When you download an image, video or music clip from Getty Images, you’re not buying the file itself — you’re buying a licence that lets you use the content in your projects.

Royalty-free licences
Most of our photos, illustrations, video and music clips are available under our standard royalty-free licence, which is our most common licence. It lets you use them in a wide variety of projects, including advertising, websites, blogs, presentations, video productions, podcasts and more. Because these files are royalty-free, you only pay for the initial download of the file and don’t have to pay the creator a royalty each time you use it. Your licence lets you use the content as many times as you want, wherever you want for as long as you want (within the terms of the content licence agreement).

Rights-managed/rights-ready licences
Photos and audio clips available under rights-managed licences and video clips available under rights-ready licences are different from royalty-free licences in that your licence is based on how, where and for how long you intend to use the content. Since the licence you’re paying for only covers a specific use, you can’t use the image, music clip or video clip in additional projects without purchasing additional licences.

Most of our photos, illustrations, video and music clips are available under our standard royalty-free licence, which lets you use them in a wide variety of projects, including advertising, websites, blogs, presentations, video productions, podcasts and more. Because these files are royalty-free, you only pay for the initial download of the file and don’t have to pay a royalty each time you use it. Your licence lets you use the content as many times as you want, wherever you want for as long as you want (within the terms of the content licence agreement.)

For more information, check out our content licence agreement

Photos and audio clips available under rights-managed licences and video clips available under rights-ready licences are different from royalty-free licences in that your licence is based on how, where, and for how long you intend to use the content, with the possibility of obtaining exclusive rights. Since the licence you’re paying for only covers a specific use, you can’t use the image, music clip or video clip in additional projects without purchasing additional licences.

For more information, check out our content licence agreement