Stock Licenses

What Does Rights-Managed (RM) License Mean?

November 9, 2022December 13, 2022 by Jarmo Piironen

When you’re looking to use an image in your next publishing project, whether for a book, album, or other publication, it’s important to understand the different types of licenses available.

A rights-managed image license means that you have the right to use the image for a certain period of time and in a specific way.

It’s perfect for projects where you need complete control over how and where the image is used.

To learn more about this type of license and how to get one for your project, keep reading!

Table of Contents

What is a rights-managed license?

A rights-managed license is a type of license that grants a customer the right to use a copyrighted work in a specific way, for a specified period of time, and in a specific geographical area. The copyright holder retains all other rights to the work, and the customer must obtain a new license if they wish to use the work in any other way. This type of agreement is typically used for photographs, videos, and other creative works.

Rights-managed licenses are typically more expensive than other types of licenses, but they offer more control and are easier to acquire exclusively.

Rights-managed licenses are becoming less common as royalty-free licenses become more prevalent. Royalty-free licenses grant customers the right to use a work in any way they want, for as long as they want, without having to pay the copyright holder each time they use it.

Rights-managed licenses are still used in some cases, however, such as when a customer needs exclusive use of a work in a book, album, or publication covers, etc.

How does the pricing work for a rights-managed license?

When you purchase a rights-managed license, you are essentially renting the use of the image for a specific period of time.

The price of the license will depend on several factors, including the intended use of the image, the duration of the license, and the geographical region where the image will be used.

For example, an image that is to be used on a book cover will typically cost more than an image that is to be used on social media. Likewise, an image that is to be used for an extended period of time will typically cost more than an image that is to be used for a one-time event.

Finally, an image that is to be used in multiple countries will typically cost more than an image that is to be used in a single country.

By taking these factors into account, you can get a general idea of how much it will cost to license an image for your specific needs.

For an example of pricing, Arcangel has a pricing calculator for its images. You can get access to it for free by signing up for the site.

What are the limits that come with a rights-managed license?

When you purchase a rights-managed license for a piece of content, you are buying the right to use that content in a specific way for a specific period of time.

The limits of the license are determined by the stock agency or the creator of the content, and they can vary widely depending on the project.

For example, a license for an image might allow you to use the image on your website for one year, but it might not allow you to use the image in printed material or on social media.

Similarly, a license for a piece of music might allow you to use the track in a video but prohibit you from using it as part of an advert.

It’s important to be aware of the limits of any license before using the content, as using it outside of those limits could result in legal action.

When is it best to use a rights-managed license instead of a royalty-free license?

There are two main types of licensing for stock images: rights-managed and royalty-free.

As the name suggests, a royalty-free license allows you to use an image without paying recurring royalties, while a rights-managed license grants you the right to use an image for a specific purpose in a specific way.

So, when is it best to use a rights-managed license instead of a royalty-free license?

Generally speaking, rights-managed licenses are best for images that will be used by large well-known brands in commercial projects with a large audience, such as advertisements or product packaging, or most importantly, in projects that require exclusive images.

The reason for this is that rights-managed licenses allow you to tailor the usage of an image to your specific needs, ensuring that you won’t be paying for more than you need.

On the other hand, royalty-free licenses are best for stock images that will be used in commercial projects with tight budgets or projects with a small audience, or personal websites and blogs.

This is because royalty-free licenses typically have less restrictive terms, making it easy to use an image without having to worry about violating the terms of the license.

How do you know if a particular image is available under a rights-managed license?

When you’re looking for an image to buy, make sure that it’s available under a rights-managed license.

There are a few ways to tell if an image is available under a rights-managed license.

First, check the website of the company or individual who owns the copyright. They should have information about licensing and restrictions.

If you can’t find anything, try contacting the agency or copyright owner directly.

Rights-managed images are getting rarer as royalty-free licenses become more popular, but there are still a few companies and creators who offer them.

Where to buy rights-managed (RM) images?

When it comes to stock photography, there are two main types of licenses: rights-managed and royalty-free. Most stock photo sites sell only royalty-free images, but there are a few that sell rights-managed images as well. Here are some of the best places to buy rights-managed images:

Arcangel Images

Arcangel Images is a creative stock photo agency specializing in rights-managed images for book covers, album covers, etc. They have a large collection of images, with 1 million available for licensing. The collection is highly curated, so you can be sure you’re getting high-quality images.

Trevillion Images

Trevillion offers exclusive rights-managed stock photos from the world’s most talented artists. With a diverse range of quality images to choose from, you’re likely to find what you need. Trevillion licenses premium images to discerning clients in advertising, design agencies, and book publishing.

Alamy

Alamy is one of the largest stock photo agencies in the world, with over 300 million images in its collection. They offer both royalty-free and rights-managed licenses. However, no exclusive images are available under a rights-managed license.

Associated Press

With AP Images, you can access numerous contemporary and historical photographs. AP covers topics such as breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather, fashion, and travel. You can purchase the images you need on a one-time basis or set up a subscription service via a sales representative. AP offers both Royalty-free and Rights-managed images for licensing

Conclusion

When it comes to licensing your photos for commercial use, there are two main types of licenses: rights-managed and royalty-free.

With a royalty-free license, the user has broad usage rights and can do whatever they want with the photo, as long as it falls within the terms of the license agreement.

A rights-managed license is much more restrictive; it stipulates exactly how the photo can be used and by whom. This type of license is ideal for exclusive uses in publications, book and album covers, etc.

To determine if an image is available under a rights-managed license, check the copyright information included on the website where you found the image.

Most stock photography websites will state whether an image is available under a particular type of license (e.g., Royalty-Free vs Rights Managed).

Rights-managed license is getting rare these days, however, there still are stock photo websites that offer rights-managed licensing such as Arcangel, Trevillion, Alamy, and AP Images.

Thanks for reading!

Jamo Images