Choosing Your License Type

Vecteezy has recently introduced a number of updates to the Content Manager, the tool all contributors use to upload and track their submissions to vecteezy.com.

One of the newest features gives Vecteezy contributors more control over their content and where it is positioned in the Vecteezy collection. Contributors can now choose which license type - Free, Pro or Editorial - they would like to associate with newly uploaded files. 

Note: Contributors will not immediately have the ability to update their previously approved submissions, but this is something we plan to look at for future updates to the Content Manager.

Deciding which license to submit content under is an important decision that contributors must make when uploading. The license selected can impact a resource’s downloads, availability, earnings, use, and usage rights or limitations. Offering different licensing options allows Vecteezy to provide the right resources for the creative task at hand, no matter the designer’s skill level or the project’s budget. Submitting content under a Free License, Pro License, or as Editorial Use Only all have unique benefits, and Vecteezy contributors have control to decide which fits their content best. No matter the License type you choose, all License Types are compensated fairly for every download and made available for millions of amateur and professional creatives to see.

For contributors who may not be familiar with Vecteezy’s licensing options, below is a brief summary to help you understand the similarities and differences between license types as you consider your choices at the time of submission.

Free License

• Downloads: Content licensed as Free is expected to receive more downloads than content licensed as Pro.
• Availability: Content licensed as Free is available to all users free of charge. Users can upgrade a Free License to a Pro License using a Pro subscription or Pro credits or Pro Extended License for an additional cost. 
• Earnings: Contributors are compensated using a flat rate pay-per-download model, based on the content type submitted. Please see our Earnings Overview for earnings details.
• Use: Commercial Use is permitted under the Free License. Content can be used in for-profit and promotional endeavors including advertisements, merchandise, packaging, commercial, and promotional use. The Free License is not restricted to documentary and illustrative uses. 
• Usage rights and limitations: Content licensed as Free has usage limitations and requires attribution. Please see Vecteezy’s licensing chart for details.
• Standards and Requirements: All content types must have a sufficient level of commercial value, useful themes, good composition, subjects, and/or concepts, and good technical quality. Vectors must have organized composition and present color theory. Photos must be well framed, evenly exposed. Videos must be natural, focused and steady, and preferably 4K. Please see our Content Guidelines for all technical, general, aesthetic, and release requirements.

Pro License

• Downloads: Content licensed as Pro are expected to receive a limited number of downloads compared to content licensed as Free.
• Availability: Content licensed as Pro is only available to Pro subscribers or through Pro credit purchases. Users can upgrade Pro License to a Pro Extended License for an additional cost. 
• Earnings: Contributors are compensated using the subscriber-share model. Please see our Earnings Overview for earnings details.
• Use: Commercial Use is permitted under the Pro License. Content can be used in for-profit and promotional endeavors including advertisements, merchandise, packaging, commercial, and promotional use. The Pro License is not restricted to documentary and illustrative uses. 
• Usage rights and limitations: Content licensed as Pro has generous usage rights. Please see Vecteezy’s licensing chart for details.
• Standards and Requirements: Exceeding our Free License standards and requirements, all content licensed as Pro must have strong commercial value, relevant and useful themes, compelling composition, subjects, and/or concepts, and high technical quality. Vectors must have a present and purposeful color theory. Photos must have high production value, intentional lighting, and execution of focus and depth of field. Videos must have high production value, be professionally executed, and be in 4K. Please see our Content Guidelines for all technical, general, aesthetic, and release requirements.

Editorial Use Only

• Downloads: Content licensed as Editorial Use Only may fluctuate in downloads based on the popularity of events and subjects covered. Overall, content licensed as Editorial Use Only is expected to receive more downloads than content licensed as Pro.
• Availability: Content licensed as Editorial Use Only is available to all users free of charge. Users can not upgrade an Editorial Use Only License to a Free, Pro, or Pro Extended License. 
• Earnings: Contributors are compensated using a flat rate per download, based on the content type submitted. Please see our Earnings Overview for earnings details.
• Use: The Editorial Use Only license is restricted to documentary and illustrative uses. Commercial Use is not permitted under the Editorial Use Only License. Content can not be used in for-profit and promotional endeavors including advertisements, merchandise, packaging, commercial, and promotional use. 
• Usage rights and limitations: Content licensed as Editorial Use Only has usage limitations, is only for use in printed news articles, digital news articles, or other newsworthy publications or items of public interest, and cannot be used for Advertisements, Merchandise, Product Packaging or any commercial or promotional use, even if the organization is non-profit.
• Standards and Requirements: All content types must meet our Free License standards and requirements. Additionally, Editorial Use Only content must document or portray an event or subject of human interest. Please see our Content Guidelines for all technical, general, aesthetic, and release requirements.
• Unreleased images aren’t automatically considered editorial. For example, if a photographer with a collection of images that is clearly a shoot with models (or any person we can reasonably expect the photographer to get model releases from), you should request that they provide releases so we can use them in the commercial collection.