Please note: Rights to publish, display, transmit or otherwise "use" my images must be granted prior to your use. My images are registered with the United States Copyright Office and unauthorized use of any image is strictly prohibited.
I am happy to provide licensing or prints upon request and providing more information about your intended use. Please use the contact me page or email me directly at ethanhohnke@gmail.com.
I am happy to provide licensing or prints upon request and providing more information about your intended use. Please use the contact me page or email me directly at ethanhohnke@gmail.com.
What Is Copyright?
A copyright is the exclusive legal right of creators to reproduce, distribute, publicly display, or create derivative works from an original work. A copyright also gives its owner the exclusive right to license those usage rights to others. The current copyright term is the life of the creator plus 70 years. Copyright protection begins the moment a creative work, like a photograph, is created.
What is image licensing?
Image Licensing is granting permission for use of intellectual property by a copyright owner. No copyright ownership rights are transferred. Licensing fees often vary based on the intended use.
Why Must you obtain permission to use others photos?
In short, obtaining a license to use a photographer's work is required by US Copyright Law except a very few limited circumstances, and certain criteria has to be met, for example... the 4 factors of fair use. If you wish to legally publish someone else's photography and not worry about the potential issue of copyright infringement, you will need to obtain permission first. My photography is copyright protected and a license is required to use any images. Please reach out and I'll be happy to write you a quote for your specific usage.
Commercial use
Personal use
My images may be licensed for commercial use, depending on your intended use. Prior permission is always required. Some examples of commercial use include but not limited to company web pages, product labels, books, merchandise, magazines, most apps, and advertising. Artists using images as reference for painting can also be a commercial use, see derivative artwork for more.
My images are available for purchase in print form as well as canvas wraps, and metal prints. If you would like to purchase an image for personal use beyond this, please reach out with an image description of the image you wish to use and your intended usage and I will be happy to provide you a quote for licensing. See derivative artwork section for more information if you are a hobby artist wanting to use as a reference.
Social Media - Commercial Use
Social Media - Personal Use
Use of my photographs in social media (any and all platforms), by commercial entities, including monetized content creator pages, is the same as "Commercial Use" (see above). This usage requires a licensing agreement prior to use.
I do not mind people sharing my images on social media using the dedicated "share" button on whichever platform. That is the purpose of this social media button. It links back to the original content from the artist. Personal use beyond this context requires permission.
Derivative Artworks
Prior permission is required to copy all or parts of my photographs in any derivative artwork. This includes professional and hobby artists. Some adaptations may be considered to be fair use, other derivative copies will need a formal licensing agreement.
Please ask BEFORE starting to paint something. If I discover a derivative and permission wasn't granted, it will be treated as copyright infringement. See "Copyright Infringement Policy" below for more.
Please ask BEFORE starting to paint something. If I discover a derivative and permission wasn't granted, it will be treated as copyright infringement. See "Copyright Infringement Policy" below for more.
Using Images as AI Training Data
I do not allow my images to be used for artificial intelligence. I do not allow my images to be training data for any Large Language Model (LLM), any generative AI, image generator, or any other artificial intelligence programs or models. Zero tolerance. Note, use of my images in artificial intelligence image generator in this context requires a full copyright rights transfer and payment in full for said image rights. Unauthorized use in artificial intelligence is also copyright infringement. See www.copyright.gov/ai for more on artificial intelligence and copyright laws.
Copyright Infringement Policy
Unfortunately, I have dealt with various very serious copyright infringements and discovering my work stolen over the internet. I have implemented the following policy in an attempt to maintain control over my work.
Unauthorized non-commercial uses of my copyright images are subject to DMCA take down requests on whatever service or platform hosting images in question, without advance notice.
Unauthorized commercial infringements of my images will be handled by legal counsel, which may result in legal action to recover actual damages or statutory as outlined in Title 17, Section 504 of the United States copyright laws. I have a zero tolerance policy on such instances.
Unauthorized non-commercial uses of my copyright images are subject to DMCA take down requests on whatever service or platform hosting images in question, without advance notice.
Unauthorized commercial infringements of my images will be handled by legal counsel, which may result in legal action to recover actual damages or statutory as outlined in Title 17, Section 504 of the United States copyright laws. I have a zero tolerance policy on such instances.