Last updated: December 21, 2025
This agreement is provided for general informational use and should be reviewed by your legal counsel for your specific business and jurisdiction.
This Licensing Agreement (the “Agreement”) governs your licensing and use of images, video stills, captions, metadata, and related content made available through Big Pictures Archive (the “Service”). Some content depicts public figures in newsworthy, public, or paparazzi-style contexts and may carry additional restrictions described below.
“Content” means the licensed image(s) and associated metadata (including captions, keywords, and rights notes).
“You” means the individual or entity purchasing or using a license.
“Order” means the purchase record or license confirmation specifying scope (for example: media, territory, duration, audience size, and exclusivity).
“Editorial Use” means use in connection with news reporting, commentary, documentaries, or other reporting on matters of public interest.
“Commercial Use” means advertising, merchandising, promotions, endorsements, product packaging, or any use primarily intended to market or sell a product/service.
Subject to payment and compliance with this Agreement, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive (unless otherwise stated), non-transferable, non-sublicensable license to reproduce, display, and distribute the Content solely within the scope described in your Order (including permitted media, territory, duration, language editions, and placement).
Any rights not expressly granted are reserved.
The Order controls the license scope. Common scope controls may include:
Many paparazzi/celebrity images are intended for Editorial Use. Unless your Order expressly permits Commercial Use and includes any required releases/clearances, you must not use the Content for Commercial Use.
No implied endorsement: You must not use the Content in a way that suggests a celebrity or public figure endorses a product, service, brand, political position, or organization.
You are responsible for determining whether releases, permissions, or additional rights are required for your intended use (including model releases, location permissions, trademarks, artwork, and private property).
If the Content includes minors, private locations, medical situations, or other sensitive contexts, additional restrictions may apply and you should seek legal advice before use.
You may crop, resize, and perform minor color correction for layout and technical requirements, provided that you do not materially misrepresent the subject or context. You must not remove watermarks or proprietary notices.
Captions and rights notes are part of the Content. If you publish the Content in a way that relies on context (for example: a news story), you must not knowingly publish a caption that is false or materially misleading.
Some images may include exclusivity requirements or minimum fees. If an image is marked exclusive, additional restrictions may apply. The details shown for that image control.
Where an image indicates exclusivity by territory or time window, you agree not to use the Content outside those limits and to honor any embargoes or holdbacks stated in the Order or rights notes.
If attribution is required for a specific image or usage, you agree to provide it as specified at the time of licensing.
When not otherwise specified, a common format is: “BIGPICTURESPHOTO.COM” or the byline supplied with the Content.
You must use reasonable security measures to prevent unauthorized access to the Content (including access controls for shared drives, CMS systems, and cloud storage). If you become aware of unauthorized use, notify us promptly.
Fees are due as stated in the Order. You are responsible for applicable taxes unless we explicitly state otherwise. We may request reasonable information to confirm your use is within the licensed scope.
Except as expressly stated in an Order, the Content and Service are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. We do not guarantee that captions or metadata are error-free.
You agree to defend and indemnify us from claims arising from your use of the Content outside the license scope or in violation of this Agreement.
If you breach this Agreement, your license may terminate immediately. Upon termination, you must stop using the licensed content and delete copies that are not required to be retained for legal/compliance purposes.
This Agreement and any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Subject to any mandatory laws that apply to you, the courts of Hong Kong shall have exclusive jurisdiction.
If you need a custom license or have questions about permitted usage, please contact us.