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What Images, Videos, Code or Music Can I Use in my Items?


It is very important that authors only sell things they have the right to sell. That means every author should familiarize themselves with what images, videos and music can be incorporated into an item they sell. If you try to sell something that isn’t yours to sell, it can have very serious consequences.

Misuse of assets (images, videos, illustrations, music, code and so on) in an item for resale is one of the main ways that authors mistakenly violate other people’s copyright. This article will explain what assets you can and cannot use in your items for sale.

An “Asset” is anything that is included in your item which is not the main item itself. For example photos used in a design. Music used in an After Effects project. Sample videos used in a video player.

It’s important to remember that if a reviewer does not know where you got an asset from, they will not be able to approve your item for sale. Please make sure you leave them detailed notes of where you got your assets from in the Note To Reviewer text box when uploading your item.

Please note that any item found to infringe on someone’s copyright due to it’s included assets will immediately be removed, and further action may be taken depending on the severity of the infringement. Penalties for including copyright violating assets can be severe, and can include account disablement, freezing of funds, and even legal action. Please make sure you only include assets in your items that you have a license to use.

What assets can I use in my preview files?

To use an asset in your preview file ONLY, you need a license to use the item in a commercial project. You do not require a license that permits use in an item for sale. Here are some options for you if you need assets for your preview files:

1) The Envato Asset Library

If you’re an author, you will have access to the Envato Asset Library from your Author Dashboard. The Asset Library contains photographs, videos, and music files for use in your items for sale on the marketplaces. These files can be used in previews (and in the main file for download), and buyers can continue to use the assets within the item they purchased.

What action do I need to take?

Note that you have used an asset library asset in the Note To Reviewer text box when uploading your item.

2) Your Own Work

Some authors who are multi-talented choose to create their own assets for use in their items. Just remember that if the asset contains a recognizable human feature or private property, you’ll need to have a model or location release for your records.

What action do I need to take?
If you have used an asset you have created yourself, state that in the Note To Reviewer text box when uploading your item. We do not check model or location releases at this time, but we may request it from you at any time your item is for sale, so you MUST have a valid model or location release if your asset contains a recognizable human feature or private property.

3) Your Own Marketplace Files

Sometimes it makes sense to use an item you’ve already created and are selling on an Envato marketplace inside another item you plan to sell. How you can use the item depends on whether it’s being used as an asset or an integral part of the new item.

If the item is being used as an asset:
An asset is something you add to your file as a placeholder until the buyer adds his own content. For example, music tracks for a music player or photos within a photo gallery would be assets. They aren’t an integral part of the file – they’re just placeholders. To use your own items as assets, follow these steps:

  1. Only use the watermarked preview of the file.
  2. Only include the file in preview package, not the main download.
  3. Link to the file in your description and state clearly that the file itself is not included in the file for download.
  4. In the Notes To Reviewer text area state that you are the file creator and provide a link to the file.

If the item is an integral part of the new file:
You may use a non-watermarked version of an item you’re already selling as long as it’s an integral part of the new file. For example, button designs you’re selling on GraphicRiver could be used in a Wordpress theme being sold on ThemeForest. You could also add a single piece of audio being sold on AudioJungle to a VideoHive file. This also applies to creating a second version of a file. If you create a version two, much of new file will come from the previous file. To use your own file as an integral part of your new file, follow this step:

1. In the Note To Reviewer text box state that you are the item creator and provide a link to the file.

4) Previews Of Other Marketplace Files

If you find another item on the marketplaces you think would be ideal as an asset for your item, you can use it for your preview ONLY, provided you have the author’s permission and follow the guidelines below.

What action do I need to take?

  1. You must contact the author of the item you wish to use in your item preview and gain their written permission to use the asset in your preview.
  2. You can only use the watermarked preview of the item.
  3. You must link to the item in your description and state clearly that the item itself is not included in the file for download.
  4. You must state that in the Note To Reviewer text box that you have permission to use the preview and that you have followed all the described steps when uploading your item.

5) Sourcing or Purchasing a License to use Outside Assets

If you find an item outside of the marketplaces that you’d like to use, you will need a license to use the item in a commercial project in order to use that asset in your item preview, and only your item preview. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct license to use any asset you put in your item preview.

What action do I need to take?

