Free Digital Image Licence

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Digital Image Licence

Digital Image Description


Digital Image Description

What is the digital image licence for?

Digital Image

e.g. 50 digital photos from photography session on 5 November 2024







Your Digital Image Licence

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Digital Image Licence

Read these terms and conditions carefully before using or purchasing the Digital Image from the Seller. By using or purchasing the Digital Image from the Seller, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement. If you do not accept the terms and conditions in this Agreement, do not use or purchase the Digital Image from the Seller.

THIS DIGITAL IMAGE LICENCE (the 'Agreement') dated this _____ day of _____________, 20____

BETWEEN:


____________________ of ________________________________________________________________________________
(the 'Seller')

OF THE FIRST PART

- AND -


____________________ of ________________________________________________________________________________
(the 'Buyer')

OF THE SECOND PART

(individually the 'Party' and collectively the 'Parties')

IN CONSIDERATION OF the Seller providing the Digital Image to the Buyer and the Buyer paying the Seller the Purchase Price, and other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which consideration is hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:

  1. Digital Image
  2. The Seller owns and is providing to the Buyer the digital image or digital images described below (the 'Digital Image'):
    _____________________________________________________________
    _____________________________________________________________
    _____________________________________________________________.

  3. Licence
  4. The Digital Image is the property of the Seller and is copyrighted by law. The Digital Image shall not be copied, published, or used in any way except as provided for in this Agreement. The Seller reserves the right to use the Digital Image on the Seller’s website and for the Seller’s own marketing or advertising purposes.
  5. The Seller will provide the Digital Image to the Buyer from _____________________ (the 'Contract Start Date') to _____________________ (such period, the 'Licence Term').
  6. Permitted Use
  7. The Buyer shall only use the Digital Image in accordance with this Agreement.
  8. The Buyer shall use the Digital Image for personal, non-commercial use only, and subject to the restrictions on use set out in this Agreement (the 'Permitted Use') for the duration of the Licence Term.
  9. Personal, non-commercial use means the Buyer may display the Digital Image on their personal computers and may print the Digital Image for personal use. The Buyer may also display the Digital Image on their personal websites, so long as the Digital Image is unaltered and includes a direct link to the Seller’s website or credit to the Seller.
  10. The Buyer may share the Digital Image to its personal social media platforms so long as the Digital Image is unaltered and includes a direct link to the Seller’s website or credit to the Seller.
  11. Restrictions on Use
  12. The Buyer shall not resell, sub-licence or redistribute the Digital Image except as provided for in this Agreement.
  13. The Buyer shall not use the Digital Image in a commercial manner to earn money, for marketing or advertising purposes, or in a trade mark, except as provided for in this Agreement.
  14. The Buyer shall not use the Digital Image in an obscene, defamatory or immoral way.
  15. The Buyer shall not use, and shall not allow to be used, the Digital Image for any purposes prohibited by the laws of New Zealand.
  16. The Buyer shall not alter the Digital Image in any way.
  17. The Buyer shall not allow others to use the Digital Image and shall not use the Digital Image in a way that allows others to download or redistribute the Digital Image except in accordance with this Agreement.
  18. Price
  19. The Buyer will pay ____________________ (the 'Purchase Price'), for the Permitted Use of the Digital Image, paid by cash on or before the Contract Start Date.
  20. Warranties
  21. The Seller warrants that the Seller is entitled to grant the use of the Digital Image described in this Agreement, and that this Agreement does not infringe the rights of third parties.
  22. The Digital Image is provided 'as is' to the Buyer. The Seller, and its officers, employees, agents and suppliers, do not provide any warranty, whether express or implied, as to the Digital Image.
  23. Liability & Indemnity
  24. The Seller will not be liable for any third party claims, losses, damages, liabilities, penalties, punitive damages, expenses, legal fees or costs of any kind or amount whatsoever resulting from the Buyer’s use of the Digital Image.
  25. The Buyer agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Seller and its officers, employees, agents and suppliers against any and all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, penalties, punitive damages, expenses, reasonable legal fees and costs of any kind or amount whatsoever resulting from or arising out of the unauthorised use of the Digital Image by the Buyer, or its officers, employees, agents or suppliers, or the Buyer's breach of this Agreement.
  26. Expiry or Termination
  27. This Agreement will expire on _____________________ unless the Parties decide to renew, or unless otherwise terminated for any of the reasons set out below.
  28. This Agreement shall terminate immediately upon the failure of the Buyer to comply with the terms and conditions herein.
  29. The Seller reserves the right to cancel this Agreement immediately:
    1. if the Buyer fails to make a payment when due; or
    2. in the event of the Buyer's insolvency or bankruptcy.
  30. The Seller reserves the right to discontinue the licence and terminate the Agreement immediately, as well as to commence legal proceedings, if any copyright infringement has taken place due to the Buyer’s unauthorised use of the Digital Image.
  31. Upon expiry or termination of this Agreement, the Buyer shall discontinue the use of the Digital Image, and shall destroy all copies and archives of the Digital Image.
  32. Intellectual Property Rights
  33. The Seller retains all intellectual property rights in the Digital Image, including the sole copyright to the Digital Image. Nothing in this Agreement shall operate to transfer, assign or otherwise grant any party any right or interest in the Seller's intellectual property rights or affect ownership by the Seller of intellectual property rights with regard to the Digital Image.
  34. Any use, under any conditions not specifically allowed for in this Agreement, may constitute a violation of the copyright laws of New Zealand or international copyright agreements.
  35. The Buyer shall not falsely represent that they are the original creator of the Digital Image.
  36. Export Laws
  37. In order to purchase a licence for the Digital Image, the Buyer must be in compliance with applicable export laws.
  38. The Buyer shall not ship, transfer or export the Digital Image to any country in a manner prohibited by the laws of New Zealand or use it in any manner prohibited by the laws of New Zealand.
  39. Severability
  40. If there is a conflict between any provision of this Agreement and the applicable legislation of New Zealand (the 'Act'), the Act will prevail and such provision of the Agreement will be amended or deleted as necessary in order to comply with the Act. Further, any provisions that are required by the Act are incorporated into this Agreement.
  41. If any terms or provisions of this Agreement are determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected and each unaffected term and provision will remain in full force and effect.
  42. Governing Law
  43. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New Zealand, without regard to the jurisdiction in which any action may be instituted. The Buyer agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of New Zealand to bring any action or for the enforcement of this Agreement. Notwithstanding, the Seller reserves the right to commence legal action to obtain injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction.
  44. Assignment
  45. The Buyer may not assign or transfer the Agreement or any rights granted within without the prior written consent of the Seller, and any attempted assignment or delegation without such consent will be void.
  46. The Agreement will inure to the benefit and be binding upon the Seller and the Buyer and their respective successors and assigns.
  47. Agreement of Parties
  48. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Seller and the Buyer with respect to the subject matter hereof and there are no further items or provisions, either oral or otherwise.
  49. The provisions contained in this Agreement cannot be changed except by the signed and delivered written consent of both Parties.
  50. General Provisions
  51. Headings are inserted for convenience only and are not to be considered when interpreting this Agreement. Words in the singular mean and include the plural and vice versa. Words in the masculine mean and include the feminine and vice versa.
  52. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts. Facsimile signatures are binding and are considered to be original signatures.
  53. All monetary amounts in this Agreement refer to the New Zealand dollar (NZD), and all payments required to be paid under this Agreement will be paid in NZD unless the Parties agree otherwise in writing.
  54. Time is of the essence in this Agreement.

