Your licence, explained
Everything you need to know about using Photosymbols images, in plain language. The legal version is linked at the bottom.
What your subscription lets you do
Your Photosymbols subscription gives you a licence to use our images in your work. Here's what that covers.
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Use images in documents, presentations, web pages, social media and video
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Distribute your materials freely to service users, patients and the public
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Resize, crop, composite and add text to customisable images
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Keep using completed materials after your subscription ends
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Don't share your login with others
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Don't create materials for other organisations without an Extended Use licence
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Don't alter images in a way that misrepresents or disrespects the people in them
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Don't use images for AI training, machine learning, or to create speaking avatars
The member badge
All materials you create using Photosymbols images must display your member badge. It's a licence condition.
Example badge. Your badge will show your own member number.
Place it somewhere reasonably visible, such as a credits page, back cover, footer, or similar location. It's clean and discreet, and it serves an important purpose:
It protects you — it shows your use of the images is properly licensed.
It protects our library — it helps us track usage and keep our images safe.
It supports our actors — it shows respect for the real people who appear in our images.
It raises awareness — it helps others discover Photosymbols and quality accessible images.
You can download your personalised badge from your account page.
When your subscription ends
Your subscription runs for 12 months and doesn't auto-renew. Here's what happens if you don't renew.
You can keep
All completed materials you created during your subscription, with images already embedded, can continue to be used and distributed.
You must delete
All downloaded image files stored on your computer, network drives or cloud storage must be deleted when your subscription ends.
Creating materials for other organisations
If you create materials for organisations other than your own, you need an Extended Use Add-On Licence.
You need Extended Use if you are:
• A freelancer or agency creating Easy Read materials for clients
• A consultant whose services include document creation
• An NHS trust, local authority or statutory body creating materials for partner organisations
• A charity or funded organisation supporting others with accessible communications
• Working on joint or collaborative projects involving other organisations
With Extended Use you can:
• Create materials for external organisations to publish and distribute
• Deliver materials in print or digital format
• Work on joint projects with partner organisations
• Allow your clients to make minor text edits to materials you deliver
Your responsibility to clients
When you deliver materials, your licence requires you to inform your clients that:
• Individual images must not be extracted, copied or downloaded from the materials
• The Photosymbols member badge must not be removed or covered
• The materials must be used in line with our licence terms
Extended Use pricing is based on the size and nature of your work. Get in touch for a quote.
EasyMaker
A few things specific to EasyMaker users.
Image access depends on your subscription
EasyMaker only: You can use images within EasyMaker documents but cannot download them for use elsewhere.
Photo Library or Bundle: You can also download images for use in materials created outside EasyMaker.
AI image generation
EasyMaker includes AI image generation to supplement the Photosymbols library when a suitable image doesn't already exist. It's part of the document creation workflow, not a standalone service. All generated images remain the copyright of Photosymbols Ltd.
Your documents are yours to keep
Documents you create during your subscription can continue to be used after it ends. Shared web links are hosted by Photosymbols and will remain active. You just won't be able to create or edit documents without an active subscription.
You're responsible for what you publish
AI-generated text and images should always be reviewed for accuracy before sharing. We monitor content created in EasyMaker and reserve the right to remove anything that breaches our terms.
Common questions
Quick answers to the things people ask most.
Can I use images on social media and websites?+
Yes. Your licence covers documents, presentations, web pages, social media posts, and video content, as long as it's published by your organisation and displays your member badge.
Can I crop or resize images?+
Yes. You can resize, crop, composite images together, and add text or graphics to images designed for customisation. What you can't do is alter images in a way that misrepresents or is disrespectful to the people who appear in them.
Can I save images to my computer?+
Yes, during your subscription. You can store images on your computer, network drive or cloud storage while your subscription is active. When your subscription ends, downloaded image files must be deleted. Completed materials with images already embedded are yours to keep.
I create Easy Read for other organisations. Do I need Extended Use?+
Yes. If you create materials for any organisation other than your own, whether you charge for them or not, you need an Extended Use Add-On Licence. This applies to freelancers, agencies, consultants, and public sector bodies creating for partners. Get in touch for pricing.
Can I share templates with other organisations?+
Templates containing Photosymbols images are for internal use within your organisation only. Sharing them with external partners or clients requires an Extended Use licence.
Can I use images to train AI models?+
No. Using our images for AI training, machine learning, data mining, or to create speaking avatars or animated characters is strictly prohibited. Our images feature real people who have consented to appear in static, supportive materials.
What happens to my EasyMaker documents if I don't renew?+
Documents you created during your subscription remain available. Shared web links stay active and are hosted by us indefinitely. You just won't be able to create new documents or edit existing ones without an active subscription.
We're a large organisation with multiple users. How does that work?+
Multi-user subscriptions give each person their own login managed by a Licence Manager. Each user needs their own login, and the total number of people accessing the service can't exceed the number of licensed users purchased. Logins can be reassigned for permanent staffing changes, but not rotated between staff to extend access.
A note about our images
Our library features real people, actors with and without learning disabilities who are paid fairly for their work and have consented to appear in materials that support accessible communication. That's why we take licensing seriously, and why we ask that you use our images respectfully. No offensive content, no misrepresentation, no creating the impression that someone is saying something they never said.
The legal bits
The full licence agreements and downloadable guides.
Not sure about something?
We'd much rather have a quick conversation than discover a problem later.
Email us Call 0117 457 8888