Royalty Differences and understanding them.

I don't know exactly where i would put this, so i put it here. My bad if i'm wrong.

Anyways, i need someone to help me understand the difference between royalty free, rights managed, and rights ready images. I googled all of them and read about them, but some i don't understand too well and have questions on. Here it goes:

1.)Royalty free stock images say that you pay a one time fee and you don't need to pay royalties. So does this mean I pay for the rights to the image and I can use it whenever i want, with full copyrights to it?

2.)Rights ready, can someone explain this to me in a simple to understand definition?

3.)Rights managed, can someone explain this to me too?

It's critical that I learn the differences. I'd rather not be slapped with a 150 000$ USD copyright infringement lawsuit.

#507514

Wikipedia is you friend

1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royalty-free

If I understand that in the correct way, you are allowed to use it anyware you like, but the copyright is still by the creator.

#507545

I read the article on wikipedia, i just didn't completely understand it.

#507546

Royalty Free just means you can use it however you chose without paying royalties to the creator.

The creator still retains copyright ownership.

You are only paying for the right to USE. It's a License.

Side note to that, the copyright owner cannot change the terms once you have paid for the use of the image.

#507549

Do i have rights to the image? Can i use it whenever i want?

#507551

Do i have rights to the image? Can i use it whenever i want?

You have a "license", that grants you LIMITED rights.

Read the agreement that accompanied the image.

Royalty free simply states you do not have to pay the creator any royalties for using the image.

How you can use that image should have been outlined in the agreement when you purchased the image.

Typically you can use it however you want as long as you do not make any claim to the image.

You do not have the right of ownership and cannot make any claim of ownership to the image.

Royalty free images are not all created equal. Some are permissible for commercial use and some are limited to non-commercial personal use only.

Read the terms you agreed too when you purchased the image.

#507554