The Parties have executed this Digital Image Licence on this _____ day of _____________, 20____.

 


______________________________
____________________ (Seller)

   
 


______________________________
____________________ (Buyer)

   

Last updated March 15, 2024

Written by 

Reviewed by 


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Fact checked by 



What is a Digital Image Licence?

A Digital Image Licence allows someone to use a copyrighted image for personal or professional purposes. 

Photographers and digital artists often use Digital Image Licences to sell usage rights to their clients. This contract is essential because it protects the image owner’s intellectual property rights and allows clients to use the photos without breaching copyright laws.

Although you can customise your document to suit your needs, a typical Digital Image Licence includes terms such as:

  • The price of the image(s) and payment details
  • Usage rights and restrictions
  • Any warranties

A Digital Image Licence Agreement is also known as a/an:

  • Image licencing agreement
  • Photography user agreement
  • Photo licencing agreement

What are image intellectual property rights?

Intellectual property laws in New Zealand and around the world can protect image owners from third parties who may use their images unfairly or without permission. 

These laws give automatic and exclusive rights to photographers, designers, and artists whenever they create an image. If the creator works for a company, the company typically retains these rights (unless specified otherwise in a contract).

How do I apply my intellectual property rights?

You can assert your intellectual property rights by granting a Digital Image Licence to the individual or company interested in using your images. 

A Digital Image Licence allows an image creator to retain their copyright and get paid for the use of their images. With a licencing agreement, a buyer can obtain permission to use the images in a certain way and for a set period of time.

