Choosing the Right License for Your Project

A comprehensive guide to understanding and selecting the appropriate license for your design assets

Choosing the right license is crucial for legal compliance and protecting your work. This guide will help you understand different license types and make informed decisions for your projects.

Understanding License Types

Free License

Assets available at no cost with specific usage terms

What You Can Do:

Use in personal projects
Use in commercial projects (usually)
Modify and adapt the asset
Include in client work

Restrictions:

Cannot resell or redistribute as-is
Cannot claim as your own work
Attribution may be required
Cannot use in trademark/logo creation (sometimes)

Best For:

Freelancers, small businesses, personal projects, and startups with limited budgets

Editorial License

Limited to news, education, and informational purposes

What You Can Do:

Use in news articles and journalism
Include in educational materials
Use in documentaries and reports
Feature in blog posts (informational)

Restrictions:

No commercial or promotional use
Cannot use in advertising
Cannot use for product packaging
Cannot imply endorsement

Best For:

Journalists, educators, bloggers, and content creators producing informational content

Commercial License

Full rights for business and commercial applications

What You Can Do:

Use in any commercial project
Include in products for sale
Use in advertising and marketing
Incorporate into client deliverables
Use across multiple projects

Restrictions:

Cannot resell the asset itself
Cannot redistribute to others
May have usage limits (check terms)

Best For:

Businesses, agencies, and professionals who need full commercial rights without restrictions

Extended License

Unlimited usage rights for large-scale commercial applications

What You Can Do:

Everything in Commercial License, plus:
Use in products for resale (merchandise)
Unlimited print runs
Use in templates for resale
Broadcast and streaming rights
Use in mobile apps with unlimited downloads

Best For:

Large corporations, product manufacturers, app developers, and businesses creating items for resale

License Selection Framework

Ask Yourself These Questions:

1. What is the purpose of your project?

Personal use → Free License
News/Education → Editorial License
Business/Marketing → Commercial License
Product for resale → Extended License

2. Will you make money from this project?

No → Free or Editorial License may work
Yes → Commercial or Extended License required

3. How many people will see it?

Small audience → Standard licenses work
Large audience/broadcast → Extended License recommended

4. Will the asset be part of a product for sale?

No → Commercial License sufficient
Yes → Extended License required

5. Do you need exclusivity?

No → Standard licenses work
Yes → Contact creator for custom licensing

Common Usage Scenarios

Website Design

Recommended: Free or Commercial License

Most website projects work well with free licenses. Choose commercial if you're building for a client or large business.

Social Media Graphics

Recommended: Free or Commercial License

Free licenses usually cover social media. Use commercial for paid advertising campaigns.

Print Materials (Flyers, Brochures)

Recommended: Commercial License

Check print run limits. Extended license may be needed for large quantities (10,000+ copies).

T-Shirts and Merchandise

Recommended: Extended License

Physical products for resale always require extended licensing.

Mobile Apps

Recommended: Commercial or Extended License

Commercial for internal use. Extended if the app is sold or has unlimited downloads.

Logo Design

Recommended: Custom License or Purchase Rights

Most free assets prohibit logo use. Consider custom licensing or creating original work.

Blog Articles

Recommended: Free or Editorial License

Editorial for news content. Free or commercial for business blogs with ads.

Templates for Resale

Recommended: Extended License

Selling templates requires extended licensing as end users will receive the asset.

Legal Considerations

⚠️Always Read the Full License Agreement

License terms can vary significantly between platforms and creators. Never assume - always read the complete terms before using any asset.

Key Terms to Look For:

•
Attribution Requirements: Do you need to credit the creator?
•
Usage Limits: Are there restrictions on print runs, downloads, or views?
•
Modification Rights: Can you edit or adapt the asset?
•
Resale Restrictions: What constitutes "resale" in the license?
•
Geographic Limitations: Are there regional restrictions?
•
Time Limits: Does the license expire or require renewal?

Documentation Best Practices:

1.
Save a copy of the license agreement with your project files
2.
Keep download receipts and confirmation emails
3.
Document the source and license type in your project notes
4.
Create a spreadsheet tracking all licensed assets used
5.
Note any attribution requirements for easy reference

License Red Flags

Warning Signs to Watch For:

🚫
Vague or unclear terms - If you can't understand what's allowed, don't use it
🚫
"Free for personal use only" - Means you cannot use it commercially
🚫
No license information - Never use assets without clear licensing
🚫
Suspicious sources - Verify the creator has rights to license the asset
🚫
Too good to be true - Premium assets offered free may be pirated

Quick Reference Chart

Use Case	Free	Editorial	Commercial	Extended
Personal Projects	✓	✓	✓	✓
News Articles	✓	✓	✓	✓
Business Website	Maybe*	✗	✓	✓
Advertising	Maybe*	✗	✓	✓
Print Materials	Maybe*	✗	✓	✓
Merchandise	✗	✗	✗	✓
Templates for Resale	✗	✗	✗	✓
Broadcast/TV	✗	Maybe*	Maybe*	✓

* Always check specific license terms - restrictions vary

Next Steps

Now that you understand licensing, continue learning:

Getting Started with Digital Assets →Understanding File Formats →View All Guides →