Can I use AI-generated images commercially? A plain-English guide
What you can and can't do with AI images in ads, products and client work, what the license covers, and the risks worth checking before you publish.
"Can I use this in my ad, product or client project?" is the most common question about AI images. The short answer for images from RoyaltyFreeHub is yes, within a few common-sense limits. Here is what that means in practice.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ between countries and change over time; for high-stakes uses, ask a lawyer.
What our license lets you do
Under the RoyaltyFreeHub License you can:
- use images for free in personal and commercial projects: ads, websites, apps, videos, games, presentations, print and client work;
- edit them: crop, recolor, combine with other material;
- use them without credit (credit is welcome, but optional).
You can't resell unaltered copies (for example uploading them to another stock site), build a competing image library from them, or register them as a trademark or logo.
Who owns an AI-generated image?
This is still unsettled. In several countries, including the United States, works created entirely by AI without meaningful human creative input are generally not protected by copyright on their own. In practice that means:
- you can use the image freely under the license;
- but you may not be able to stop others from using the same image. If you need something exclusive, such as a logo or brand mascot, edit it substantially or commission original work.
Risks worth checking
AI images are generated from scratch, but they can occasionally resemble something protected. Before publishing, check for:
- Brands and logos. Readable brand names, logos or packaging (we filter these, but always look).
- Real people. Anything that looks like a recognizable person, especially in ads.
- Characters and artworks. Anything resembling a known character, artwork or design.
- Misleading use. Don't present AI images as real photos of real events, places or products when that matters (news, reviews, before/after claims).
If you spot a problem on our site, use Report this image on its page and we'll review it.
A simple rule of thumb
Use AI images for mood, backgrounds, illustration and decoration, and they are a fast, safe, free option. For things that must be unique to you, like a logo, or must be factually true, like product photos, use them as a starting point, not the final asset.
More on licenses: Royalty-free vs copyright-free vs CC0.