Shutterstock's Introducing a Simplified Approach to the Standards for Content Review

Shutterstock is dedicated to enhancing the contributor experience on a regular basis. We spent last year focusing on improving the contributor platform, which will continue into 2023. This year, we're focusing on streamlining our content review criteria as well as the processes for getting your entries authorized on our marketplace.

We will begin with the following adjustments, which will take effect on April 1, 2023.

No longer required:

• Witness information will no longer be required for Model or Property releases.
• The following reference photos will no longer be required:*
• Photographs featuring composited silhouettes, as well as silhouettes
• Vectors that have been auto-traced
• Mesh gradients (non-abstract)
• Images that have been manipulated to seem like drawings or that have been used as the foundation for an illustration
• Low-poly (quasi) (non-abstract)
• Pixel/mosaic art (non-abstract) (non-abstract)
• Software and licensing information will no longer be necessary for 3D representations of interior areas (i.e., 3D Interior Property Releases).
• Vintage content (shot between 1930 and 1990) will no longer be subject to specific release requirements:
• On the Model Release form, content featuring recognizable models will no longer require an explanation of the contributor's relationship to the model.
• Creative (non-editorial) vintage work will require a regular property release showing ownership, but extra information explaining how the contributor acquired the owner of the content will no longer be necessary.
• Vintage content thumbnail previews will no longer be needed to be included to the property release, although they are still encouraged.
• Editorial vintage content will no longer be subject to any kind of property release.

*Content submitted with releases that will no longer be required after April 1, 2023 will be rejected.

New specifications:

• The model's date of birth must be included on all Model Release forms.
• To accord with industry norms, the age minimum for models represented in adult material will be reduced from 21 to 18 years of age.
• The Minor Model Release papers must include the name of a parent or legal guardian.

Please keep in mind that any releases submitted after April 1, 2023 that lack the aforementioned information will be rejected.

To acquaint our contributor community with Shutterstock's simplified approach to content inspection, we've produced additional help articles on Legal Documentation, Intellectual Property, and Contextual Metadata standards. Previous content review articles will also be modified to reflect the new standards and procedures.

Change is never easy, but we believe that these enhancements to simplify and speed your content submission operations will be appreciated.

Shutterstock does not accept AI-generated content from our contributors

Shutterstock's purpose is to be every storyteller's superpower by delivering world-class material, tools, and services to easily transform any idea into something great. With over 20 years of expertise in the creative sector, we are ideally positioned to safely introduce AI-generated content to the commercial market, and shutterstock are delighted to lead this field by collaborating with other industry leaders like OpenAI. As AI-powered tools open up new opportunities in this exciting space, this collaboration enables the creation of content in an ethically responsible manner that appropriately compensates artists for their contributions to this service while assuring customers of the protections and coverage provided by Shutterstock licenses.

To secure these rights and coverages for buyers, as well as to preserve artists' copyright and remuneration, we will not allow AI-generated material to be directly uploaded and sold by contributors in our marketplace. Since AI-generated content production methods harness the IP of many artists and their material, AI-generated content ownership cannot be ascribed to an individual and must instead recompense all artists who were engaged in the creation of each new piece of content. Contributors must have demonstrated IP ownership of any work submitted under our Contributor Conditions of Service (Sections 13d and 13f), hence AI-generated content should not be uploaded to Shutterstock.

Contributor Shutterstock must have proven IP ownership of all content that is submitted and what is depicted.

Intellectual property (IP) is a type of property that encompasses human intelligence and creativity. Intellectual property comes in various forms, and some governments value it more than others. When submitting content to Shutterstock, you must have confirmed IP ownership of all submitted content and what is displayed. You will discover information on several sorts of intellectual property as well as how to manage your content submissions below.

Trademarks

A trademark is a term, name, symbol, or device, or a combination of these, that is used to differentiate and identify the source of certain products or services. Trademarks include company logos, brand names, product names, slogans, and other symbols that associate with a brand.

