Free clip art? Read the terms of usage!

Before downloading free clip art, find out what "Free Clip Art" really means.

Free clip art! Free icons! Free animation!

If you've ever built a Web site or searched for clip art, then you've seen statements such as, Free Clip Art, Free Backgrounds, Free Icons, and Free Animation. What a marvelous place this World Wide Web is! A multitude of talented artists have placed their creations on Web pages across cyberspace making your search for backgrounds, icons, and clip art a delightful and productive journey. But, . . . is that clip art really free?

Let's take a closer look at the terms of usage for this clip art you've found. Hmmm.... this one state, "Free for use with a link or credit back".

You smile as you download the graphic while thinking, "I'll put all credits on the bottom of the page."

Ooops. A bit further down the page you find that the clip art cannot be placed in other collections or sold.

"No problem. I wasn't intending to sell it and I certainly don't have a collection of any kind", you mutter to yourself.

The next sentence explains that the artist would like you to place the supplied logo on your page as well as a link back.

"Sheesh"; you mutter loudly. "Okay. The logo is cute and the colors will coordinate with my Web site. I'll add the logo to the bottom of my page with the other credits".

As you locate and start to grab another got-to-have piece of clip art you notice there is one more sentence in the terms of usage statement.

"Who do they think they are telling me I can't fold, spindle, mutilate, recolor, or resize this piece of clip art?" you shout as you slap the mouse across the room.

Yes, there are collections that include all of the above requirements for usage of the free clip art! So, please read the terms of usage carefully. Other collections of clip art may only require that you email your page address to the artist so he or she may see how their created images have been used.

Let's take a look at a few sites and try to determine if the images are free.

Animation Arthouse
Animated meerkats that pop up, guard, sit, stand, and smoke.

Are these animated images free?

No. There are terms of usage attached to these images. You are free to use the animated meerkats ONLY if you follow the terms of usage as long as you credit the creator of the image, Lisa Konrad, and link back to the animated clip art pages. The creator, Lisa Konrad, retains all copyright.

Could the animated meerkats be used on a commercial Web page or in other projects?

If you intend to use one of the meerkats on a commercial site, or if you intend to use any image in any way that generates profit or gain, or in any manner other than Web page use, I suggest that you email Lisa Konrad and ask for permission to use each specific image.

Muted Textures
Backgrounds of lightly textured tiles in a variety of gold and brown colors

Are these backgrounds free?

No. There are terms of usage and conditions attached to the backgrounds, so they may only be used in accordance with the terms of usage.

Could these backgrounds be used on a commercial site?

No, not without specific permission from the Web master.

Celine's Original GIFs
Clip art collections of linebars, arrows, menu bar icons or menu buttons, bullets, backgrounds, and miscellaneous icons.

Are these collections of clip art free?

Probably. Celine states that all graphics contained within these pages were created by Celine Chamberlin, and are placed willfully and knowingly in the public domain. Celine then states that this means you have free reign to download, use and/or change these graphics for your own use in your web pages. Further down the page Celine mentions that use is granted to personal and professional web pages alike, as well as print newsletters, etc., so I would think that the images may be used only for Web pages and for newsletters.

Could these images be used on a commercial Web page?

I believe that a professional Web page and a commercial Web page are very different, so I would say that the images may not be used on a commercial Web site.

My opinion about Celine's public domain content spawned an interesting and informative email. Take a moment to read the Public Domain Discussion by Jim Harris and form your own opinion.

Matt Harris also had come interesting comments about Public Domain and an opinion about the privacy of emails.

Whose Job Is It?

It is my pleasure to locate these fantastic clip art collections for you. It is your job, if you choose to use the clip art, to know and comply with the terms of usage. Truly, the requirements and terms of usage are a small price to pay for the use of excellent, original, and unique works of art.

New to Clip Art? Start Here!

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