Image copyright can be tricky. You find an image on the internet and may think there is no harm in uploading and cutting that on your Cricut. Actually, you can be committing copyright infringement. So, how do you know which files you can actually use and which are off-limits? Here is a guide to help you understand how to navigate the world of online copyright. We are covering the basics of image and SVG licensing so you know how to protect yourself and your business.
Please note that I am not a lawyer and this post should not be used in the place of legal advice.
Who Owns an Image?
Images are owned by whoever created them. Whether that is a photographer who took a picture or an artist who drew a picture. Sometimes, however, those copyright owners offer up a license to use their work. This license can be free or something you need to pay for. Follow along below as we talk about the different types of licenses and what they mean.
Why is Copyright Important?
If it is discovered that you are using an image, the copyright owner can then invoice or even sue you for damages. At that point, you have little to no negotiation room. You basically have to pay whatever they ask for. In this digital world, it is actually really simple to look for offending images with a reverse image search. This makes it easy to get caught using images incorrectly. Do not let this be you! Read on to see the proper use of images according to their license.
Know the Difference Between These Image Licenses
CC0 Image
This is an image labeled for Creative Commons. Meaning it is free to use personally or for commercial use. You will need to find the source of an image to see if it has a CC0 license. A few great sources for this type of image are Pixabay, Unsplash, and Pexels. You can download free images here and upload them to your Cricut machine with no issue.
Personal License
If this type of license is with a file, it means that you can use the file for creating things for yourself or to give as gifts. Once you start using images to make things that you sell, you will need a commercial license. For instance, the free SVG files that I offer here fall under a personal license. Please remember that these licenses are not transferable. You can’t download some SVG files and pass them along to a friend. You can, however, give your friend the link where you found them and have her download her own copy where she will get her own license to use the files.
Commercial License
This license allows you to make things and sell those items with the file. Most likely you will need to purchase these but they are occasionally free. Please note the terms of a commercial license. They are often issued for a limited amount of product. So, something like a license to sell 500 pieces made with the file. Note the amount and be sure to keep track of how many sold when working under a commercial license of a file. You will also need to remember that these are not transferable. You can’t give these files to a friend. Each person that uses these files will need to purchase their own commercial license.
So, the next time you want to use an image, think about the source. Is it allowed? Should you be uploading this to your Cricut machine? Image and SVG licensing can be tricky so be sure to read the information on the page where you source an image or file.
The Cricut Angel Policy for Image and SVG Licenses
Cricut has a special policy for those individuals that wish to create and sell crafts incorporating their products, designs, and images. The Angel Policy provides limited permission for certain sales of such crafts. It does have limits, however. Things like the Disney images and other licensed art are excluded. You can see the entire policy here so you know just what you can make with the Cricut Design Space images.
FAQs About Image And SVG Licenses for Cricut Images
Can logos be uploaded to a Cricut?
This is a question I see most often and the most violated policy. All logos are copyrighted and should not be uploaded to your Cricut. This includes logos for products like Pepsi and even logos for things like professional sports teams. You are putting yourself at risk each time that you upload these types of images.
What about the files you purchase?
Again, be sure to check the license provided for specific details. My favorite sources for files are:
- Creative Fabrica
- Design Bundles
- So Fontsy
- Hungry JPEG (Want to make a purchase instead? Use code 10OFF for 10% off!)
- Creative Market
- Hey, Let’s Make Stuff
- That’s What Che Said
- Happiness is Homemade
- Pineapple Paper Co.
- Everyday Party Magazine
- The Simply Crafted Life
- Craft Bundles
Files on Etsy are often fine but buyer beware. Things like Disney logos and likeness are still copyrighted. The people selling these are infringing on copyright but you will be as well if you use these files. Be aware of what you are purchasing and what types of copyrights may be violated with use.
So, do you have any more questions about image and SVG licensing? Be sure to ask them in the comment section below. Always protect yourself by making sure you have permission to use each image that you upload to your Cricut.
Need Help Organizing Your SVG Files?
