Copyright Policy
Wherever possible, The Courtauld permits the download and reproduction of its Collection images free of charge and under the terms of a Creative Commons Licence. In conjunction with the Samuel Courtauld Trust, we aim to advance the research, teaching, practice and enjoyment of art and art history.
Follow this link to The Courtauld Gallery Collection Online (COL).
The Courtauld Rights and Reproduction Services offer commercial licensing and high-resolution photographs in partnership with Bridgeman Images. Please visit the Bridgeman Images website or direct requests to: uksales@bridgemanimages.com.
Press and other media reviews and articles are available on The Courtauld website. To request images for exhibition reviews and other press and media purposes or to publicise Courtauld events and programmes, please contact media@courtauld.ac.uk.
Please visit Courtauld Prints to purchase framed and unframed art prints of our Collection Highlights. If there is an image you would like to purchase, but is not yet available, please contact Jo Matthews.
Please check the FAQs below concerning COL and Courtauld website content.
FAQs
How can I obtain images not currently available in The Courtauld Gallery Collection Online (COL) or in the Bridgeman catalogue?
- For editorial queries please contact: karin.kyburz@courtauld.ac.uk
- For other commercial requests contact: josephine.matthews@courtauld.ac.uk
Can I use images published in The Courtauld Gallery Collection Online (COL) for non-commercial purposes?
The Courtauld makes images and other content on COL available for non-commercial and educational purposes under a Creative Commons Licence CC-BY-NC 4.0. For more information please visit: Deed – Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International – Creative Commons.
You are welcome to use images of works identified as in the public domain for academic and non-commercial purposes in research, private study or study within a museum or educational establishment (such as a school, college or university), for commentary and review.
The source of the image must be acknowledged and published with the credit Image courtesy The Courtauld.
Does the Creative Commons Licence cover images and content on the entire Courtauld website?
No. The Creative Commons Licence is limited to content made available on COL. All other images and content published on The Courtauld website remain © The Courtauld Institute of Art and are protected by copyright.
Can the Courtauld give permission to reproduce images of works that are in copyright?
No. The Courtauld is committed to respecting copyright and other intellectual property rights. Its open access policy only covers works in the public domain the download of images of works that are in copyright has been disabled.
The Courtauld does not grant permission for reproduction of works that are protected by third-party copyright. Reproduction of such works require additional permissions from rights holders.
All reproductions of works in copyright fall under the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.
What uses of copyrighted material does The Courtauld regard as non-commercial?
- Use in educational lectures and classes
- Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and obviously non-commercial in nature, for example, Wikipedia
- Publications without primarily commercial aims, such as academic books and journal articles, with a print-run of less than 3,000 copies
- Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individual is not promoting themselves commercially
- Statutory exceptions to copyright also apply under certain conditions. For details, consult the UK Intellectual Property Office’s webpage on exceptions to copyright.
What are Commercial uses?
Creative Commons defines commercial use as ‘reproducing a work in any manner that is primarily intended for or directed towards commercial advantage or monetary compensation’.
The Courtauld regards the following as commercial activity:
- Use online or in print by commercial organisations, including trading arms of charities. For legal reasons, The Courtauld needs to treat other charities (and their trading arms) as if they were commercial organisations.
- Use in advertisements and commercial promotions
- Use in publicity and promotional material connected with commercial events
- Use on merchandise production
- Unsolicited use of images by news media, including front covers and centre-page spreads
- Use of images editorially in films and on TV
- Use on an individual’s website with the intention to add value to their business, or for promotional purposes, or where offering a service to third parties
- Use by commercial galleries and auction houses
