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christine_3027
Participant
June 28, 2025
Answered

Is License different if Artist includes design printed on a T-Shirt?

  • June 28, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 374 views

Some Adobe Stock Free Assets include the Artist's graphic shown printed on a T-shirt, does that mean the artist authorizes their graphic to be printed on a t-shirt?  A.  For myself ? B. For commercial re-sale? (I'm guessing the Extended License is required).  Asking specifically for the designs that include a T-shirt withthat graphic. Are the graphics requiring payment different from the Free to Download graphics that also include the T-Shirt in the design?  A handful of artists display their graphics on T-Shirts.

An example, this artist has numerous designs in their portfolio displayed with the graphic printed on a T-Shirt. Here is one of their Free Stock Assets. 
See Example Below of a FREE Adobe Stock Asset shown printed on a T-Shirt.

Correct answer Abambo

A yes, B no. For B, you will need an extended licence, free assets come with a standard licence. The licence is what counts, not the asset, or what the creator of that asset shows. Indeed, contributors do not have any influence on the terms, and free assets may enter the paid collection next year again.

Look here for more information on licensing: https://community.adobe.com/t5/stock/links-for-licensing-terms/td-p/11366788
(Disclaimer: As always with licensing, this is my interpretation of the rules. I think they are correct and advice is based on reading and interpreting the licence terms and on fair use for both the buyer and the artist/stock company, but I cannot rule out that my interpretation is wrong. I'm not an Adobe employee).

2 replies

Abambo
Community Expert
AbamboCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
June 30, 2025

A yes, B no. For B, you will need an extended licence, free assets come with a standard licence. The licence is what counts, not the asset, or what the creator of that asset shows. Indeed, contributors do not have any influence on the terms, and free assets may enter the paid collection next year again.

Look here for more information on licensing: https://community.adobe.com/t5/stock/links-for-licensing-terms/td-p/11366788
(Disclaimer: As always with licensing, this is my interpretation of the rules. I think they are correct and advice is based on reading and interpreting the licence terms and on fair use for both the buyer and the artist/stock company, but I cannot rule out that my interpretation is wrong. I'm not an Adobe employee).

ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
    daniellei4510
    Community Expert
    daniellei4510Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 29, 2025

    FREE assets are for Standard license use only, not Extended. Otherwise, free assets work under the same rules as those purchased with credits.

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    C
    christine_3027Author
    Participant
    June 29, 2025
    Thank you, Danielle. My inquiry is specifically for when the artist
    displays the graphic on a T-Shirt for the completely free illustration
    graphic. Wouldn't it seem that by doing so they are authorizing the Free
    Standard license to use their graphic on T-Shirts? That's the intent of
    this question. I see it seems you all repeat this answer over and over, and
    I understand. But if it's completely free, not free trial, and they use a
    T-Shirt to display their illustration or graphic, it seems odd to me that
    an Extended license is required by that artist. I understand Adobe's
    position requiring Extended licensing.

    I am creating my own unique designs for commercial use in print on demand
    items like Tshirts, mugs, etc. And I've never seen a graphic authorized to
    be used by itself for this purpose. So I see the reasoning behind your
    answer.

    Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

    Kind regards,
    Christine
    daniellei4510
    Community Expert
    daniellei4510Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 29, 2025

    I would think that the inclusion of a t-shirt example is only a suggestion as to how the t-shirt can be used. So yes, you would be able to use the design on a t-shirt for personal use.

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