the does and don’ts

We have diligently researched the NCAA regulations and rulings related to the sale of sports photography; the following summarizes our best understanding of what can and cannot be done in order to insure compliance.

What we (the photographers) can do

  • We can sell photos for personal use only; athletes must pay the same price as anyone else.
  • We can include photos of athletes in online galleries and portfolios as samples of our work.
  • We can license photos to any legitimate news agency for editorial use.
  • We can license photos of non-eligible athletes for commercial and/or marketing usage, as long as they are appropriately model-released.

What we (the photographers) cannot do

  • We cannot offer individuals discounts not available to the public.
  • We cannot give prints or digital images to any eligible athletes.
  • We cannot use images of eligible athletes in any marketing collateral (such as brochures or broadcast emails).
  • We cannot use images of eligible athletes on any commercial product.
  • We cannot pay eligible athletes for use of their images.
  • We cannot sell images to the public from any NCAA post-season event.

What you (the institution) can do

  • You can use images for editorial and normal marketing efforts.
  • You can use images on brochures, media guides, calendars, schedules, posters.
  • You can give graduating seniors gifts.

What you (the institution) cannot do

  • With few exceptions, you cannot use images on anything that advertises or endorses another business. The primary exception is a media guide. Another exception is a schedule where the primary focus is the schedule and not the advertiser. You can produce a poster and sell it to recover production costs, as long as the poster does not carry any advertisements.
  • With the exception of graduating seniors, you cannot give prints or digital images to any athletes unless such gifts are available to the entire student body, and then you must have permission from the copyright holder.
  • You cannot offer prints for sale, unless you have permission from the copyright holder.

Note: “you (the institution)” refers to institutional departments normally responsible for acquiring and utilizing photographic services, such as athletic departments, sports information departments, marketing and communication departments, and similar departments. “you (the institution)” does not include volunteer organizations such as athletic boosters or community organizations within or outside of the institution; these “non-institutional” organizations are considered to be members of the “general public.”

What you (the general public) can do

  • You can buy photos for personal use only.
  • You can buy photos for gifts that will be for personal use only.

What you (the general public) cannot do

  • You cannot print, publish, copy, or reproduce by any means any images without prior written permission from the copyright holder.
  • You cannot give prints or digital images to any eligible athletes unless you make similar gifts available to the general student body.