01
Open Non-Commercial
Share and adapt freely with optional upfront credit, or add credit within 14 days if the photographer requests it.
A lightweight, creator-first permission model for digital photography.
Built for open sharing, structured attribution, and explicit protection against unauthorized AI dataset scraping.
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Need to tag your own images? Scroll down to the Tag Generator to produce ready-to-use ExifTool commands, JSON-LD schema, and credit snippets in seconds
What GP1 stands for
Four simple principles define the license, balancing open exchange with firm protection for the photographer:
02
Fair Commercial Use
No licensing fees required. Commercial use is permitted in exchange for clear, visible attribution.
03
Explicit Anti-AI Scraping
Strictly prohibits scraping or dataset training for generative AI models without separate written consent.
04
Anti-Metadata Stripping
Platforms must preserve EXIF data; social handle tagging (@handle) counts as valid credit.
Tag & EXIF Generator
Enter your details to get instant, copy-paste tags for embedding rights into your images and web pages!
ExifTool Command
JSON-LD Schema (Web <head>)
Social / Markdown Snippet
Quick terms at a glance
A quick reference for what each use case permits under General Photography v1.
| Use Case | Status | Attribution |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Commercial Use | Optional upfront; credit on request within 14 days | |
| Commercial Use | Mandatory, clear & visible credit | |
| Generative AI / Data Mining | Requires separate written license | |
| NSFW / Explicit Content | No rights granted under GP1! |
Questions, answered
For Photographers (Licensors)
Why does GP1 ban NSFW and adult content?
The author of the GP1 License maintains a strict personal and policy stance against explicit media. GP1 was intentionally built from the ground up as a general-purpose, non-explicit framework. Applying a GP1 tag to adult or NSFW content invalidates the license entirely, leaving that content legally unlicensed under this framework.
Can I revoke a GP1 license after publishing a photo?
No. Like most open-source and Creative Commons licenses, GP1 permissions are irrevocable once granted for a specific version of a file. However, if a user breaches the terms (e.g., using it commercially without attribution or training an AI model), their rights automatically terminate under Section 2.4.
Does GP1 cover model releases or private property permissions?
No. GP1 only grants permissions regarding copyright ownership of the photograph itself. If your image features recognizable faces or private property, you are still responsible for obtaining any necessary model or location releases required by local laws.
How do I prove ownership if someone strips my EXIF metadata?
Keep your unedited RAW files, original un-cropped camera exports, and git commit history. These serve as digital proof of ownership if a dispute arises.
Can I dual-license my work under GP1 and another license?
Yes. As the copyright holder, you can offer your work under multiple licenses simultaneously (e.g., offering GP1 publicly while selling an exclusive, attribution-free commercial license to a client).
For Image Users (Licensees)
What counts as "Commercial Use"?
Commercial use includes any application intended for commercial advantage or monetary compensation. This includes corporate websites, paid advertising, monetized YouTube videos, merchandise, printed materials for sale, or monetized blogs.
Does tagging the photographer on Instagram or X satisfy attribution?
Yes. Under Section 1.3, tagging the photographer's official social handle in the image tag, post caption, or credit line satisfies all attribution requirements for social platforms.
What happens if I forget to credit a photo used non-commercially?
For non-commercial use, upfront credit is suggested but optional. However, if the photographer contacts you requesting credit, you have 14 calendar days to add clear attribution before you are considered in breach of the license.
Can I re-sell GP1 photos on stock photo sites?
No. While commercial use is allowed with attribution, re-selling standalone, un-adapted copies of GP1 photos on stock platforms or print-on-demand services without significant creative transformation misrepresents licensing terms and violates creator rights.
Artificial Intelligence & Metadata
Why does GP1 prohibit AI data mining by default?
Standard legacy licenses (like Creative Commons v4.0) were written before generative AI web-scraping existed. GP1 explicitly protects creators by requiring explicit written consent before any image can be ingested into machine learning datasets.
What should I do if a web platform automatically strips EXIF metadata?
If a platform strips metadata upon upload, ensure you provide visible attribution in the post text, caption, or page footer to remain compliant with Section 2.3.
What happens if a platform's Terms of Service conflicts with GP1?
When you upload content to a platform, your direct user agreement with that platform governs how the platform itself operates. GP1 governs third-party users and scrapers who access, download, or attempt to re-use your work. While GP1 cannot override a platform ToS you directly agreed to, it prevents external companies and scrapers from taking your work off that platform for unauthorized AI training or commercial use.
Am I protected if I upload a GP1 photo to a site that strips EXIF data?
Yes. Section 2.3 explicitly exempts standard automated processing by host platforms. As long as you include a caption link, profile handle (
@handle), or GP1 notice alongside your post, third parties downloading the image remain legally bound by your GP1 attribution and AI opt-out terms.Read the entire GP1 License
The complete, authoritative text of the General Photography v1 License.
General Photography v1 (GP1) License
1. Terms & Permissions
1.1 Non-Commercial Use
- Permission: You may freely copy, distribute, display, and adapt this image for non-commercial purposes without mandatory upfront credit.
- Attribution: Upfront attribution is kindly suggested but not strictly required.
- Credit Upon Request: If the copyright holder ("Licensor") delivers a written request for attribution, you ("Licensee") agree to add clear, reasonable credit (e.g., photographer name, social handle, or portfolio link) within 14 calendar days of notification.
1.2 Commercial Use
- Permission: You may use, integrate, and display this image for commercial projects, products, or marketing materials.
- Mandatory Attribution: Commercial use requires clear and visible credit to the photographer (e.g., in the caption, credits section, metadata, or accompanying documentation).
- Financial Support: Direct licensing fees are not required, though voluntary donations or compensation to the creator are encouraged.
1.3 Social Media Attribution
On digital and social platforms (e.g., Instagram, X, Threads, Mastodon), tagging the creator's official handle or linking directly to their profile within the post caption or image tag satisfies all attribution requirements.
2. Scope & Restrictions
2.1 Content Eligibility
This license is intended exclusively for general, non-explicit media.
- Prohibited Application: This license cannot be applied to NSFW, sexually explicit, or adult content.
- Invalid Licensing: Any explicit content published or distributed under a GP1 tag is automatically deemed unlicensed, and no rights under GP1 are granted.
2.2 Generative AI & Data Mining Prohibition
This license explicitly prohibits the use of the licensed work for automated data scraping, text and data mining (TDM), machine learning model training, or inclusion in training datasets for generative AI models without an explicit, separate written license from the Licensor.
2.3 Metadata Preservation & Platform Processing
Licensees and distributing platforms must make reasonable efforts to preserve embedded copyright EXIF/IPTC metadata.
- Platform Processing Exemption: Automatic metadata stripping or image compression performed natively by hosting or social media platforms during user-initiated uploads does not constitute a license breach, provided the Licensor maintains visible external attribution (such as post captions, profile links, or watermarks).
- Third-Party Stripping: Intentionally stripping metadata during downstream redistribution or scraping without providing external credit revokes all rights granted under this license.
2.4 Termination
Any failure to comply with the terms of this license (including unauthorized AI training, stripped metadata, non-attribution in commercial contexts, or failing to fulfill an attribution request within 14 days) automatically terminates all rights granted under this license. Upon termination, you must cease all use and distribution of the image.
3. Disclaimer of Warranty & Limitation of Liability
THE WORK IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES, OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE WORK OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE WORK (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LACK OF MODEL RELEASES OR PROPERTY RELEASES).
GP1 License // Designed for open creative exchange