Can I use "standard" license in Social Media (Facebook and LinkedIn) for profile covers and blogs

[K30455006syt2]

Hello,

I know this question has probably been asked many times, but I wanted to confirm my understanding of the "standard" license.

So, if I purchase an image (without the "Editorial Use" label) from Adobe Stock under the "standard" license, can I use it on Facebook and LinkedIn for my profile cover and blog posts?

A few considerations:

1. I'm not a celebrity/influencer, so I won't have millions of views (hardly couple thousands).
2. I don't want to give explicit credit for every image.
3. Is it ok that by uploading an image to one of these platforms, the image will also be downloadable by other users who in most cases won't have a license for the image.

Please advise, thanks!

[Abambo · Accepted solution]

For social media, even if you were THE influencer, the standard licence would be enough.

A blog is editorial use, so you will need to acknowledge the author and Adobe stock. But for that use (not for your cover photo!), you can also use editorial only assets under the standard licence. So 2) is a no-go.

3) What other users? If they are readers of your blog, that's OK. If they are other bloggers, the question is more difficult to answer. Generally, I would say no, they are not allowed to use the asset.

(For the internet use, you should downscale the asset, so that not the full-size asset is available and distributed.)

[K30455006syt2]

Thanks for the answer, but still a few thoughts/clarifications...

1) I do not plan to use images marked "Editorial Use Only", which require a credit line, but images under the standard license without such a label... I don't think they need a credit line?

2) I'm not going to distribute the image in the original resolution (as part of my social media or blog), also many platforms will re-encode it automatically as they don't want to store some 10mb file image. Still, readers of my blog will see it without any watermarks and could technically download and use it... but I guess that should be fine?

[daniellei4510]

"readers of my blog will see it without any watermarks and could technically download and use it... but I guess that should be fine?"

The interent being the interenet, that's aways a possiblity. But It wouldn't be fine to the copyright holder, who wants to be paid for its usuage elsewhere. And they could, if they wished, pursue such usage legally for infringement. But I'm no lawyer, so take that for what its worth.

[K30455006syt2]

I say "fine" only from the perspective of my responsibility, I would think everyone is responsible for what they use and how, I personally wouldn't just randomly take an image and start distributing it through my social media/blog. So if authors want to go after people who use their product without a license, it's not my responsibility and it's "fine"...

[Abambo]

I say "fine" only from the perspective of my responsibility, I would think everyone is responsible for what they use and how, I personally wouldn't just randomly take an image and start distributing it through my social media/blog. So if authors want to go after people who use their product without a license, it's not my responsibility and it's "fine"...

By @K30455006syt2

Sure. You should upload an internet optimized asset, however, and not distribute the full-size high-quality asset. I would recommend this even in the times of fast internet access. Low-resolution assets do not necessarily discourage asset collectors, but it will limit the stock usage.

[K30455006syt2]

Addition to 1) I mean they don't need a credit line since my personal blog/social media do not fall under the category of "editorial" I would think and I do not plan to use images with "Editorial Use Only" labels.

[Abambo]

Addition to 1) I mean they don't need a credit line since my personal blog/social media do not fall under the category of "editorial" I would think and I do not plan to use images with "Editorial Use Only" labels.

By @K30455006syt2

No, that's incorrect. A blog post is editorial. There is no differentiation to be made between private and non-private or for-profit postings.

[K30455006syt2]

Got it! Thanks for the answer and clarifications.

[Nancy OShea]

I expect you to customize the Stock image in some way before you post it online.  😉