Canva Images And Graphics: How Safe Are They For Authors

Canva is a great online tool that allows users to create professional-looking images and graphics. But are Canva images copyright free? In this article, we'll take a look at the copyright policies of Canva and find out if it's safe for authors to use their images and graphics in their books or on their book covers.

Are Canva Images Copyright Free

You can create professional images with Canva's user-friendly platform within minutes. All images on Canva fall under a free media license which allows you different usage rights. It will be your responsibility to ensure you are using the images appropriately. 

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Despite not being copyright-free, their images may be used for personal and commercial purposes. Some can be used for your social media profiles, website, blog, and more. While others may be used in your marketing materials, such as email campaigns, brochures, and flyers.

You can also design your own images either using the existing Canva templates or by creating your own with their  "Design Your Own" feature. While their images are not copyright-free, you can use them in your marketing materials that were listed above as long as you are within the rights of their licensing.

So, What Are The Best Practices When Using Canva?

• Videos, music, and photos can be modified. So, feel free to get creative and edit the media in any appropriate way.
• Despite not being required, attribution is always appreciated.
• Canva offers free video, music, and photo files for non-commercial and commercial use.
• If a video, music, or photo file contains an identifiable logo, place, trademark, or person, please contact Canva or double check the image source to ensure it is licensed for what you intend to use it for. It is impossible for them to guarantee that all free video, music, and photo files on the platform are released for commercial use.

What Should You Not Do When Using Canva?

To ensure respect for the photographers' hard work Canva has enforced the following restrictions:

• Don’t redistribute or sell these photos, videos, or music to other stock media platforms.
• If there are people in the media that you use for marketing purposes, do not imply that those people endorse your services or products.
• The people present in the media should not be presented in a negative light or an offensive manner.
• You should never sell unaltered copies of a photo, music, or video file

What Are The Terms Free Media Licenses?

Stock Media distributed under this Free Media License may be downloaded for use outside of Canva as well as within a Canva Design. As long as the terms of the Free Media License are followed, you can also use the media in an unlimited number of Canva Designs. 

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License fees will be charged each time a Canva Design is downloaded if the selected Stock Media is licensed under the separate One Design License Agreement is used in more than one Canva Design. On the other end, any Stock Media licensed under this Free Media License Agreement is not exempt from any restrictions or license fees associated with any Stock Media licensed under any other Canva License Agreement.

You are granted a perpetual, non-exclusive, non-transferable worldwide license to use the Free Stock Media for Permitted Uses, subject to the terms and conditions stated by Canva. You cannot do the activity or use it unless it's a Permitted Use listed below. All other rights, including copyrights and other Intellectual Property Rights, belong to Canva and/or its Contributors (unless otherwise specified).

What Are The Permitted Uses As Stated By Canva?

The following uses have been permitted of Canva designs that contain Free Stock Media:

1. Advertisement and promotion projects, including printed materials, invitations, product packaging, presentations, films and videos, commercials, catalogs, brochures, greeting cards, and postcards for promotion and/or resale, without any reproduction limitation;
2. school projects;
3. profile image or social media post;
4. A decorative wallpaper for a mobile device or computer;
5. Unlimited prints of entertainment applications such as book covers, book content, newspapers, magazines, newsletters, editorials, as well as video, theatrical presentations, and broadcast
6. Publications online or in electronic form, including web pages, blogs, ebooks, and videos;
7. Printed materials, posters (e.g., hard copies), and other reproductions for promotional or personal purposes for licensing, distribution, or resale;
8. You can install and use the Stock Media in multiple locations or you can post a copy of it on a server or web server for other users to use to perform tasks for you;
9. all other uses approved by Canva in writing.

Note: By incorporating the Free Stock Media into a derivative work, you acknowledge and agree that all rights to the selected stock media shall remain the property of Canva and its Contributor(s) (unless the selected media is in the public domain), subject to your rights to use such Stock Media following the regulations set out in the media license. Canva reserves all other rights in the Free Stock Media to itself and its contributors.

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So, Is Canva Pro Worth the Upgrade For Authors?

The Canva free version is perfect for personal, passion projects, or for use as a hobby. You’ll get a decent selection of simple media, however, if you need premium stock photos or other media you’ll need to pay per image.

For author promotions, book marketing, or book content, Canva Pro is certainly worth considering. Because of its price and simplicity of use, it allows you to save a lot of time and money while promoting your brand with high-quality visuals.

If you are still on the fence, you should definitely take advantage of the exclusive, extended Canva Pro free trial to see how the service can help you before taking the leap.

Is It Legal For Me to Sell Book/Series Merch Created On Canva?

All the designs you create on the platform can be used in merch as long as you stick to the Permitted Uses (for full details, see Section 4 on their website for Content License Agreement).

You can sell printed merchandise like t-shirts, posters, stickers, and tote bags with your design on them legally. Certain digital products like e-books and magazines can also include your designs.

It is important to note, however, that the media on Canva should never be sold as a standalone item (e.g. putting one of our template designs on a t-shirt and selling it without any modifications). You should always create your own designs.

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Who Owns the Copyright On The Canva Designs I Use In My Books?

This depends on how the design is composed. You generally hold the copyright to an original design if you are the creator. But if you use third-party content (for example, stock media from Canva's library) in your design, your ownership would be subject to those rights.

Canva gives you non-exclusive licenses to use different elements in your designs, including music, fonts, videos, graphics, and photos.

Can I Use Canva Designs For My Trademarked Logo?

Unfortunately, no. Trademarks must be unique symbols used exclusively by a brand owner. As such, Canva's library of Content cannot be used in a design mark, trademark, trade name, service mark, or business name. If you create branded materials, including logos, keep in mind that other Canva users can use the same Content.

Remember, the logo templates on Canva are just for inspiration and should be completely modified to create your own unique design.

Can Canva Decide To Terminate This Agreement? If So, What Happens To My Designs?

Yes, Canva can and will terminate this licensing agreement with any party whom they believe has violated the terms set out for the use of their media and services. In the same way, you can opt to initiate the termination of the agreement on your end.

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This Free Media License Agreement may be terminated by destroying the Stock Media and Canva Design, along with any copies or archives of the Stock Media and Canva Design, and ceasing to use them in any manner. 

What Happens In The Event Of Licensing Termination?

Whenever you fail to comply with any of the terms of this Free Media License Agreement, Canva may terminate it without advanced notice. In the event of termination, you must immediately: 

1. Stop using any Stock Media and/or designs created on Canva using their containing stock media;
2. Delete all archives and copies of the Stock Media, as well as any designs made on Canva that contain the media or accompanying materials from their platform; and 
3. Verify in writing with Canva that you have complied with these requirements if requested.

Remember, Canva reserves the right to amend or revoke their Free Media License Agreement at any time as well as replace any Stock Media on their platform with alternatives whenever they see fit.

What To Do If You Suspect Stock Media May Be Subject To A Claim Of Infringement?

If Canva notifies you that any Stock Media may be subject to a potential, actual, or threatened claim of infringement of another's rights that would result in Canva being liable, you must immediately take the following steps (often at your own expense):

1. Stop using the claimed Stock Media;
2. Remove the Stock Media from your computer systems, electronic or physical storage (e.g., hard drives); 
3. Make sure your clients, printers, and Internet service providers do the same; and 
4. inform Canva.