Intellectual property guidelines

At Adobe Stock, we’re committed to building a diverse and high-quality collection that respects both Contributors and their work. That includes protecting intellectual property (IP). Whether you are photographing a landmark, creating a graphic inspired by popular culture, or uploading an AI-generated image, understanding IP regulations is essential to successful submissions. The known restrictions list specifies restricted subjects protected by intellectual property rights. This isn't a comprehensive list.

Intellectual property guidelines 

Intellectual Property (IP) refers to original creations that are legally protected from unauthorized use. This includes: 

• Copyrighted content: Art, literature, music, software, and photography. 
• Trademarks: Logos, brand names, product packaging, and recognizable symbols. 
• Trade dress: The visual appearance of a product or location that signifies a brand. 
• Design patents: The look of a unique object or product design. 
• Architectural designs: Recognizable or copyrighted buildings and structures.  

When contributing to Adobe Stock, it’s your responsibility to avoid submitting content that infringes on someone else’s IP rights.  

Copyright guidelines 

Copyright protects original work, giving the creator control over how it’s used and shared. By submitting content to Adobe Stock, you agree that you own or have a license to the copyright in the submitted content. Even if something is visible to the public (such as a building or mural), it may be protected. A person who owns a copyrighted work has the exclusive rights to distribute, reproduce, publicly perform, and modify it, or grant some or all rights to select customers.  

You can submit: 

• Your own original creations. 
• Images of public spaces if they don’t prominently feature protected elements. 
• Content where you’ve secured necessary permissions with a signed property release.  

You cannot submit:  

• Content that does not belong to you without rights. 
• Copies or heavily inspired by recognizable work. 
• Included brand logos, characters, copyrighted artwork, or product packaging. 
• A recognizable location with restricted rights (such as a stadium or art gallery)  
• Content created by other artists, including content available as a free download. 

Compliance requirements

To ensure your submissions meet our standards:  

• Use model and property releases for identifiable persons or locations. 
• Remove or avoid recognizable logos, designs, or artwork. 
• Avoid submitting AI-generated content that mimics the style of known artists or brands. 

Ensuring metadata compliance, don’t: 

• Mention brand names in keywords or titles. 
• Use artist names or trademarks to increase search visibility 
• Add misleading or false attributions.  

Trademark vs. Trade dress 

A trademark is a set of words, a logo, or a symbol that exclusively identifies a company, brand, product, or service. Trade dress is a type of trademark that refers to the appearance or design of a product or its packaging. This may include a distinctive shape or color. For example, the UPS Shield logo and the brown color of UPS delivery uniforms are all considered trade dress, belonging to the United Parcel Service Inc.  

Adobe Stock will not accept content depicting either trademarks or trade dress. All submitted content should be void of trademarked symbols or objects.  

IP rules violations at Adobe Stock  

Content found to be in violation of IP guidelines will be refused or removed from our collection. Repeated or serious violations may result in account suspension or termination. If you dispute such a decision, you may file an appeal or use an out-of-court dispute resolution option (where applicable in your jurisdiction) by following the process here. 

Common Examples of IP Violations 

Here are a few scenarios to avoid when submitting content to Adobe Stock:

Contributor responsibility at Adobe Stock

Navigating IP and copyright regulations can be complex, but our team is here to support you. By understanding and respecting Intellectual Property, you’re ensuring a trustworthy and high-quality collection of original, inspired work. Our Adobe Stock Contributor Agreement outlines these IP requirements in full, and submissions that violate this agreement may be at risk of removal or account suspension.  

By staying informed and submitting accurately and responsibly, you help shape a more dynamic and trustworthy creative collection. Thanks for being a part of the Adobe Stock Contributor community.