The five-question license check

  1. Can you sell a physical end product? Look for explicit permission, not a vague “commercial use” badge.
  2. Must the design be changed? Some licenses require a new, original composition rather than the file printed unchanged.
  3. Can the digital file be redistributed? Usually no. Never include the source SVG or font in the product download unless the license expressly allows it.
  4. May a fulfilment partner produce it? Check whether the exact license permits print-on-demand, outsourced production or merchandise made through a third party.
  5. Are trademarks involved? A commercial license for artwork does not grant rights to a movie title, sports team, character or brand name.

Keep evidence: save the item URL, creator name, license version and purchase date for every design used. Licenses and listings can change.

Our first resource route

A clean asset record

RECORDWHAT TO SAVE
AssetExact product title, creator and URL
RightsLicense name, version/date and permitted end use
ProofReceipt plus a PDF or screenshot of the license
ProductYour original mockup/photo and how you changed the design
Review dateQuarterly, and before a major campaign

What we will not recommend

We will not build products around celebrity names, popular cartoon characters, sports logos or “inspired by” lookalikes. We will not describe a font or SVG as legally safe for every use. And we will not call a resource “best” without stating the comparison criteria.

Source notes