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I am just curious about copyright in regards to logos such as sports teams. I know you said their logos are copyrighted so going onto google and using their images is illegal but what if I created my own SVG that looked similar and put my favorite sports team name in there or if i designed a picture of a lion and put “Lionking” or “Disney” on it (can people really own a word just because it is their businesse’s name or a title because if so that would leave very little words for people to use with all the different titles and businesses out there)? Would these things be considered illegal since I am not actual using their design/logo but my own custom made one? Can someone really own rights to a word even if it is the title of a movie or name of a product? Are all of these questions completely uneccessary because as long as someone isn’t using their specific logos, designs, or pictures there is no crime? These are the few questions that have always confused me most when it came to understanding copyright. When I saw your email talking about it and read what you wrote I thought you might have some straight forward answers and good insight into these questions. I hope you are able to clear these things up for me. Thanks so much for your great advice and hard work you put in to making such a great website for crafters!
Great questions! No, you cannot make a logo or your own design that is suggestive of something that is copyrighted. If there is any way that any person could see it as belonging to the original copyright owner, you could be held liable. And yes words like “Lion King” and even “Super Bowl” are copyrighted. They cannot be used without permission.
Two questions: 1. if you are not planning on selling the image, like just making shirts for family and friends as gifts, is there a copyright infringement problem? 2. I think I understood from the post above, that is you create something that hints at a copyright thing, that is a problem if you want to sell it. For example if i wanted to use a font like the “Friends” font, but use the word winner not friends, and then put the colored dots in between…that is a no-no correct? If i sell it that is? or is it a no-no either way? Thanks! -Angie
Technically if you sell it or not, it is a copyrighted image. That being said, if you make a shirt for yourself to wear, I am not sure who is going to actually see it.
I’ve looked over Cricut’s policy but still am unsure. Can I legally sell SVGs with images/texts from cricut design space? I’ve designed cards and card pockets, but haven’t been able to find an answer if an SVG project counts as a “project” that’s covered under the angel policy
You can’t make a design in Cricut Design Space then sell it as an SVG. You can make a design and them make a card and sell the actual card. But not the design to make the card. You will need to make it yourself in another program to sell it.
still confused newbie here,trying make car decal for window saying Rydal Baptist Church with cricut freebie of the week, a church, can I make and sell that. Are all cricut svgs? thanks
Cricut SVG files are under an angel policy so those would be okay to make and sell.
How can we sell things like tshirts or cups with Sports names on them? I have people ask for Carolina Tarheel, etc but I am scared to use any svg I find and even purchase. If I purchase an svg I like with the team, is it licensed for me to put it on my cup and sell it? I am so confused on this and cannot find an answer
You would have to find an official SVG with a commercial license.
When I buy an SVG on Etsy for example, and it says it comes with a license and that it can be used so many times, how do I know for sure that the person selling it had the right to do so in the first place?
Good question! You are relying on them to have done their work as well. However, you have your proof that you bought a license. If someone comes back to you asking questions, you just point them to the Etsy seller.
How do you get your SVG files licensed?
Thanks
mj
For each file you want a license, you would need to purchase one. Is that what you mean? Or you have SVG files that you made?
So how do we get a commercial license? Do you need one per image?
I would contact the seller or look on the listing. And yes they are usually one per image.
one license per image? that is alot of money
Yes, if you want to sell, you need a license to do so for each image. Some sites have a membership where you get a license for their library.
How about when you pay for the circuit access membership. Can you sell those images?
Under the Cricut Angel Policy, you can sell items you have made with certain images but there are restrictions that you will want to read up on.
Can I use cricut images to make a logo for my business? Would this be under the Angel Policy, as long as I don’t sell the svg I create.
I am not sure about a logo. You might read the angel policy and make sure there are no rules against it.
Under the Cricut Angel Policy, it states you must mark the items, or tags or labels with “Includes Copyright Material of Cricut.” If I am making a wine glass for instance, how do you properly mark that item?
Maybe a tag or sticker on the bottom.
I have bought various svg files over the past few months, mainly from design bundles and Etsy. Most of the things I’ve bought have commercial use licenses. Do you have any suggestions as to how to keep track of the licenses? I just revamped how I store my svgs so I’m worried that I separated the files from their licenses. Is just having bought them enough? Or would I ever have to refer back to the actual license?
I actually have a Cricut organization binder that I recommend to keep track of this. You can find it here: https://shop.thecountrychiccottage.net/collections/cricut-products/products/cricut-organization-binder
If i upload a picture to my phone, lets say of a video game character then upload to Design Space and clean it up to create a outline of the image in SVG form is that still a copyright violation?
Definitely. You have no rights to use that image.
Where do you look to see what kind of license they have for their image?
Each place is different! It is usually on the website.
