Content License

When you download a file on GPL, you're buying a standard license that lets you use the file for any personal, business or commercial purposes that aren't otherwise restricted by the license. That means you can use our content in advertising, marketing, apps, websites, social media, TV and film, presentations, newspapers, magazines and books, and product packaging, among hundreds of other uses. Adding an extended license lets you use our content in more ways.

What types of licenses does GPL offer?

GPL offers two types of licenses: standard and extended. Every file downloaded from GPL comes with a standard license. An extended license gives you additional rights in exchange for an additional license fee. Unless you purchase an extended license, your use of content is subject to the standard license terms.

You are welcome to use watermarked content from the GPL site on a complimentary basis for test or sample (comp) use only. Watermarked content cannot be used in any final materials or any publicly available materials and may only be used for the 30 days following download.

How can I use licensed content?

You may use content in any way that is not restricted (see Restricted Uses below). Subject to those restrictions and the rest of the terms of this agreement, the rights granted to you by GPL are:

Perpetual, meaning there is no expiration or end date on your rights to use the content. 

Non-exclusive, meaning that you do not have exclusive rights to use the content. GPL can license the same content to other customers.

For purposes of this agreement, "use" means to copy, reproduce, modify, edit, synchronize, perform, display, broadcast, publish, or otherwise make use of.

Examples of how you can use licensed content include: websites; blog posts; social media; advertisements; marketing campaigns; corporate presentations; newspapers; magazines; books; film and television productions; web and mobile applications; product packaging.

Please make sure you read the Restricted Uses section below for exceptions.

Restricted Uses

No Unlawful Use. You may not use content in a pornographic, defamatory or other unlawful manner.

No Commercial Use of "Editorial Use Only" Content. You may not use content marked "editorial use only" for any commercial, promotional, advertorial, endorsement, advertising or merchandising purpose. This type of content is not model or property released and is intended to be used only in connection with events that are newsworthy or of general interest (for example, in a blog, textbook, newspaper or magazine article).

No Stand alone File Use. You may not use content in any way that allows others to download, extract, or redistribute content as a stand alone file (meaning just the content file itself, separate from the project or end use).

No Use in Trademark or Logo. You may not use content as part of a trademark, design mark, tradename, business name, service mark, or logo.

No Subscription Abuse. You may not stockpile, download or otherwise store content not used in a project or end use within 30 days after the end of your subscription for future use.

Sensitive Use Disclaimer Required. If you use content that features models or property in connection with a subject that would be unflattering or unduly controversial to a reasonable person (for example, sexually transmitted diseases), you must indicate: (1) that the content is being used for illustrative purposes only, and (2) any person depicted in the content is a model. For example, you could say: "Stock photo. Posed by model." No disclaimer is required for "editorial use only" content that is used in an editorial manner.

No False Representation of Authorship. You may not falsely represent that you are the original creator of a work that is made up largely of licensed content. For instance, you cannot create a painting based solely licensed content and claim that you are the author.

Restricted Uses - unless extended license purchased. Extended licenses are only available for purchase on a file by file basis.

No Products for Resale. Unless you purchase an extended license, you may not use content in connection with any goods or services intended for resale or distribution where the primary value lies in the content itself including, without limitation, cards, stationery items, paper products, calendars, apparel items, posters (printed on paper, canvas, or any other media), DVDs, mobile applications or other items for resale, license or other distribution for profit. This includes "on demand" products (meaning products in which content is selected by a third party for customization on such product on a made-to-order basis), including, without limitation, postcards, mugs, t-shirts, posters and other items (this includes the sale of products through custom designed websites, as well as sites such as zazzle.com and cafepress.com)

No Electronic Templates. Unless you purchase an extended license, you may not use content in electronic or digital templates intended for resale or other distribution (for example, website templates, business card templates, electronic greeting card templates, brochure design templates).

Limited print run. Unless you purchase an extended license, you may not reproduce the content more than 500,000 times in physical print form. This restriction does not apply to electronic reproduction.

Who, besides me, can use the licensed content?

