Licensing
License terms
A plain-language summary of how Charlestock images may and may not be used. Each license tier has its own usage rights; the certificate you receive after purchase is the authoritative record for your order.
What you get
When you license an image at Charlestock, you receive a non-exclusive worldwide right to use that image within the scope of the tier you purchased. The tier you bought is named on your license certificate.
License tiers, in brief
- Social ($29) — social media posts only (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest).
- Web ($49) — digital use: websites, social, email newsletters, presentations.
- Standard ($129) — digital plus limited print (collateral, brochures, signage up to a defined scale).
- Extended ($279) — broader print and merchandise, larger circulation thresholds.
- Editorial + Commercial ($599) — advertising and editorial use, including paid placements.
- Exclusive (by quote) — any image can be exclusively licensed, removing it from the catalog so no one else can license it. Pricing reflects intended use — request a quote.
Specific page-count and impression limits per tier are listed on the certificate you receive with each order.
What you can't do
- Resell or re-license the image as stock (sub-licensing).
- Use the image to train AI/ML models or as input to generative tools.
- Mint the image as an NFT, blockchain token, or otherwise tokenize it.
- Claim authorship of the image or remove attribution metadata where applicable.
- Use an editorial-licensed image in paid advertising. Editorial-only images are noted at purchase and on the certificate.
Releases and editorial-only flags
Some images contain recognizable people or private property without model/property releases. Those images are flagged "Editorial only" in the catalog and on the certificate. Editorial use covers news, journalism, commentary, and education — not advertising or product endorsement.
Copyright
Charlestock and its contributing photographers retain copyright. Your license grants usage rights, not copyright transfer.
Refunds and re-downloads
License purchases are final, but if a download fails or you lose your file, you can re-download anytime from your account. Email library@charlestock.com with order issues.
These terms are a plain-language summary. The detailed license certificate delivered with every order is the authoritative document for any specific purchase. Questions: library@charlestock.com.