I\u2019ve made hundreds of book covers<\/a> for myself and my clients \u2013 so I know this stuff like the back of my hand. And I\u2019ve seen the lawyers give the back of their <\/em>hands to people just like us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So no matter if you hire a professional book cover designer or design covers yourself<\/a>, an understanding of the rules on stock photography and intellectual property can save you from legal woes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LEGAL CYA<\/strong>: Although I\u2019m an author with years of experience and my father was an attorney, I am not a lawyer. While this article has been designed to help educate you so that you can make better decisions, no information in this article should be taken as legal advice. When in doubt, you should rely on your personal lawyer or contact one through a company like LegalZoom<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n P.S.<\/strong> There are some affiliate links in this article. This adds no extra cost for you, but it does help add a little to Dave's coffee fund and keeps him writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\r\n See why over 47,000+ authors and publishing companies use and love Rocket to help them sell more books.<\/p>\n Get Publisher Rocket Now!<\/a> <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n When dealing with a stock photo site or designers, it\u2019s important to know what level of rights you have. While this doesn\u2019t cover every nuance or litany of the terms used in the industry, the below highlights some of the different levels of rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Standard License – <\/strong>On Shutterstock, for example, a Shutterstock Standard License allows you to use images an unlimited number of times in digital applications, which includes eBooks, websites, online ads, software<\/a>, mobile applications, and online ads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What about printed designs, such as hardcover<\/a><\/u> or softcover print books<\/a><\/u>?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is why the fine print for any stock photo you use for your book cover is imperative. For Shutterstock, a standard license allows your use for up to 500,000 times<\/em> in print runs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Extended License <\/strong>– If there are restrictions on an image, you have to pay for an extended or enhanced license. This usually means additional fees for digital usage, print usage, or both in order to use it. An Enhanced License offers more freedom in terms of image usage. An EL doesn't have limits on print runs or out-of-home advertising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Editorial Use Only – <\/strong>Some images are labeled with “Editorial Use Only.” Shown below is 123rf's clear license policy. You aren\u2019t allowed to use \u201ceditorial use only images\u201d as they often contain newsworthy events, celebrities, or recognizable locations.<\/p>\n\n\n Right to “Alter”<\/strong> – Some stock photos come with a use license but without permission to alter. You will want to check that your license includes the right to \u201calter.\u201d That\u2019s critical because at a minimum you will be adding text to your book cover<\/a><\/u>, and the attorneys consider that an alteration. Can you imagine getting a cease and desist notice over something like that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll at minimum lose a day of work behind it, and that\u2019s if you\u2019re lucky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m speaking from experience here \u2013 I saw a really nice cover that I wanted to use when designing the cover for my Amazon bestseller Serve No Master<\/em>. But without the alteration rights, I was out of luck. So I found a different stock image on 123rf and altered the pastel colors to make them pop from the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n I would have been in violation of the original artist\u2019s intellectual property without this clear statement from my stock photo provider.<\/p>\n\n\n As you can see in the l23rf license above, when my sales cross 500,000 copies, I have to purchase the extended license. I\u2019m not quite<\/em> there yet. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, in the end, depending on what stock photo site you use or your designer uses, make sure you that understand what type of license you have and any restriction it may have as well<\/strong>. The above are some of the common rights, but there are many different terms and other sites describe them differently. So, just be sure to check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For my recent book Fire Your Boss<\/em>, which you can grab for free, I combined several beach images to create the exact feel that I wanted. Without the right to alter, I could have gotten in trouble with the original artists for merging their work together.<\/p>\n\n\n Because I checked with my licenses in advance, I avoided any risk of an email from an annoyed artist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So by now you might be thinking, “Hey, all I\u2019ve got to do is read the fine print and I\u2019ll have a beautiful cover \u2013 all my dreams will come true.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n But there\u2019s an extra fact that might turn your dreams into a nightmare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While you may pay for one of the rights above, you still<\/em> might be vulnerable to a copyright infringement. Many free and paid stock photo sites have gotten in a lab with their team and put together some very complicated legalese designed to protect themselves…and not you. In essence, they have some statement that basically clears them of any wrongdoing and place all the responsibility on you…even though you paid them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, no matter where your images come from, you are the one ultimately responsible. So, make sure you read the license rules for any site where you acquire content<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n Above, Pixabay<\/a> makes it very clear that while the photographer might have given you permission to use the image, the subject of the photo might not have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Caveat emptor est. Let the buyer beware!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or in this case, the downloader. Make sure you click on \u201clearn more\u2026\u201d. Pixabay has a far more extensive list of photos and images that they include on their site that can get you into trouble behind that link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It turns out there are different types of stock photography sites out there and each offers different levels and styles as well:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Large websites for stock photos have moderators who examine the pictures that are uploaded to check the legality. Some of these stock photo sites include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While you are generally safe with the photos purchased from these stock photo sites, you still can run into some issues. The core test is whether an element in your cover can be easily recognized as belonging to some other party. If someone looks at your book cover photos and says, \u201cThat\u2019s Batman!