Editorial & User-Owned Imagery License

What “editorial use” means in practice

Editorial use covers news articles, documentaries, podcasts, academic papers, classroom lectures, and non-commercial newsletters. The images may appear on corporate intranets when employees discuss the same news event that our story analyzes. The key test: is the image being used to explain or critique information, or is it being used to sell something? If there is any sales intent, the use falls outside this license.

We categorize user-submitted imagery the same way we categorize agency imagery. Once a reader shares a photo with us, we add the credit line they choose and treat it like a third-party contribution. That means you must honor their preferred byline even if the person is not a professional photographer. Respecting community journalists keeps our coverage diverse and trustworthy.

Some assets include embargo details or court restrictions. When that happens, we place a notice directly below the image on the original article. Do not remove that warning. If the notice says “May not be republished in jurisdictions X or Y,” your safest move is to avoid reposting entirely or to obtain confirmation from legal@aiismid.com before publishing in those regions.

Credit lines and caption integrity

A complete credit includes the creator’s name, their organization if applicable, and the words “via AI is Mid.” Example: “Photo: Lina Faro for AI is Mid.” If the creator requests a link to their portfolio, include it in plain text or as a hyperlink. Captions often contain reporting context or legal language that must stay intact; do not rewrite captions unless you are translating them. When translating, mirror the meaning and keep any disclaimers about reenactments, composites, or archival material.

Watermarks, signatures, and agency logos should never be cropped or blurred out. They are part of the creator’s chosen credit. If your layout cannot accommodate the watermark, add white space or redesign the layout. Removing those marks without written permission counts as a breach of this license.

When posting on platforms that strip metadata, copy the credit line into the visible text. Alt text should also include the creator’s name and the fact that the image first appeared on AI is Mid. Example: “Alt text: A researcher calibrates a robotic arm. Photo by Lina Faro for AI is Mid.”

Modifications, crops, and composites

You may crop or resize an image to fit your aspect ratio, but you must not remove contextual elements that change the meaning of the shot. If the photograph shows two people shaking hands and you crop one person out, you risk misrepresenting the event. Keep at least 80% of the original composition unless you obtain permission for a tighter crop.

Color grading is acceptable when it improves legibility. Do not introduce filters that could be interpreted as commentary unless you clearly label the piece as a satire or collage. Combining editorial imagery with AI-generated layers is allowed when you maintain credit for every contributor involved.

If you are building a composite, describe it in the caption. Example: “Composite created by [Your Name] using photography by Lina Faro for AI is Mid.” This extra note prevents confusion when readers try to verify the original photo.

Commercial and political restrictions

Editorial images may not appear in advertisements, sponsored newsletters, fundraising decks, or branded social content. If money changes hands, assume the usage is commercial. In fringe cases—like a nonprofit fundraising to support investigative reporting—email us for a case-by-case evaluation.

Political campaigns cannot use AI is Mid imagery to promote candidates, parties, or ballot initiatives. Our newsroom is independent, and recontextualizing a photo within a campaign flyer could imply endorsement. Issue-based educational materials are acceptable as long as they remain nonpartisan and adhere to the attribution rules.

Merchandise, NFT drops, and paywalled wallpapers are strictly prohibited. If you would like to license an image for those purposes, contact the original creator. AI is Mid cannot sub-license commercial rights that we do not own.

In addition, do not place our photography inside generative ads that blend multiple campaigns into a single feed. Those systems can create false associations and may violate the release signed by the subject. Keep the placement straightforward: editorial context only, without algorithmic remixing for sales funnels.

Requesting extended permissions

When you need higher-resolution files or layered artwork, provide a clear justification. Outline how long the image will remain in circulation, the territories where it will appear, and whether any partners will re-share the asset. Detailed requests allow us to contact the creator quickly and relay their answer without multiple back-and-forth emails.

If a court, platform, or publisher issues a takedown request, pause your reuse immediately and let us know. We will confirm whether the complaint is valid, work with the creator to resolve the issue, and supply alternative art if available. Keeping us in the loop ensures you have written proof that you acted responsibly.

Educators who plan to include our imagery in textbooks or MOOCs should send us the chapter outline and distribution plan. We rarely deny classroom use, but we want to ensure that the accompanying text cites AI is Mid correctly and that students can access the original article for updates or corrections.

When your organization licenses our art for a live event, provide staging photos after the show. Creators love seeing how their work travels, and it helps us confirm that credit screens and printed programs matched the approved language. These recaps also inform future iterations of this policy.

Transparency, corrections, and takedowns

If we discover an error in a caption or misidentify a subject, we publish a correction directly on the article and notify everyone who requested permission to reuse the asset. We appreciate it when partners mirror that correction on their own platforms rather than silently editing the credit. Doing so reinforces the norm that visual journalism deserves the same rigor as text.

Occasionally a creator asks us to pull an image entirely—perhaps they sold exclusive rights elsewhere or the subject revoked consent. When that happens we send an email to known reusers and offer substitute art when available. Please delete your local copies at that time. Continuing to distribute a withdrawn image violates both our policy and, in many cases, the law.

We keep a log of every takedown request we honor or reject. If your legal team needs proof that you complied with our instructions, we can supply a timestamped record. This log also helps us refine the policy; if we see repeated confusion around a particular clause, we clarify it in the next revision.

Working across borders

Different jurisdictions treat editorial exceptions in unique ways. A photo considered newsworthy in the United States might require additional permissions in the European Union or vice versa. When you plan a multinational rollout, review the local copyright statutes and include that assessment in your request. We can often connect you with regional partners who have navigated similar issues.

If you translate captions or articles, keep a link to the original English version so readers can cross-reference. Mention that the image first appeared on AI is Mid and specify the language of the translation. Transparency about translation prevents claims that we sanctioned edits we never reviewed.

Time zones matter for embargoed content. When a partner shares imagery under embargo, we time the unspecified label to lift precisely when the embargo expires. If you republish, double-check that your CMS respects the same schedule. Releasing a photo early can jeopardize future access for everyone.

FAQ