Using photos in stock photo for commercial use.

[kendoblack1@hotmail.com]

I am a writer.

I have read previous posts on Fair Use, but none of the questions are related to my circumstance. I want to use a photo as a book cover. May I do so?

[kglad]

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post if it helps you get responses.

<moved from using the community>

[Abambo · Accepted solution]

First: change your username here as not to include your e-mail. That's dangerous, as spammers and scammers will contact you.

Second, yes, you can do that. That is what stock is for. And that has nothing to do with “Fair Use”, as that is a term, describing a practice of using copyrighted material, without needing the prior authorization of the copyright owner for anything that falls under the “Fair Use” dispositions. Using copyrighted material for a book cover is not fair use and requires a corresponding licence. You get that licence when you buy a stock asset.

Look here for more information on licensing: https://community.adobe.com/t5/stock/links-for-licensing-terms/td-p/11366788

(my “fair use” in the disclaimer is just that I think that the use is correct because you paid, and the copyright owner got paid!)
(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).

[Test Screen Name]

Fair Use is not applicable in this case, not relevant. "Fair Use" is a special rule which (in the US only) allows copyright to be ignore for very special purposes. But that doesn't matter -- with Adobe Stock you pay for a license to use a photo, and you can then use it according to the license. Be sure to read the license, for example is sets a maximum number of books for printing.