\u201d You are flying too close to the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The legal test is whether a potential customer could be confused. If a regular person could see your book cover and reasonably assume it\u2019s licensed or authorized by DC Comics, then you\u2019re on the wrong side of the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boutique Stock Photo Sites are platforms run by small businesses or solopreneurs. Unlike major microstock websites that have pictures or every kind, boutique stock photo sites generally stay in a genre or style and are very unique. Two examples are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Agencies for stock photos vet their images much in the same ways as the larger Microstock websites. These represent the gold standard of cover art and are used less commonly than microstock and boutique stock sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some reputable stock photography agencies are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As with all stock photos for book covers, be sure to check the licensing rights options that come with photos from agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many artists display their designs on major social art platforms within their individual profiles. They want to spread the word about their work and will often allow you to use their images wherever you\u2019d like as long as it\u2019s for non-commercial use.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to use their image in something you are selling (like your book cover), each individual has their own licensing fees and terms or requirements. This can get pretty complicated. But if you see an image by an independent artist that you must have, start the process by contacting them directly. Some of these artists actually have their images available on smaller stock photo sites, which makes the licensing process far easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few picture sites that have the potential to bring you legal trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sites that sell stock photos are far stricter with their content than sites that just list free images, such as Pixabay<\/strong> or Pexels<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Free stock photo sites aren\u2019t making money from their images, so if they are caught with an image that infringes on copyright they need to remove the photo, but they hopefully won\u2019t face a financial penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They aren\u2019t using the image for commercial use. But you are.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n The biggest issue with these sites is when people use photos with people, aka “figurative” stocks<\/strong>. The subject of a photo might not care about a picture of them being on a free stock photo site, but they might not appreciate appearing on the cover of your edgy BDSM novel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So it\u2019s important that you always get your figurative images from a reputable site, such as the Microstock and Boutique sites mentioned earlier. When in doubt, ask your artist for links to their sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are loads of platforms where you can get cheap designs. These artists are usually paid far too little to have any concerns about copyright infringement. I'm DEFINITELY not saying all Fiverr or 99Design artists are this way, but just understand and be a bit wary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just because an artist says they have a license for a stock photo site, it doesn\u2019t mean that they actually do. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of my covers were designed by artists that I hired on Fiverr. However, I always provide my own stock and figurative images just like Dave shows in this epic article on how to effectively and safely use Fiverr better for book cover designs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As independent authors, many of us are working with a limited budget. We want to find a cover where price, quality, and copyright intersect. We want a cover we can afford, that will generate sales, and comes without the risk of a copyright lawsuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t afford to throw bales of cash at your book cover, the best solution is to use book cover stock photos from reputable sources and send them to an artist you can afford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Designers who can\u2019t slink off under the rock from which they came have to stand by their work. They not only have a reputation to uphold, but they also need repeat customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s one thing that makes using a real book cover designer who\u2019s truly \u2018in the game\u2019 a major benefit and increases your safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some professional book cover design companies<\/a> that would have a lot to lose if they made any of the mistakes listed above, and are ones that Dave Chesson of Kindlepreneur has not only vetted, but also used as well:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so we now know about the license levels, the different types of stock photo sites and which ones to be wary of. However, there are still some things that all authors need to know and look for in their stock photos. There are a lot of ways stock photos can still hurt you. So let's dive into some examples to help you gain a better understanding, starting with the intellectual property of companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your book cover photos incorporate any intellectual property owned by a company that is not licensed to be used in stock photography, you open the doors for big trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, I typed \u201cBatman\u201d into Pixabay<\/a>, and here are my search results:<\/p>\n\n\n Use one of these “stock photos” on your cover, and it\u2019s only a question of whether DC, Marvel, or Lego will come after you. Those brands you loved as a child won\u2019t seem so friendly when they get your book removed from Amazon and sue you for every dollar of royalties your book has ever earned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Claiming that you acquired the image from a \u201ccreative commons\u201d site is a fig leaf that will offer little protection when the lawyers come in swinging. Yikes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So if you recognize any part of your cover from movies, pop culture, video games, etc. that's definitely not safe to use on your cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This one is much harder to be aware of because any part of your design could be stolen ideas from artists who share their work online. Unlike huge companies and pop culture, design elements of individual artists are not as easy to recognize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As an author, it's nearly impossible to know if this infringement happened. Your best bet is to ask your designer where they sourced your images. I'd like to believe the majority of professional designers understand copyright and care enough not to put you in that scary situation. But it's hard to ever be 100% sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to people on your cover, if they can recognize themselves, you had better have their permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Romance books often have a picture of a muscly hunk without his face showing. Hiding the face might make you think you\u2019re in the clear, but a recent lawsuit shows that might not be the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2011, the artist who designed Mike Tyson\u2019s face tattoo sued Warner Brothers for showing that tattoo on another character\u2019s face. They settled out of court. While we don't know the details of the final agreement, we do know the artist walked away with a smile on his face.