I uploaded an SVG file that was a chevron pattern that I created with my software. Someone filed a copyright violation against me claiming that she “in good faith believe that the material is not authorized by the intellectual property owner.” I think that is like copyrighting a rectangle. Is this even possible?
Where was this? If it was Etsy, I can tell you that copyright violations there have went crazy. I actually will not sell there any longer.
how can you buy the copyrights to make a phase or wording
If someone owns the copyright, you would have to contact them to purchase.
So, how do you verify an image? Is there a certain website you could go to that can verify the source isn’t just lying about owning the image? Seems, like anyone could just claim that its svg is for personal use when in reality it could actually be copyrighted and then if you were to use that illegal svg file you are in fact quilty of the crime also. I haven’t purchased my cricut maker yet and am so glad I found out you need permission to use an image. But, now more questions arise and I am terrified to accidentally brake the law.
An SVG should come with a license file with the name of the person you bought it from. I would just show that to anyone that asks for your licensing. You can also do a reverse image search if you are worried about the source. I just buy from reputable sources and keep my license files.
Is it okay to design a project using a combination of words Cricut Access fonts and simple shapes or images (the sun, square, circle or a wave) (no logos or special images (Disney, etc.) and sell it via Zazzle, CafePress and the like whereby the platform company creates the end product? If so, is it okay to layer a word on top of an image or is that considered “altering” copyright material? Trying to get a good handle on what “individual, unassembled cuts using Cricut products (i.e., mass producing individually-cut letters or shapes to re-sell) nor to produce and sell items that incorporate licensed content” really means.
I am fairly certain that zazzle falls under its own rules as far as licensing and is often excluded.
I am wanting to sell stickers. I have some of my own designs created in procreate. From what I understand, the Angel Policy doesn’t not allow the use of design space images to sell stickers? I have found some images on sites like Design Bundles, etc and from what I can tell that commercial license limits the quantity sold but not the type of project sold. Am I correct in thinking I could take an image from Design Bundles, make it a sticker and sell it?
Stickers are REALLY tricky as I am trying to navigate that myself. From what I can tell, Design Bundles doesn’t offer that either.
So it’s sounding like making stickers of any sort is a no-go? What about stickers to be included in a planner set? It says they can be part of a finished product but I don’t understand what that means! How are so many people making stickers with their Cricut?
So many people make stickers with their own art. That is the way to do it legitimately.
Hi! Love this, so helpful. Question— what if you don’t want to use a movie character image, but you’d like to print a movie quote on to a tumbler. Do movie quotes need a commercial license as well?
You would just need to check them and see if they are registered. I would try a little googling to see if they are copyrighted or trademarked.
Here is site to check https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=login&p_lang=english&p_d=trmk
Hello! This has been most helpful and cleared up quite a bit for me! Another question I have is that if I were to sell shirts that I personally made with my cricut on Etsy with SVG files I purchased that had a commercial license, could other sellers on Etsy flag me? And if that happened, would I just have to prove that I had purchased the commercial license? I’ve read that the process for proving your innocence can hurt your sales and rankings on Etsy. Is that true too? Sorry if any of this has been asked! Thank you!
Generally what happens is they will message you if they have a concern and ask about your license purchase. Once you are able to produce it, all is well. They only flag it with Etsy as a general rule if you are not responding as they think you just have not purchased.
this cleared up so much for as a beginner. Just also wanted to ask, if I bought svg files with both personal and commercial licenses for projects to sell, do I have to tag who I bought the svg from? Of course I don’t claim the design to be mine. Could I still get into trouble for not tagging whom I bought the svg from even though I claim the design is not mine?
You don’t have to tag them when making things and selling.
Can you tlk about fonts and copyright too please. Eg. Disney mickey font on dafont…can I use that on Tees and sell it?
Same information would apply. Check the licensing information for each font you purchase but I wouldn’t use a “disney” font on anything.
I read though the comments but I’m still confused about something. If you buy an svg image that says something like “These files are designed for a personal project, or with commercial license for small businesses up to 300 PRINTS” does that mean it comes with the license and you can just download and sell? Or do you have to separately go and buy a commercial license somewhere? Or another version I saw said “Commercial use is allowed up to 200 times per listing bought for physical items.” So again do I have to go buy a commercial license somewhere or are they just authorizing you to sell it up to 200 times?
I think you may need to ask them. Most of the times when you download a file it comes with a PDF with licensing specifics.