Artwork Licensing & Usage

Buying custom artwork doesn't automatically mean buying the copyright to it.

I know. Legal language has entered the room. Nobody panic.

The licence attached to your commission simply explains where and how you can use the finished artwork.

I've split my commissions into three broad licence types: Personal Use, Business & Commercial Use, and Creator Use.

Not sure which one you need? Here's the simple version.

Good for

  • Personal avatars
  • Character artwork
  • Gifts and keepsakes
  • Personal prints
  • D&D and tabletop characters
  • Personal social media

You can

  • Use the artwork for personal, non-commercial purposes
  • Share the finished artwork online with credit
  • Print copies for your own personal use
  • Use it as a personal avatar or profile image

You can't

  • Sell the artwork or products featuring it
  • Use it to advertise or represent a business
  • Use it as commercial branding
  • Redistribute or resell the artwork files
  • Claim the artwork as your own creation

Good for

  • Business branding artwork
  • Commercial illustrations
  • Product artwork
  • Marketing and advertising graphics
  • Website illustrations
  • Packaging artwork
  • Merchandise artwork where agreed

You can

  • Use the artwork for the commercial purpose we've agreed
  • Use it within approved marketing and promotional materials
  • Reproduce it within the limits of your agreed licence
  • Use it for merchandise where merchandise rights are included

You can't

  • Use the artwork for unrelated commercial purposes
  • Resell or redistribute the original artwork file
  • Sublicence it to another business
  • Claim copyright or authorship
  • Expand its use beyond the agreed licence without permission
Commercial licences are based on the intended use of the artwork. If your plans grow later, that's fine. You may simply need an additional or extended licence.

Good for

  • Twitch emotes and badges
  • Stream overlays and screens
  • Channel banners
  • Creator avatars
  • YouTube branding
  • Podcast artwork
  • Community artwork
  • Creator merchandise artwork where agreed

You can

  • Use the artwork across the agreed creator channels
  • Use it as part of monetised content and channel branding
  • Display it during streams, videos and published content
  • Use emotes and badges within the agreed platform or community
  • Use merchandise artwork where merchandise rights are included

You can't

  • Resell the original artwork files
  • Redistribute editable or high-resolution source files
  • Sublicence the artwork to another creator, brand or business
  • Claim authorship of the artwork
  • Use channel artwork on merchandise unless merchandise use was agreed
Yes, monetised channels are allowed. Creator licences are designed for content that may earn income through subscriptions, advertising, donations or sponsorships.
Merchandise is treated separately because the artwork is being reproduced on a product for sale.

Who Owns the Artwork?

Unless we've specifically agreed otherwise in writing, copyright in the finished artwork remains with Gainful Bhaji.

Your licence gives you permission to use the artwork for the purposes we've agreed. It does not transfer ownership of the copyright itself.

Think of it less like buying the entire song and more like being given permission to play it in particular places.

Copyright transfer is a separate arrangement and is not included as standard with commissions.

Need to Use Your Artwork Somewhere New?

Plans change. Projects grow. Occasionally a small Twitch channel becomes considerably less small.

If you already have commissioned artwork from Gainful Bhaji and would like to use it for something that wasn't included in your original licence, get in touch.

Depending on the new use, you may be able to purchase an extended or additional licence without commissioning entirely new artwork.

Uses Not Included in Any Standard Licence

Regardless of licence type, artwork may not be:

  • Claimed as your own artistic work.
  • Resold or redistributed as a standalone digital file.
  • Sublicensed to another person, company, or creator.
  • Used for AI training, machine learning datasets, or generative AI systems.
  • Used for NFTs, blockchain products, or similar technologies without written permission.
  • Altered by another artist for commercial use without prior agreement.
  • Used for unlawful, hateful, defamatory, or deliberately misleading purposes.

I think that's enough. We don't need a 47-point list of increasingly bizarre hypothetical crimes.