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Phillip HM
Participant
August 19, 2025
Answered

Timelapse footage of traffic, question regarding submission

  • August 19, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 340 views

I've started creating timelapse traffic footage and am wondering if it would be accepted.  Looking at existing uploads from other contributors there are clips that, when paused, vehicle registrations, logos and other company logos are identifiable.  Is this considered acceptable?  Additionally, although hard to see clearly, people's faces are also sometimes visible in my clips but I've also seen this on existing uploads on Adobe Stock.  Are these submissions I'm seeing from select contributors or is this type of content permissable in certain situations?

Correct answer RALPH_L

Regardless of the asset type, vehicle registrations, logos, other company logos or identifiable people are only allowed when accompanied with the appropriate  signed release.

3 replies

Nancy OShea
Community Expert
Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 19, 2025

Have you ever noticed that Google Maps never shows identifiable people or sharp vehicle license plates?  It's to protect people's privacy.

 

All Stock video is for commercial use. Therefore, it must be legally free & clear to use through editing or signed release forms. It makes perfect sense when you think about it.

 

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
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Phillip HMAuthor
Participant
August 20, 2025

Yes, I understand this.  But can anyone answer why there's so many uploads that seem to break these rules?  The amount of footage that features number plates, logos etc. got me wondering if there's some policy I'm not aware of.

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Phillip HMAuthor
Participant
August 20, 2025
quote

Signed release forms for dozens of passing cars is very unlikely to happen so I guess it just got by the examiners.  I had to pause/unpause a fair number of times to spot them, perhaps examiners don't have the time to be all that thorough?!...

 


By @Phillip HM

You are right. Getting the signed model release from complete strangers is not reasonable. That is why street photography is not stock photography proof. It's a matter of responsibility but at the very end, everyone will return on you as the creator. So, it's not wise to try your luck, even if moderators don't catch all the errors.


Don't worry, no intention of doing this and editing out/blurring the plates and any visible faces will actually be pretty straightforward.  I was more interested if there was just something I wasn't aware of.  Thanks for your answer.

Jill_C
Community Expert
Jill_CCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 19, 2025

Any visible and recognizable faces, logos, license plates, etc. Will result in IP rejections.

Jill C., Forum Volunteer
RALPH_L
Community Expert
RALPH_LCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
August 19, 2025

Regardless of the asset type, vehicle registrations, logos, other company logos or identifiable people are only allowed when accompanied with the appropriate  signed release.

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Phillip HMAuthor
Participant
August 19, 2025
quote

Regardless of the asset type, vehicle registrations, logos, other company logos or identifiable people are only allowed when accompanied with the appropriate  signed release.


By @RALPH_L

Exactly.  This is why I'm wondering how there's content uploaded that seems to break these rules, I seem to recall that illustrative editorial can't be video.

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