If someone breaches the Digital Image Licence agreement or your intellectual property rights, consider sending a Cease and Desist Letter to notify them of the problem. If they don’t comply with your requests, you can take legal action against them.

How do I make a Digital Image Licence?

Use LawDepot’s Digital Image Licence template to generate your custom document. 

Working from the template is useful because you can change the terms to match your clients’ different needs while retaining the boilerplate terms that protect your rights. 

You’ll need the following information to create your Digital Image Licence.

Product details

Write a description of the digital images you’re licencing. Provide as much identifying information as is needed for a complete description. For example, a photography session may come with a package of 50 to 100 edited photos. A digital image description might include the file name, type, and size. 

Next, specify the purpose of the licence:

Personal (i.e., non-commercial) use means the buyer cannot use the images to make a profit. For example, they can’t print the images on a coffee mug, article of clothing, or another product and sell it to a consumer. Likewise, the buyer can’t publish the image in a book for sale or alongside an article or post without commercial permission.

However, they can use the images by displaying them on a personal computer or website or making prints to display at home. They could also use the images for educational or informational purposes (e.g., showing and discussing an image in a classroom setting).

Commercial use means the buyer can use the images to make a profit. In this case, you may wish to specify which commercial activities you approve of, such as:

  • Reproductions of the images in various media
  • Using the images to create merchandise or ads
  • Printing and selling the images in publications

If the buyer will use the Digital Image Licence for reasons other than personal or commercial use, you can use the “Other” option to describe the purpose in your own words.

Party details

State the full names and contact information for both the buyer(s) and the seller(s).

Contract length

Specify whether the buyer can rent the image for a fixed term or indefinitely. If it’s for a fixed term, state the date the contract ends. In either case, state the date the contract starts as well. 

Payment details

Set a price for the Digital Image Licence. How much you charge for a digital image may depend on whether you’re a photographer, graphic designer, or visual artist. Research the average rates for digital images in your particular field. You may also want to consider the size of the files and how much time you spent rendering or editing them. These factors may affect your overall price.

You should also specify how the buyer will pay (e.g., cash, cheque, bank draft, or internet transfer) and whether it’ll be in a lump sum or instalments. 

If you require the buyer to pay a deposit, state the amount, when it’s due, and whether it’s refundable if the transaction isn’t completed. 

Terms

Our template includes standard restrictions on use, such as:

  • Re-selling, sub-licencing, or re-distributing images
  • Using the images in an obscene, defamatory, immoral, or illegal way
  • Altering the images
  • Allowing others to use, download, or redistribute the images

Optional terms in the template include:

  • Allowing the buyer to assign the licence (i.e., a non-exclusive agreement) 
  • Limiting the number of reproductions
  • Limiting the market or audience

If needed, you can also write extra restrictions in your own words. Alternatively, if you need to remove restrictions from the template, you can easily use LawDepot’s document editor to make final changes.

You can also include a warranty if you’re not selling the product “as is.” In this case, you warrant that the images will be free from defects as long as the buyer uses them normally. If the images become defective within a set time frame, you’ll replace the product or refund the buyer.

Final details

To minimize the chance of a drawn-out and pricey legal battle, you can include a term to address dispute resolution. This way, your Digital Image Licence states that any disputes that arise should be settled through mediation and arbitration. You can also specify who will pay these costs. Including these details in your document shows your clients that you’re prepared to defend your rights. 

The template also includes a space for you to write your own terms as needed. However, most Digital Image Licence agreements won’t need any other terms.

Can you use a copyrighted image if you give credit?

The law allows for the unlicenced use of a copyrighted image if it constitutes fair dealing (i.e., fair use), which courts evaluate on a case-by-case basis. 

Even if it doesn’t qualify as fair dealing, a person is more likely to avoid a legal battle with the image owner if they give them proper credit.

Courts evaluate fair dealing by looking at factors such as:

  • The purpose and character of the use: courts are more likely to consider educational or personal purposes as fair over commercial uses.
  • The nature of the copyrighted work: courts are more likely to protect creative works than factual ones.
  • The quantity and quality of the copyrighted work used: courts are more likely to support a small amount of use than a large amount.
  • The extent of harm to the owner’s market: courts consider whether the unlicenced use has (or may have) a negative impact on the copyright owner’s income.

Anyone who is unsure whether their use of a copyrighted image constitutes fair use should contact the image owner and ask for a Digital Image Licence.

Related Documents

  • Freelance Contract: Set out terms of use for intellectual property in a formal agreement between a client and a freelance photographer, graphic designer, or artist.
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Sample

Digital Image Licence

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