  1. Check, check, and check again that the license of the asset you have purchased or otherwise obtained allows for it to be used in the preview of an item for resale. You may need to contact the author of the asset to make sure, or if you’re purchasing the item, contact their support for confirmation.
  2. Ensure the item does not infringe copyright in some other way, as outlined in the Envato Author Tutorial.
  3. State clearly in your description that the asset is a placeholder only and is not included with the item for sale. You should also note in a Help document in your main ZIP file where you obtained each asset.
  4. State in the Note To Reviewer text box that you have checked the license of the asset and that you can confirm that you have the license to use the item in your preview. Additionally, confirm that you have noted that the asset is not included with the purchased item in your description.

What assets can I use in my main files?

To use an asset in your main file (ie. the file a buyer will download and use), you need a license to resell that asset. Here are some options for you if you need assets for your main file:

1) The Envato Asset Library

If you’re an author, you will have access to the Envato Asset Library from your Author Dashboard. The Asset Library contains photographs, videos, and music files for use in your items for sale on the marketplaces. These files can be used in previews and in the main file for download, and buyers can continue to use the assets within the item they purchased.

What action do I need to take?
Note that you have used an asset library asset in the Note To Reviewer text box when uploading your item.

2) Your Own Work

Some authors who are multi-talented choose to create their own assets for use in their items. Just remember that if the asset contains a recognizable human feature or private property, you’ll need to have a model or location release for your records.

What action do I need to take?
If you have used an asset you have created yourself, state that in the Note To Reviewer text box when uploading your item. We do not check model or location releases at this time, but we may request it from you at any time your item is for sale, so you MUST have a valid model or location release if your asset contains a recognizable human feature or private property.

3) Your Own Marketplace Files

Sometimes it makes sense to use an item you’ve already created and are selling on an Envato marketplace inside another item you plan to sell. How you can use the item depends on whether it’s being used as an asset or an integral part of the new item.

If the item is being used as an asset:
An asset is something you add to your file as a placeholder until the buyer adds his own content. For example, music tracks for a music player or photos within a photo gallery would be assets. They aren’t an integral part of the file – they’re just placeholders. To use your own items as assets, follow these steps:

  1. Only use the watermarked preview of the file.
  2. Only include the file in preview package, not the main download.
  3. Link to the file in your description and state clearly that the file itself is not included in the file for download.
  4. In the Notes To Reviewer text area state that you are the file creator and provide a link to the file.

If the item is an integral part of the new file:
You may use a non-watermarked version of an item you’re already selling as long as it’s an integral part of the new file. For example, button designs you’re selling on GraphicRiver could be used in a Wordpress theme being sold on ThemeForest. You could also add a single piece of audio being sold on AudioJungle to a VideoHive file. This also applies to creating a second version of a file. If you create a version two, much of new file will come from the previous file. To use your own file as an integral part of your new file, follow this step:

1. In the Note To Reviewer text box state that you are the item creator and provide a link to the file.

4) Purchasing an Extended License to use an Envato Marketplace Item

Some items for sale on the Envato Marketplaces can be used within a website template for sale on ActiveDen or ThemeForest, provided you have an Extended License to use them.

Only certain categories allow an extended license of an item to be used in a website template on ActiveDen or ThemeForest. If you’d like to use an item on the marketplaces in your own item for sale, you should check the Extended License Usage Examples for that item. If the list includes Website Item For Resale (including on ThemeForest or ActiveDen), then you may use an extended license for this purpose.

What action do I need to take?

  1. Check the item’s extended license usage examples to ensure the Extended license for that item can be used for a ActiveDen or ThemeForest website template.
  2. Purchase the Extended License of the item under the username you plan to upload your item under.
  3. State that in the Note To Reviewer text box that you have purchased an extended license of the asset and link to it’s URL.

5) Sourcing or Purchasing a License to use Outside Assets

If you find an item outside of the marketplaces that you’d like to use, you will need a license to resell that asset in your main file. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct license to use any asset you put in your item preview. Licenses change from site to site, so do your homework and ensure you are not violating anyone’s copyright by using the asset in an item for resale.

What action do I need to take?

  1. Check, check, and check again that the license the asset you have purchased or obtained allows for it to be used in an item being sold. Look for terms like “commercial resale” or “commercial redistribution” and be aware if the license is limited in the number of copies sold or the kind of format. You may need to contact the author of the asset to make sure, or if you’re purchasing the item, contact their support for confirmation.
  2. Ensure the item does not infringe copyright in some other way, as outlined in the Envato Author Tutorial.
  3. Keep a record of any confirmation you have received that you could use the asset within a file for resale. We do not ask for proof of the license at this time, but we may request it from you at any time your item is for sale.
  4. State in the Note To Reviewer text box that you have checked the license of the asset and that you can confirm that you have the license to use the item in your main file.
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