Public Domain Clip Art
Learn what public domain clip art is, how it can be used, and other information and opinions about public domain content.
Public Domain clip art is free for any usage?:
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There are no terms of use or conditions attached to the clip art. You may download it, use it, change it, color it, resize it, sell it, spindle, fold and mutilate it.
Creator Rights:
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All created images, backgrounds, clip art, buttons, etc., as well as text such as books, articles, poems, and resource lists, are the property of the person who created them. The artist or creator may place any conditions or terms of usage that they choose for use of their created work.
Free clip art with a condition:
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You may find a terms of usage statement that tells you the clip art or images are being placed in the public domain, but the Webmaster then adds a statement, such as "Please email me if you use the images so I can see how they are being used."
Are these images public domain?
No, they are not. A condition for use has been added to the images by the owner of the images. The intent of the artist may have been to place the images in the public domain, but the added condition, "Please email me", seems to remove the images from public domain and places them under the control and ownership of the artist.
There are many cases where the phrase, Public Domain, is used incorrectly:
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Some collections of clip art, animation, and backgrounds, etc. have been found hither and yon on Web over a long period of time and are assumed to be in the public domain. They are assumed to be free of any copyright, conditions, and terms of usage. In most cases, this is not true.
Most large clip art collections have been collected here and there on the Web and are not public domain images.
Any term of usage statement that uses the phrase, "I think these images are free to use, email me if any of these images are yours", is probably a Web collection of images that has been found on various sites around the Web, or scanned from books, magazines, greeting cards, etc.
Public Domain clip art collections are few and far between:
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Most public domain collections are black and white large images that require hours of work and resizing before they can be colorized. If you do find public domain clip art that is original and colorized, you have found a treasure beyond price!
Many clip art collections may not be used commercially:
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Many clip art collections are not "free to use" on commercial or business Web sites, but may be used on personal Web pages. Please read the terms of usage carefully.
If there are no terms of usage listed, email the Webmaster for clarification, terms of usage, or permission to use specific images.
Disney characters are copyrighted images, as are most or all known cartoon characters.
Scanned images and artwork, from any source such as magazines or books, cards, etc. are copyrighted material.
Before Using Clip Art Commercially:
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I would recommend that business or commercial Web site using any clip art, either clip art with Terms of Usage Statements or clip art that states it is royalty free or domain clip art, to email the Webmaster of that site for verification of the public domain status, that the clip art is indeed available for commercial use, as well as permission to use each individual image. Print and file the email response if you use the clip art.
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