Artwork Disclaimer 

Artwork & Copyright Disclaimer

DQK Products LLC DBA “DK’s Screen Prints & Custom Designs”

By submitting artwork, logos, photos, or any other visual content (“Artwork”) to DQK Products LLC DBA “DK’s Screen Prints & Custom Designs” (“DK’s Screen Prints & Custom Designs,” “we,” or “our”), you agree to the following:

1. Customer-Provided Artwork Requirements

You confirm that you own the rights to the Artwork or  you have written permission or a valid license from the copyright holder to use it for printing, merchandising, and any other intended purposes.

If the Artwork includes:

• • Famous or high-risk content (e.g., TV/movie characters, sports teams, music artists, luxury brands, etc.), or

  • Well-known logos, trademarks, mascots, or brand identities,
    you must provide documented proof of permission or licensing from the copyright or trademark owner.
    
    

You agree to review, acknowledge, and sign our Service Agreement before we begin production on any project that uses customer-supplied Artwork.

If we, in our sole discretion, determine that submitted content appears suspicious, high-risk, or potentially infringing, we may:

• • Request additional documentation,

  • Decline the order, or

  • Pause work until we can confirm the rights situation.
    
    

2. Customer Responsibility for Copyright & Trademark Infringement

You, the customer, assume full responsibility and liability for any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property infringement arising from Artwork you provide.

DK’s Screen Prints & Custom Designs is not responsible for infringement issues related to customer-supplied content, except in situations where:

• • We provide copyrighted content from our own licensed or original library, and

  • That content is composited or incorporated into a custom artwork we create for you.
    
    

If a dispute, claim, or legal action arises related to Artwork you provided, you agree to:

• • Defend, indemnify, and hold harmless DQK Products LLC DBA “DK’s Screen Prints & Custom Designs,” its owners, and its employees from any related claims, damages, costs, or legal fees (to the extent allowed by law).
    
    

3. Our Record-Keeping & Good-Faith Practices

To help show our good-faith efforts to avoid infringement, we:

• Maintain records of customer communications related to Artwork and project details.

• Store copies of permissions, licenses, and written approvals you provide.

• Keep signed Service Agreements and order confirmations associated with your projects.
  
  

These records help demonstrate that we take reasonable steps to respect intellectual property rights and rely on customer-provided representations in good faith.

4. Legal Review & Longer Lead Times

• For specific, unusual, or high-risk situations, DQK Products LLC DBA “DK’s Screen Prints & Custom Designs” may consult with an attorney to confirm that both you and our shop remain compliant with copyright and related laws.
  
  

Legal reviews or rights verification may:

• • Delay artwork approval

  • Extend production and turnaround times
    
    

To avoid delays, we strongly recommend that you:

• • Obtain clear licenses or written permission directly from the copyright holder, or

  • Use public domain or CC0-licensed images from reputable sources.
    
    

5. Recommended Public Domain & Free Image Resources

When sourcing artwork, customers are encouraged to use reputable free or public domain libraries and carefully review each site’s license and terms before use.

Examples of commonly used image sources include:

• Unsplash – Large library of free photos for commercial and non-commercial use under the Unsplash License (attribution not required, but recommended; some usage restrictions apply). Unsplash+1

• Pexels – Free photos and videos that can typically be used for personal and commercial projects without attribution under the Pexels License. Pexels Help+1

• Pixabay – Free images, videos, and music under the Pixabay License; commercial use allowed but with important restrictions (e.g., no resale as standalone, caution with trademarks/brands). Pixabay+2Pixabay+2
  Wikimedia Commons – Huge media library; each image has its own specific license (some are public domain, some are Creative Commons with conditions).
  
  

Public Domain–focused libraries (examples):

• • Public Domain Pictures

  • RawPixel (Public Domain & CC0 sections)

  • The New York Public Library Digital Collections (many truly public domain items)
    
    

Important: Even when an image is “free,” you may still need separate permission for:

• Recognizable people (model releases / privacy rights), and

• Logos or brand elements (trademark rights).
  
  

6. Main Types of “Free” Image Licenses in the USA (Plain-English Overview)

Below is a simplified explanation of common “free image” license categories you might encounter. This is informational and not legal advice.

6.1 Public Domain / CC0 (No Rights Reserved)

• Public Domain means the work is not protected by copyright (because copyright expired, was never applicable, or was waived).

• CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) is a tool that lets creators waive their rights and dedicate their work to the public domain as fully as possible. Creative Commons+2Creative Commons+2
  
  

Generally:

• • You can use, copy, modify, and redistribute the work for any purpose, including commercial use.

