Most of the images on our Web pages are in the "public domain," which means they have no copyright restrictions. If an image on one of our sites is not restricted and does not say it is copyrighted, then you can assume it is in the public domain. You may download and use these copyright-free images in your print and electronic publications. There is no fee and no need to get permission from the Service for using them. Images in the public domain may credit the artist or photographer, or identify the source (example: Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Robert Wilson). This does not mean the image is copyrighted. But please credit the artist or photographer and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service if at all possible. For a variety of downloadable images, please search our National Image Library.

On rare occasions the Service's Web pages will include copyrighted images. The creator of those images has granted permission to the Service to use those images, but those copyrighted images are not automatically available for use by others. If you want to download and use copyrighted images, the photographer/artist - not the Fish and Wildlife Service - will have to grant you authorization. In many cases there may be a license fee associated with the use of those images. For information on copyright laws, please visit the United States Copyright Office home page.

Some images, such as the Fish and Wildlife Service official logo, are restricted and may not be used on non-Service publications or Web sites without permission. Regulations governing the use of our official logo can be found on our Privacy, Disclaimer, Copyrights and Logo Use page

Please do not assume that every image on a printed Service publication is in the public domain. In many cases, the Service purchased the rights to use those photographs and drawings just for that publication. Reuse by others requires separate authorization from the photographer/artist before their copyrighted products can be scanned from a printed copy.

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For information regarding this Web page, please contact us.

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Last updated: February 11, 2009
List of Frequently Asked Questions