Commercial Data:

• Photos, vectors, and drawings, as well as the titles and keywords linked with them, are not permitted to include trademarks.
• Videos and animations containing one or two trademarks will be rejected. When a single clip contains many trademarks, it is possible to conclude that no one trademark is the major subject within the material, lowering the danger of infringement. As a result, these contributions are assessed on an individual basis to decide if they are appropriate. Nevertheless, trademarks are not permitted in titles or keywords. Keep in mind that trademarks on the list of Known Limitations will always be refused.
• Violations of these guidelines will result in the rejection of Visible Trademark or Title/Keyword Trademark applications.

Content for Editorial:

When shown in editorial material and/or featured in titles or keywords, trademarks are often permitted. Certain trademarks, however, are unsuitable for editorial use and will be refused as Non-Licensable Material.

For information on prohibited trademarks, see the Known Image Restrictions - Brands and Trademarks list.

Copyright

Copyright is a sort of intellectual property that safeguards an original work from the time it is fixed in a medium. Copyright grants the author(s) of a creative work the exclusive right to exhibit, reproduce, distribute, and profit financially from their work. Copyright protects works such as artwork, published materials and media, and external architectural designs.

Paintings, murals, graffiti, drawings, sketches, photographic prints, tattoos, and plans are examples of traditional artwork.

Commercial Content: A valid property release is necessary. In general, content submitted without a valid property release will be rejected for Intellectual Property. It should be noted that some artwork is restricted and will not be accepted even if a property release is obtained.

Editorial Content: Typically permitted when the artwork is not the only subject matter portrayed in the material. Except for photographic prints, isolated artwork or artwork that takes up a considerable percentage of the content's frame will be refused for Non-Licensable Content.

Stained-glass windows

Commercial Content: When the artwork is isolated or occupies a major amount of the frame of the content, a legal property release is necessary. Content submitted without a valid property release is often rejected for Intellectual Property.

Editorial content is generally satisfactory.

Monuments, sculptures, and statues

Commercial Content: In most circumstances, a legal property release is necessary. Content submitted without a valid property release is often rejected for Intellectual Property. Please keep in mind that some artwork is restricted and will not be accepted even if accompanied by a property release.

Editorial content is generally satisfactory. Prohibited artwork discovered on the Known Restrictions list, on the other hand, will be rejected as Non-Licensable Material.

Artwork on loan

Sand sculptures, chalk drawings, sand mandalas, ice sculptures, henna/hand-painted/airbrushed tattoos, face paints, theatrical makeup, nail art, and food art are some of the techniques used.

Without a property release, commercial content is often permissible.

Editorial content is generally satisfactory.

Artwork on Postage Stamps

Isolated stamps, stamps that take up a considerable percentage of the frame of the content, and forbidden stamps discovered on the Known Restriction list will be rejected for Intellectual Property.

When a postmark/cancellation mark covers a piece of the stamp's artwork, editorial content is often permitted. Stamps that do not have postmarks or cancellation marks will be rejected for the Stamp Postmark Requirement. Stamps that appear on the list of Known Picture Limitations - Items and Topics will be refused as Non-Licensable Content.

Currency Design

Commercial Content: In general, it is okay. Currency identified on the Known Restrictions list, on the other hand, will be rejected for Intellectual Property.

Editorial content is generally satisfactory.

NOTE: Money may be refused in order to prevent counterfeiting.

Architecture Ideas for the Exterior

Buildings, bridges, viaducts, jetties, and other architecturally planned constructions' exteriors.

Without a property release, commercial content is often permissible. Architectural designs discovered on the Known Restrictions list, on the other hand, will be rejected for Intellectual Property if the structure occupies a considerable amount of the frame and is submitted without a valid IP release or the architecture is forbidden.

Editorial content is generally satisfactory. Prohibited architectural designs discovered on the Known Restrictions list, on the other hand, will be rejected for Non-Licensable Content.

