royalty-free
No usage fees
Royalty-free describes creative content—images, music, video—that can be used after a one-time purchase without ongoing payments.
The term doesn't mean free of charge; it means free of royalties.
A photographer might sell royalty-free images through a stock agency: I found a royalty-free photo for the website.
Contrast with rights-managed licensing, which charges per use.
Goods kept for sale
- Creative CommonsNonprofit providing sharing licenses
- licenseFormal grant of permission
- usage rightsPermitted scope of use
- attributionAssigning origin or cause
commercial use · download · subscription · public domain · clearance · permissions · legal · non-exclusive
Pre-made licensable pictures
- imagesVisual depictions
- footageRecorded video material
- musicOrganized auditory art
- audioTransmitted sound content
graphics · vectors · illustrations · clips · templates · fonts · sound effects · background music
Stock media licensing company
Paid promotional communication
- marketingPromoting goods to consumers
- presentationsFormal informative addresses
- websitesInternet pages collections
- social mediaOnline content-sharing platforms
YouTube · podcasts · apps · broadcasts · print · merchandise · editorial · personal use
stock
Goods kept for sale
- Creative CommonsNonprofit providing sharing licenses
- licenseFormal grant of permission
- usage rightsPermitted scope of use
attribution · commercial use · download · subscription · public domain · clearance · permissions · legal · non-exclusive · buyout
stock photos
Pre-made licensable pictures
audio · graphics · vectors · illustrations · clips · templates · fonts · sound effects · background music · video
Shutterstock
Stock media licensing company
advertising
Paid promotional communication
- marketingPromoting goods to consumers
- presentationsFormal informative addresses
- websitesInternet pages collections
social media · YouTube · podcasts · apps · broadcasts · print · merchandise · editorial · personal use · corporate
- image rightsphoto rights, image rights, copyright, reproduction rights, usage rights
- production musicbackground music, underscore, incidental music, cues, soundtrack
- stock mediastock photos, photo library, photo archives, video clips, licenses
- software licensingsoftware license, license agreement, EULA, license key, licensee
- stock footagefootage, clips, aerial footage, drone footage, time lapse
- licensinglicense agreement, licensing board, application fee, license renewal, license fee
royalty-freerights-managed
Priced by specific usage
pay-per-use · licensed · metered · usage-based · commission-based
royalty-freeall rights reserved
Legal claim on content
restricted · exclusive · proprietary · restricted use · single-use