<\/p>\n\n\n If you use an image of a tattooed hunk on your book cover, there appear to be three potential dangers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are quite a few female models with a tattoo of the logo of the Rebel Alliance from Star Wars<\/em>. While you might not recognize the image as anything more than a tribal at first blush, do you want to be the one sued by one of the largest film franchises of all time? You might not recognize their property, but they sure will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another thing to look out for on stock photo images for your cover design is recognizable clothing brands or logos. If a character on your cover has a big checkmark across their t-shirt, you could get an angry letter from Nike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While most of us realize that images have copyrights, knowledge about text<\/a> often slips through the cracks. Should your cover designer use a premium font without your knowledge, you could be headed for trouble. Some fonts have free and paid versions and I have seen regular fonts that are free, while the bold version requires a special license. So it\u2019s best to run your own research.<\/p>\n\n\n For my ServeNoMaster<\/a> site, I use a standard free font called Badaboom BB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of us download a font we like from a free site and add it to our computer without reading the license document. But actually, it\u2019s really<\/em> important to crack open that innocuous little file. That\u2019s where you will find this critical sentence:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis font is freeware for independent comic book creation and non-profit use only.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n When I read that, I knew I needed to take action by going to the font designer\u2019s website, Blambot<\/a>. I read their license options and purchased the one that met my need. While you probably won\u2019t get caught for a naughty font as quickly as you will for a naughty image, when you do get caught, it can be devastating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So when hiring a cover designer, make sure to ask them to use public domain fonts<\/strong>. I always ask the artists to list the fonts they used upon delivery so I can quickly review the license on each font to make sure I\u2019m in the clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As with all art on your covers, make sure you know exactly where everything came from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reading this article, you may start to get worried about your existing covers. While you may not have done anything wrong intentionally, you are at risk as long as those covers are out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reach out to each of your artists and ask them to provide links to the source of any stock images they used.<\/strong> Most artists can provide you with the information you need in a short email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your artist is no longer reachable, start looking for the reference art yourself. I couldn\u2019t find the original image from my Serve No Master<\/em> cover but a stock photo search for \u201cflying man\u201d eventually led me back to that image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also several image reverse lookup tools, including:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n These tools will take any image you upload and try to find similar images. You definitely want to do a check for compliance, but this is by no means a sure thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have an old cover that you discover has something unauthorized (or you just suspect it), the best course of action is to create a new cover following the recommendations of this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although using stock photos for your book cover can be treacherous waters, rest assured you can develop a tier-one cover with a killer image–without breaking the bank or getting scary letters from lawyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Follow this simple process to design your ideal and legal cover.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Need more guidance on designing a book cover that attracts readers? Here are a few of the best guides you can use for creating a book cover that catches shoppers' attention while they\u2019re browsing for their next book:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you hire a book cover designer or make them yourself, there\u2019s a good chance that your book cover will use stock photos. While you may think you\u2019re fine because you paid the designer or the stock photo site, what you\u2019ll learn from reading this article is that you may not be safe at all. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":156,"featured_media":16976,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3874],"tags":[3870],"yoast_head":"\n\n
Table of contents<\/h2>
Better Keywords & Categories Fast<\/h3>\r\n <\/a>\r\n \r\n
![\"Mockup](\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Mockup-copy.png\")
\r\n \r\n <\/a> <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n\n\n\nThe Different Levels of Rights To Stock Photos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"stock](\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/editorial-use-only.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"serve](\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/serve-no-master-cover-image.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"stock](\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/stock-photo-rules-to-follow-for-authors-right-to-alter.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/FireYourBossCover3D2-170x300.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWarning: You Can\u2019t Fully Trust Stock Photo Sites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"stock](\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/stock-photo-sites-protect-themselves.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nDifferent Types of Stock Photography Sites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Major Microstock Websites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Boutique Stock Photo Sites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Stock Photography Agencies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Social Art Providers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Stock Photo Sites to Be Wary Of<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Free Stock Photo Websites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cheap Artist Sites \u2013 Like Fiverr and 99Designs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What to Do: Hire a Real Professional…They have Lots to Lose<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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5 Ways Stock Photos & Font Can Bite You<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Company IP<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"batman](\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/batman-stock-photos-at-pixabay.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n2. Another Artist\u2019s IP<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Tattoos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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4. Clothing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Font<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/how-to-use-free-fonts-on-book-covers-badaboom-font.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
How to Check if You\u2019re Compliant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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More Resources for Designing Amazing Covers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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