Media and published materials

Literary Works, Sheet Music, and Music Lyrics are all examples of music lyrics.

Commercial Content: A legal property release is usually necessary. Intellectual Property will reject content that does not have a valid property release.

Editorial content is generally satisfactory.

Globes and maps

Commercial Content: In general, it is okay. A legitimate property release may be necessary, however, if a map or globe contains a distinguishing characteristic, such as a visible key or caption. Recognizable maps/globes that are not accompanied by a legal property release will be refused for Intellectual Property.

Editorial content is generally satisfactory. Prohibited maps and globes discovered on the Known Image Limitations - Items and Topics list, on the other hand, will be refused as Non-Licensable Material.

Fictional Characters and/or Designs from a Media Franchise

Characters and designs from films, works of literature, television shows, video games, and so on.

For Intellectual Property, commercial content such as media franchise fictitious characters and designs would be disallowed.

Titles and/or keywords containing the name of a media franchise or the names of fictional characters from a media franchise will be denied for Title/Keyword Trademark.

Editorial content is generally satisfactory. Prohibited fictitious characters listed on the Known Picture Limitations - Items and Topics list, on the other hand, will be rejected for Non-Licensable Material.

Screen Displayed Content

Displayed on displays are actual television shows, movies, video games, operating systems, online browsers, phone apps, and so forth (e.g., television screens, movie screens, video game console screens, computer monitor screens, mobile phone screens, etc.).

When actual content is presented on a screen, the Intellectual Property rejection reason is typically utilized.

Editorial content is generally satisfactory.

For information on prohibited published materials and media, see the Known Image Restrictions - Items and Topics list.

Patent on Trade Dress and Design

Electronic gadgets, automobiles, clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry, furniture, wallpaper, carpets, trophies/awards, generic toys, costumes, holiday décor, 3D printed things, and other assorted stuff.

The visual look or physical design of manufactured things is typically acceptable. Products discovered on the Known Image Restrictions - Objects and Topics list, on the other hand, will be denied for Intellectual Property.

NOTE: If a product’s design incorporates trademarks or other types of intellectual property, the content will be rejected for those reasons.

Editorial Content: The visual appearance or physical design of manufactured products is generally acceptable. However, prohibited products found on the Known Restrictions list will be rejected as Non-Licensable Content.

Rights of Publicity

Public figures such as celebrities, politicians, musicians, and religious leaders.

Commercial Content:

• Public figures who lived and died prior to 1930 are generally acceptable. However, if there is a restriction on a particular individual, the content will be rejected for Intellectual Property. 
• Titles, keywords, and content can contain the names of public figures that existed up until 1930.
• A public figure that died after 1930 or is currently living will be rejected for Intellectual Property. 
• Titles, keywords, and content cannot contain the names of public figures that existed after 1930 and will be rejected for Title/Keyword Trademark or Intellectual Property, unless:
• The name is used to describe an original illustration, vector, or animation that was created in the style of a post-1930 artist. For example, "Corgi puppy pop art illustration created in the style of Andy Warhol."
• The person’s name is included in the name of a public holiday. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Editorial Content: 

• Pre and Post-1930 public figures are generally acceptable. However, if there is a restriction on a particular individual, the content will be rejected for Non-Licensable Content.

This page is a great resource for anybody interested in learning more about Intellectual Property, covering trademarks, copyright, and other related topics. Please keep in mind that the material in this article is not intended to be a complete grasp of all related IP concerns.

While creating or submitting work, it is critical to be aware of the many intellectual property rights that may apply. It is important to note, however, that the material in this page is subject to change when new developments in Intellectual Property law emerge. As a result, it is critical to undertake your own due diligence and research to ensure that you are up to speed on any applicable intellectual property concerns.

Shutterstock reserves the right to reject content, for any reason, even in situations where a valid property release has been provided for intellectual property that is depicted in content.

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