The rights granted to you are non-transferable and non-sublicensable, meaning that you cannot transfer or sublicense them to anyone else. There are two exceptions:

Employer or client. If you are purchasing on behalf of your employer or client, then your employer or client can use the content. In that case, you represent and warrant that you have full legal authority to bind your employer or client to the terms of this agreement. If you do not have that authority, then your employer or client may not use the content.

Subcontractors. You may allow subcontractors (for example, your printer or mailing house) or distributors to use content in any production or distribution process related to your final project or end use. These subcontractors and distributors may not use the content for any other purpose.

Intellectual property rights

Who owns the content? All of the licensed content is owned by either GPL or the artists who supply the content. All rights not expressly granted in this agreement are reserved by GPL and the content suppliers.

Do I need to include a photo credit? You do not need to include a photo credit for commercial use, but if you are using content for editorial purposes, you must include the following credit adjacent to the content or in visual production credits: " GP Library” 

Termination/Cancellation/Withdrawal

Termination. This agreement is effective until it is terminated by either party. You can terminate this agreement by ceasing use of the content and deleting or destroying any copies. GPL may terminate this agreement at any time if you fail to comply with any of the terms, in which case you must immediately: cease using the content; delete or destroy any copies; and, if requested, confirm to GPL in writing that you have complied with these requirements.

Social Media Termination. If you use the content on a social media platform or other third party website and the platform or website uses (or announces that it plans to use) the content for its own purpose or in a way that is contrary to this agreement, this agreement shall immediately terminate.

Content Withdrawal.

GPL may discontinue licensing any item of content at any time in its sole discretion. Upon notice from GPL, or upon your knowledge, that any content may be subject to a claim of infringement of a third party's right for which GPL may be liable, GPL may require you to immediately, and at your own expense: cease using the content, delete or destroy any copies; and ensure that your clients, distributors and/or employer do likewise. GPL will provide you with replacement content (determined by GPL in its reasonable commercial judgment) free of charge, subject to the other terms of this agreement.

Representations and Warranties.

GPL makes the following representations and warranties:

Warranty of Non-Infringement. Except with respect to content identified as "editorial use only," your use of the content in accordance with this agreement and in the form delivered by GPL will not infringe on any copyright, moral right, trademark or other intellectual property right and will not violate any right of privacy or right of publicity; and all necessary model and/or property releases for use of the content in the manner authorised by this agreement have been obtained. Note that you are solely responsible for any edits made to the content (whether using a GPL editing tool or otherwise).

"Editorial Use Only" Warranty Disclaimer. For content identified as "editorial use only," GPL warrants that the content will not infringe on any copyright or moral right of the artist, but it does not grant any right or make any warranty with regard to the use of names, people, trademarks, trade dress, logos, registered, unregistered or copyrighted designs, works of art or architecture depicted or contained in the content. In such cases, you are solely responsible for determining whether release(s) is/are required in connection with your proposed use of the content identified as "editorial use only," and you are solely responsible for obtaining such release(s). You acknowledge that no releases are generally obtained for content identified as "editorial use only," and that some jurisdictions provide legal protection against a person's image, likeness or property being used for commercial purposes when they have not provided a release.

Caption/Metadata Disclaimer. While we have made reasonable efforts to correctly categorise, keyword, caption and title the content, GPL does not warrant the accuracy of such information, or of any metadata provided with the content.

No Other Warranties. Except as provided in the "warranty of non-infringement" section above, the content is provided "as is" without representation, warranty or condition of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied representations, warranties or conditions of merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose. GPL does not represent or warrant that the content will meet your requirements or that its use will be uninterrupted or error free.

Indemnification/Limitation of Liability

Indemnification of GPL by you. You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless GPL and its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, and content suppliers, and each of their respective officers, directors and employees from all damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable outside legal fees) arising out of or in connection with any breach or alleged breach by you (or anyone acting on your behalf) of any of the terms of this agreement.