  • You do not have to provide attribution, though it’s often appreciated.

  • You still must respect trademark, privacy, and publicity rights (e.g., real people and brands in the image).
    
    

6.2 Creative Commons (CC) Licenses

Creative Commons is a set of standardized licenses where creators keep their copyright but give the public certain permissions. Copyright Information+1

Common variations include:

• CC BY – Attribution required; allows commercial use and modifications.

• CC BY-SA – Same as CC BY, but if you modify the work, you must share your version under the same license.

• CC BY-ND – Attribution required; no derivative works allowed (you must use it as-is).

• CC BY-NC – Attribution required; non-commercial use only.

• CC BY-NC-SA / CC BY-NC-ND – Combines non-commercial, share-alike, and/or no-derivative requirements.
  
  

Always check:

• Whether commercial use is allowed

• Whether attribution is required, and

• Whether you can modify the image.
  
  

6.3 Royalty-Free Stock Licenses

“Royalty-free” usually means:

• • You pay once or not at all for the license,

  • Then you can use the image multiple times without paying per-use “royalties.”
    
    

  • Royalty-free does NOT mean no rules; it just means the pricing model is simpler. StockPack+1
    
    

Stock sites often:

• • Restrict resale of the image as a standalone file, and

  • Limit use relating to logos, trademarks, or endorsement.
    
    

6.4 Site-Specific “Free Image” Licenses

(Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay, etc.)

Many popular “free image” websites do not use standard CC licenses anymore—
they use their own custom license that you must follow.

Below is a simplified explanation of three big ones. Always read the current official license page before using any image.

7. How Popular Free Image Licenses Work (Simplified)

7.1 Unsplash License

From Unsplash’s license and terms: Unsplash+1

What you can generally do:

• • Download and use images for free.

  • Use them for commercial and non-commercial projects (websites, social media, marketing, etc.).

  • No permission or payment is required.

  • Attribution is not required but appreciated.
    
    

Common restrictions (summarized):

• • You cannot sell the photos as-is or create a competing stock photo service.

  • Images containing recognizable people, trademarks, logos, or products may still require:
    
    

    • Model releases

    • Property permissions

    • Trademark clearance for certain uses (e.g., merchandise, ads suggesting endorsement). Photography Stack Exchange

    • For premium Unsplash+ images, a separate Unsplash+ License applies, granting a robust perpetual license but still subject to certain restrictions. Unsplash

7.2 Pexels License

From the Pexels License page and help center: Pexels Help+3Pexels Help+3Pexels+3

What you can generally do:

• • Use all photos and videos on Pexels for free.

  • Commercial use is allowed (websites, marketing materials, social media, etc.).

  • Attribution is not required, though giving credit is appreciated.

  • You can modify, crop, overlay, or edit the media.
    
    

Common restrictions:

• • You cannot sell unmodified copies of photos or videos (e.g., just reselling the file).

  • You cannot imply endorsement by people or brands depicted in the content.
    
    

You must ensure your use complies with:

• • • Privacy rights (recognizable individuals)

    • Trademark rights (logos, branded products)
      
      

Some older or specific content may be under CC0 on Pexels, but the main system is the Pexels License, which is similar in effect to a royalty-free license with specific DOs and DON’Ts. Themes By Carolina+1

7.3 Pixabay License

From the Pixabay license summary, terms of service, and FAQ: Pixabay+3Pixabay+3Pixabay+3

• What you can generally do:
  
  

  • Use images, videos, and music for commercial and non-commercial purposes.

  • Download and modify content (resize, edit, etc.).

  • Use content in larger projects (e.g., designs, videos, websites) without paying royalties.
    
    

• Key restrictions:
  
  

  • You cannot redistribute content as-is on a competing platform or sell it as a standalone file (print, digital, or otherwise).

  • If content features recognizable trademarks, logos, or branded products, you typically cannot use it on merchandise or in ways that suggest endorsement.

  • Some items may still be under CC0, but many are now under a Pixabay-specific royalty-free license with its own rules.
    
    

8. Final Reminder & Non-Legal Advice Notice

• This page is meant to educate customers and explain how our shop approaches artwork and copyright.

• It is not legal advice. If you’re unsure whether your artwork is safe to use, you should consult an attorney or rights professional.

By working with DQK Products LLC DBA “DK’s Screen Prints & Custom Designs,” you:

• • Agree to follow our Artwork Disclaimer and Service Agreement, and

  • Accept full responsibility for verifying that you have the legal right to use any Artwork you provide.