Many photographers are contemplating whether they can continue to use their photos after selling them on popular stock platforms like Adobe Stock and Shutterstock. It is important to understand how the procurement and licensing of these images work to ensure you maintain control over your content while also expanding its reach.

Ownership and Licensing

When you sell a photo on platforms like Adobe Stock or Shutterstock, you retain the copyright ownership to your image. However, you grant the platform and its customers a license to use the image under specific conditions. This sell of the image does not transfer the ownership; it only transfers the usage rights.

Ownership

You hold the sole copyright to your images. This means that while you can still sell your photos through multiple channels, the copyright remains yours. The sale transaction itself does not change this fundamental fact.

Licensing

The type of license you choose when submitting your photo to a platform is crucial. Typically, it involves a royalty-free license, which allows customers to use your photo for a wide range of commercial and personal projects subject to certain restrictions. These restrictions might include geographic use, time limitations, and specific deliverables, but they do not impinge upon your copyright.

You can explore both exclusive and non-exclusive licensing agreements. Exclusive agreements are less common and restrict your ability to sell the same photo on other platforms. Non-exclusive agreements, which are more typical, provide you with the freedom to sell the same photo to multiple platforms.

Personal Use

Another advantage of retaining the copyright lies in personal use. You are generally free to use your photos for your own purposes, which might include:

Personal Projects: Use the photos for your personal artistic endeavors or projects without restriction. Promotional Materials: Feature the photos in your promotional materials, such as business cards or website headers. Selling Elsewhere: You can resell the photos on other stock photo platforms or online marketplaces that honor your previous licensing terms.

To further clarify your rights, both Adobe Stock and Shutterstock have detailed terms of service which you should review. Particularly relevant sections include:

Adobe Stock Terms of Service

Under the section on Usage Terms, it explicitly states that the usage rights granted to customers are non-exclusive. This means you can continue to use and sell the photo in any way you like, as long as you do not breach the licensing agreement.

Shutterstock Terms of Service

The "Ownership of Content" section in the Contributor Terms of Service specifically mentions that you retain all copyright and other intellectual property rights. Shutterstock grants you a license to use your content, and you can continue to use your photos for personal and commercial purposes.

Reading the Terms

Always take the time to carefully review the specific terms and conditions of the platform you choose. These can have subtle differences in their rules regarding ownership and usage rights. Ensuring you fully understand these terms can prevent any future misunderstandings or disputes.

Conclusion

In summary, selling your photos on stock platforms like Adobe Stock or Shutterstock does not transfer ownership but grants customers usage rights based on the terms of your chosen license. You can continue to use your photos for your own purposes, provided you comply with the licensing agreements of the stock photo platform. By retaining ownership and understanding the terms, you can maximize the reach and utility of your photos while keeping control over your creative content.