Creative licences and attribution

Last updated: 4 September 2026

This page summarises the main permissions and restrictions that apply to third-party photography and icons available through SandSpace. It is a practical guide, not a replacement for the provider's current licence. Where this summary and a provider's terms differ, the provider's terms control.

Pixabay

Current Pixabay images, illustrations and other media are generally offered under the Pixabay Content License. The licence generally permits people to use content without charge, use it without mandatory attribution, and adapt it into new creative work. Crediting the contributor and Pixabay is still appreciated, especially when a project has space for a credit.

Pixabay does not permit content to be sold or distributed on a stand-alone basis where the asset remains substantially unchanged. Content containing recognisable trade marks, logos or brands may not be used commercially in connection with goods or services merely because the image itself is available under the Content License. Pixabay content also may not be used unlawfully, deceptively, in a misleading context, or as part of a trade mark, business name, service mark or logo.

People, buildings, artworks and brands visible in an image may be protected by privacy, publicity, property, copyright or trade-mark rights that are separate from Pixabay's licence. Model or property releases are not guaranteed for every use. The person publishing a design should check whether their intended use requires additional permission. Some older Pixabay material was released under Creative Commons CC0; the licence shown on the original asset record is the relevant reference for that item.

Pexels

Photos and videos made available by Pexels are generally covered by the Pexels License. The licence generally allows free personal and commercial use, does not require attribution, and permits editing or transformation. A credit to the photographer and Pexels is welcomed when it is practical.

Pexels does not allow unaltered copies to be sold as posters, prints or physical products, or redistributed on another stock-photo or wallpaper service. A person shown in a photo must not be presented in a bad light or in an offensive context. A design must not suggest that the people, organisations or brands shown endorse a product, service or message when they have not done so. Pexels content may not be used as part of a trade mark, design mark, business name or service mark.

Additional rights can still apply to recognisable people, private property, artwork, products and trade marks within a photo. The publisher is responsible for checking whether releases, permissions or clearances are needed for the planned context, audience and territory.

Iconify

Iconify provides technology and a catalogue that brings many independent icon collections together. Iconify's framework is open-source software, but the icons do not all share one licence. Each icon set keeps the licence chosen by its original creator. Before publishing an icon, check the collection name and its licence, particularly where attribution, commercial use or modification rules apply.

Lucide

Lucide icons are released under the ISC License. The licence permits use, copying, modification and distribution, including in commercial projects, provided the required copyright and permission notice is retained where the licence calls for it. Lucide also includes work derived from Feather Icons, whose original icons are covered by the MIT License.

Simple Icons and brand symbols

Simple Icons publishes its project under CC0 1.0, but that does not grant trade-mark rights in the brands represented by individual icons. A brand symbol should be used only in a way that follows the relevant brand owner's guidelines. Its presence must not imply sponsorship, partnership, certification or endorsement.

Unicode emojis

The emoji names and sequences in our picker come from Unicode 17.0 and are provided under the Unicode License v3. Copyright © Unicode, Inc. The licence permits use and redistribution subject to its notice and permission requirements. Emoji artwork is displayed by your device; its appearance and support for newer emojis can vary.

GIPHY

GIF search in Share is powered by GIPHY. Access to the catalogue is governed by GIPHY's API Terms of Service and User Terms of Service. Copyright and other rights in an individual GIF remain with its creator or rights holder. SandSpace displays creator or source attribution supplied by GIPHY and does not claim ownership of catalogue content.

Availability through GIPHY does not by itself grant permission for every proposed commercial, advertising or sensitive use. Before publishing, users should follow the original creator's terms and check any copyright, trade-mark, publicity, privacy or other permissions relevant to the people, brands and works shown. A GIF must not be presented in a misleading way or as an endorsement that has not been given.

Good practice when publishing

• Open the original provider record and confirm the licence that applies to the exact asset.
• Keep a private note of the contributor, asset page and date accessed for important or commercial work.
• Add a voluntary credit where it supports the creator and fits the finished design.
• Do not resell an unmodified stock asset, claim another creator's work as your own, or imply an endorsement that does not exist.
• Check for model, property, copyright and trade-mark permissions when the subject or intended use makes them relevant.

Questions or corrections

Report a missing or incorrect licence reference to support@sandspace.co.za with the provider and asset details.