Indemnification of you by GPL. Provided that the content is only used in accordance with this agreement and you are not otherwise in breach of this agreement, and as your sole and exclusive remedy for any breach of the warranties set forth, GPL agrees, subject to the terms, to defend, indemnify and hold harmless you, your corporate parent, subsidiaries and affiliates, and each of your respective officers, directors and employees from all damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable outside legal fees) arising out of or in connection with any breach or alleged breach by GPL of its warranty. This indemnification does not apply to the extent any damages, costs or losses arise out of or are a result of modifications made by you to the content or the context in which the content is used by you. This indemnification also does not apply to your continued use of content following notice from GPL, or upon your knowledge, that the content is subject to a claim of infringement of a third party's right.

Extended Legal Guarantee. Unless you purchase an extended license, GPL total maximum aggregate liability (meaning the total amount GPL is responsible for, whether under this agreement or any other agreement for the same content) is limited to £10,000 UK pounds per item of content. This limit applies regardless of the number of times you license the same piece of content from GPL. Under an extended license, this amount is increased to £250,000 UK Pounds per item of content. If you need a higher indemnification amount, please contact GPL.

The party seeking indemnification must promptly notify in writing the other party about the claim. The indemnifying party (the one covering the costs) has the right to assume the handling, settlement or defence of any claim or litigation, in which case the indemnified party (the one not covering the costs) has to cooperate in any way reasonably requested by the indemnifying party. The indemnifying party will not be liable for legal fees and other costs incurred prior to the other party giving notice of the claim for which indemnity is sought.

Limitation of Liability. GPL WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR ANY PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL OR OTHER SIMILAR DAMAGES, COSTS OR LOSSES ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF IT HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, COSTS OR LOSSES. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT PERMIT THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR LIABILITY.

General Provisions

Assignment. This agreement is personal to you and is not assignable by you without GPL prior written consent. GPL may assign this agreement, without notice or consent, to any corporate affiliate or to any successor in interest, provided that such entity agrees to be bound by these terms.

Audit/Certificate of Compliance. Upon reasonable notice, you agree to provide to GPL sample copies of projects or end uses that contain licensed content, including by providing GPL with free of charge access to any pay-walled or otherwise restricted access website or platform where content is reproduced. In addition, upon reasonable notice, GPL may, at its discretion, either through its own employees or through a third party, audit your records directly related to this agreement and your use of licensed content in order to verify compliance with the terms of this agreement. If any audit reveals an underpayment by you to GPL of five percent (5%) or more of the amount you should have paid, then in addition to paying GPL the amount of the underpayment, you also agree to reimburse GPL for the costs of conducting the audit. Where GPL reasonably believes that content is being used outside of the scope of the license granted under this agreement, you agree, at GPL’s request, to provide a certificate of compliance signed by an officer of your company, in a form to be approved by GPL.

Electronic storage. You agree to retain the copyright symbol, the name of GPL, the content's identification number and any other information that may be embedded in the electronic file containing the original content, and to maintain appropriate security to protect the content from unauthorised use by third parties. You may make one (1) copy of the content for back-up purposes.

Severability. If one or more of the provisions in this agreement is found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions should not be affected. Such provisions should be revised only to the extent necessary to make them enforceable.

Waiver. No action of either party, other than express written waiver, may be construed as a waiver of any provision of this agreement.

Entire Agreement. No terms of conditions of this agreement may be added or deleted unless made in writing and accepted in writing by both parties, or issued electronically by GPL and accepted in writing by you. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this agreement and the terms contained on any purchase order sent by you, the terms of this agreement will apply.

Notice. All notices required to be sent to GPL under this agreement should be sent via email. All notices to you will be sent via email to the email set out in your account.

Taxes. You agree to pay and be responsible for any and all sales taxes, use taxes, value added taxes and duties imposed by any jurisdiction as a result of the license granted to you, or of your use of the licensed content.

Interest on Overdue Invoices. If you fail to pay an invoice in full within the time specified, GPL may add a service charge of 1.5% per month, or such lesser amount as is allowed by law, on any unpaid balance until payment is received.