USING CC0 IMAGES
Free photos are usually provided under what is known as a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license. This means those who share their content on these platforms have waived their copyrights and do not require attribution. Essentially, these images are public domain content and can be used for both personal and commercial use
Many authors choose to use CC0 images for their book covers. It’s free (unless you donate to the publisher, which you totally should), and there are tons of gorgeous photos to select from. While it may seem like the ideal way to get affordable cover images, there are a few drawbacks to using free stock images.
There are two very important things to keep in mind. First, stock image companies typically have an approval process. They review content before allowing a contributor to upload images to their site. Most CC0 sites do not. Second, CC0 sites do not sell images. So, any violations against photos used for commercial use would likely fall on those who downloaded and used their content rather than the company themselves.
Though there are risks involved with using free images for your book covers, here are a few things that can potentially help you avoid major issues:
Many authors choose to use CC0 images for their book covers. It’s free (unless you donate to the publisher, which you totally should), and there are tons of gorgeous photos to select from. While it may seem like the ideal way to get affordable cover images, there are a few drawbacks to using free stock images.
There are two very important things to keep in mind. First, stock image companies typically have an approval process. They review content before allowing a contributor to upload images to their site. Most CC0 sites do not. Second, CC0 sites do not sell images. So, any violations against photos used for commercial use would likely fall on those who downloaded and used their content rather than the company themselves.
Though there are risks involved with using free images for your book covers, here are a few things that can potentially help you avoid major issues:
1. GET PERMISSION
I would strongly advise against using any image without proper permission. Even though CC0 images permit commercial use, it’s still your responsibility to ensure any picture you choose is acceptable for how you want to use it. Most sites allow you to message the contributor. Reach out to them. Let them know how you want to use their picture and get their consent.
2. VERIFY OWNERSHIP
Remember, anybody can upload images on free stock sites. It doesn’t mean that they’re authorized to. It’s important to ensure the contributor owns the copyright. Never use an image unless you know who owns the original.
3. VERIFY MODEL OR PROPERTY RELEASES
Sometimes, a photographer will upload images to share their portfolio. It doesn’t mean the people in the photographs have given their permission to be published online, let alone be on a book cover. Always check to make sure the author has, or can at least provide, a model release. The same thing would apply to property releases.
4. CHECK FOR TRADEMARKS & COPYRIGHTS
Under no circumstance should you use an image that has a visible trademark on it. Also, never alter an image to remove a trademark or copyright. That’s illegal. Be cautious: some tags are not easily detected, so review each photo you download meticulously. Here is an example of a well-hidden copyright:
I would strongly advise against using any image without proper permission. Even though CC0 images permit commercial use, it’s still your responsibility to ensure any picture you choose is acceptable for how you want to use it. Most sites allow you to message the contributor. Reach out to them. Let them know how you want to use their picture and get their consent.
2. VERIFY OWNERSHIP
Remember, anybody can upload images on free stock sites. It doesn’t mean that they’re authorized to. It’s important to ensure the contributor owns the copyright. Never use an image unless you know who owns the original.
3. VERIFY MODEL OR PROPERTY RELEASES
Sometimes, a photographer will upload images to share their portfolio. It doesn’t mean the people in the photographs have given their permission to be published online, let alone be on a book cover. Always check to make sure the author has, or can at least provide, a model release. The same thing would apply to property releases.
4. CHECK FOR TRADEMARKS & COPYRIGHTS
Under no circumstance should you use an image that has a visible trademark on it. Also, never alter an image to remove a trademark or copyright. That’s illegal. Be cautious: some tags are not easily detected, so review each photo you download meticulously. Here is an example of a well-hidden copyright:
5. KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EDITORIAL AND STANDARD USE
Some images in the public domain are not to be used for anything outside of editorial publishing. Examples of these kinds of images are notable places, (i.e. Buckingham Palace), trademarked logos (i.e. Nike), celebrities, etc.
6. REVIEW LICENSE TERMS
Sites like Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay all have the terms of their license available. Make sure to read them thoroughly.
Using public domain photos may seem like a cost-effective alternative to licensing images through a paid stock site, but take the time to weigh the pros and cons.
If you decide to use free images to create your book covers, hopefully some of these tips will help you avoid any issues. When it comes to license concerns, it’s wise to contact an attorney for legal advice.
To learn more about Creative Commons Zero visit: https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/