1. Copyright Ownership

All photographs created by Sic Shots Northwest LLC are protected under U.S. and international copyright law.

• Copyright holder: Sic Shots Northwest LLC
• Ownership: Purchasing photos does not transfer copyright.
• Usage rights: Clients receive limited usage rights, not ownership.
• Registration: Images may be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.
• Unauthorized use: May incur statutory damages.

2. Personal Use License (Included with Standard Purchases)

This license covers non‑commercial personal use only.

Allowed Personal Use

• Posting on personal social media accounts
• Using as profile photos, banners, or personal posts
• Printing for home, garage, or personal display
• Driver highlight reels (non‑sponsor)
• Driver autograph cards (non‑sponsor)
• Personal website or portfolio (non‑commercial)

Not Allowed Under Personal Use

• Sponsor reposting or sponsor advertising
• Team/shop advertising
• Paid promotions or partnerships
• Media outlet use
• Merchandising (shirts, posters, stickers, calendars)
• Any use involving a third‑party brand or business
• Providing images to sponsors, shops, or teams for their marketing

If you are unsure whether your intended use is personal or commercial, contact Sic Shots Northwest before posting.

3. Social Media Usage Rules

To protect artistic integrity and licensing clarity:

Required

• Tagging/Credit:
• @sicshotsnw (platform‑specific handle)
• Or “Photo by Sic Shots Northwest”/ "Photo by SicShotsNW" in the caption

Allowed

• Basic cropping due to social media platform limitations
• Personal posts under the Personal Use License
• Driver/team posts under the correct commercial tier

Not Allowed

• Filters or heavy color edits
• AI edits, generative fill, or AI upscaling
• Removing or obscuring watermarks
• Sponsor reposting without a commercial license
• Editing that changes context or meaning
• Adding graphics, logos, or text overlays

Sponsors must obtain a commercial license before reposting or using any image.

4. Editing & Alteration Restrictions

The following are prohibited unless approved in writing:

• Recoloring or color grading
• Adding/removing logos or graphics
• Composites or merged images
• AI-generated modifications
• Cropping out watermarks
• Altering the image in a way that misrepresents the event or subject
• Custom edits can be requested from Sic Shots Northwest.

5. Commercial Licensing Tiers (Mutually Exclusive)

Each tier is standalone.

If a use case is not listed under “Allowed,” it is not permitted under that tier.

Tier 1 — Driver Branding License (Non‑Sponsor Personal Promotion)

For drivers promoting themselves without sponsor involvement.

Allowed

• Driver social media
• Driver website
• Driver highlight reels
• Driver hero cards (no sponsor logos)
• Driver autograph cards (no sponsor logos)

Not Allowed

• Sponsor promotion
• Team/shop promotion
• Paid ads
• Media outlet use
• Merchandising
• Any use involving a third‑party brand

Tier 2 — Team/Shop Promotion License (Non‑Sponsor Commercial)

For race teams and motorsports shops promoting their own brand only.

Allowed

• Team/shop social media
• Team/shop website
• Team/shop promotional posts
• Team/shop printed materials
• Team/shop advertising (non‑sponsor)

Not Allowed

• Sponsor promotion
• Product advertising
• Paid national campaigns
• Media outlet use
• Merchandising
• Use by unrelated brands

Tier 3 — Sponsor/Brand Advertising License (Commercial)

For sponsors, brands, and companies promoting their products or services.

Allowed

• Sponsor social media
• Sponsor website
• Product advertising
• Paid digital/print ads
• Branded hero cards
• Event promotion
• Press releases
• Marketing decks

Not Allowed

• Merchandising (requires Tier 4)
• Retail product packaging
• Editorial media use (requires Tier 5)
• Use by other brands not listed in the agreement
• Model releases may be required depending on usage.

Tier 4 — Merchandising License (Retail & Physical Products)

For producing physical goods or retail items.

Allowed

• Apparel (shirts, hoodies, etc.)
• Posters and art prints
• Stickers and decals
• Calendars
• Retail merchandise
• Paid prints for resale

Not Allowed

• Advertising campaigns (requires Tier 3)
• Editorial media use (requires Tier 5)
• Use by unrelated brands
• Digital product resale
• Requires a written contract.

Tier 5 — Editorial & Media License (Non‑Commercial Editorial)

For newspapers, magazines, blogs, and motorsports media outlets.

Allowed

• Editorial articles
• Race coverage
• News stories
• Non‑commercial editorial use
• Print/digital publication

Not Allowed

• Advertising
• Sponsor promotion
• Paid partnerships
• Merchandising
• Product marketing

6. Sponsor‑Use Addendum

Sponsors often attempt to use driver-posted images without proper licensing. This clarifies:

• Drivers cannot grant sponsor rights
• Teams cannot grant sponsor rights
• Only Sic Shots Northwest can license sponsor usage
• Sponsor reposting requires Tier 3
• Sponsor merchandising requires Tier 4
• Unauthorized sponsor use will be billed at the highest applicable commercial rate

7. Model & Property Releases

Sic Shots Northwest does not automatically provide model or property releases.

Personal use:

Releases generally not required.

Commercial use:

Client is responsible for obtaining necessary releases.

Assistance can be provided for an additional fee.

8. Indemnification & Liability

You agree to indemnify Sic Shots Northwest against claims arising from:

• Unauthorized use
• Failure to obtain releases
• Misrepresentation of licensing rights
• Alteration or misuse of images
• Sponsor or third‑party misuse

Sic Shots Northwest is not liable for unauthorized reposts by others.

9. DMCA Enforcement

Unauthorized use may result in:

• Removal requests
• DMCA takedowns
• Invoicing for commercial misuse
• Legal action

10. License Revocation

Licenses may be revoked if:

• Terms are violated
• Images are altered improperly
• Images are used commercially without license
• Images are used in harmful or illegal contexts

No refunds will be issued upon revocation.

11. Transferability

Licenses are non‑transferable.

You may not grant usage rights to:

• Sponsors
• Teams
• Shops
• Brands
• Media outlets
• Any third party

Each entity must obtain its own license.

12. Payment, Refunds & Delivery

• All sales are final
• Digital delivery via gallery or download link
• Gallery access may be time‑limited
• No refunds for misuse or revocation

13. Licensing Contact

For commercial licensing, sponsor usage, or custom agreements:

Email: business@sicshotsnw.com

Website: www.sicshotsnw.com

Understanding Photo Licensing — What You Can and Can’t Do

When you purchase photos from Sic Shots Northwest, you are buying usage rights, not ownership. This means you can use the images in certain ways depending on the license you choose.

Personal Use (included with most purchases)

You can post the images on your personal social media, use them as profile photos, print them for your home or garage, and share them for personal enjoyment.

You cannot give the images to sponsors, teams, shops, or brands. You also cannot use them in ads, promotions, or merchandise.

Commercial Use (requires a paid license)

If a sponsor, team, shop, or brand wants to use the images, they must purchase the correct commercial license.

There are different levels depending on the type of use:

Driver branding, team promotion, sponsor advertising, merchandising, and editorial media.

Editing Rules

You may not alter the images. This includes filters, recoloring, removing logos, adding graphics, or using AI tools.

If you need edits, Sic Shots Northwest can provide them.

Why Licensing Matters

Licensing protects the photographer’s copyright and ensures fair use. It also protects you from legal issues if a sponsor or brand uses an image without permission.

If You’re Not Sure What You Need

Just ask. Sic Shots Northwest can help you choose the correct license for your situation.