Are Microsoft Stock Images Copyright Free?

Introduction

Are Microsoft stock images copyright free? If you use Microsoft 365 (Office) or search images via Bing, you may have seen “Stock Images,” icons, illustrations, cutout people, stickers, and videos offered inside apps such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. This guide explains — in plain English and with practical examples — what that content is, what Microsoft’s licensing permits and prohibits, and how to avoid common legal pitfalls when using those assets for personal or commercial projects.

In the sections that follow you will learn:

• What exactly counts as Microsoft stock images and where they appear.
• What Microsoft means by permitted use, and why “copyright free” is not the same as “royalty free” or “public domain.”
• Clear lists of allowed uses and prohibited extractions or redistributions.
• How third-party image sources and Bing license filters affect your rights.
• Practical, user-friendly guidance for safe commercial use and alternatives when you need broader rights.

This article cites Microsoft documentation and support guidance. As of 2024-06-01, Microsoft’s support pages and legal articles explain the permitted uses of premium and stock creative content inside Microsoft 365 apps.

Definition and scope: What are Microsoft stock images?

Microsoft stock images are digital assets that Microsoft or its partners make available for insertions inside Microsoft 365 and Office applications. They commonly include:

• Photographs and curated stock photos
• Vector illustrations and icons
• Cutout people images (transparent-background figures)
• Stickers and illustrations
• Short stock videos and animated clips

You can access these assets through app menus such as Insert > Pictures > Stock Images (in Word, PowerPoint, Excel), or through Image search features integrated with Bing inside Office. These items are offered inside the Microsoft 365 environment for use within documents, presentations, emails, and other Office-created files.

Note: the exact library, asset names, and availability change over time as Microsoft updates the catalogue and partner agreements.

Licensing summary (what “copyright free” really means here)

When people ask, Are Microsoft stock images copyright free? the correct response is nuanced. The images are provided under license by Microsoft for use within Microsoft 365 products and related permitted scenarios. That does not mean they are public domain or free of copyright restrictions.

Key points:

• Microsoft retains copyright or has licensing arrangements with content providers. The images are not automatically public domain.
• Microsoft’s licensing commonly allows embedding, editing, and sharing of assets inside Office files.
• Extraction, standalone redistribution, resale of the raw asset, or use outside permitted contexts is often restricted.

In short: Microsoft stock images are licensed for use in defined ways, but they are not “copyright free” in the sense of unlimited public-domain use.

Allowed uses (typical permitted scenarios)

Microsoft permits many practical uses of built-in stock assets when you use them inside Microsoft 365 products. Allowed uses typically include:

• Inserting a stock image into Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, or a SharePoint/OneDrive-hosted file and editing it there.
• Exporting or saving the Office file containing the image to a document or presentation format (for example, saving a PowerPoint as a PDF) so long as the image remains embedded within the output file.
• Sharing Office/365 documents, presentations, or workbooks that include Microsoft stock images with colleagues, clients, or customers.
• Selling or distributing the Office file itself (for example, selling a template or a PPTX that contains embedded images), provided the images remain embedded and are not extracted and sold separately.
• Modifying images (cropping, color adjustments, overlays) within the Office app’s editing capabilities.

These permitted scenarios reflect Microsoft’s intent to let users create and share rich Office content without requiring separate license purchases for many common business and educational uses.

Prohibited uses and limitations (what you cannot do)

To answer Are Microsoft stock images copyright free? precisely: you cannot treat them as unconstrained assets. Common prohibitions include:

• Extracting and saving the stock image as a standalone file for use outside Microsoft 365 (e.g., Save As image, copy-paste into Photoshop or a website builder as a separate image file) when the license does not permit separate distribution.
• Selling, sublicensing, or redistributing the raw image files themselves (for example, offering the stock images as downloadable assets in a marketplace).
• Using images in ways that imply Microsoft endorsement, or using images of identifiable people to suggest endorsement without releases.
• Using images that include identifiable trademarks, logos, or government insignia in a way that violates trademark or publicity rights.
• Creating obscene, defamatory, illegal, or pornographic works using the images; many license agreements expressly prohibit uses that violate law or community standards.

These restrictions mean you cannot freely extract and reuse Microsoft stock images as if they were public-domain graphics.

Attribution and citation

Do you need to credit Microsoft when using these assets? Generally, Microsoft does not require attribution when you use their stock content within the permitted Microsoft 365 contexts. However:

• If you obtain an image via Bing from a third-party source or a Creative Commons filter, the original license may require attribution and other conditions — follow the source license.
• Some third-party content providers require credits or have additional restrictions; Microsoft’s interface may not always show the provenance.

Practical rule: when using stock images found via Bing or when provenance is unclear, review the originating license or choose assets that explicitly allow your intended use without attribution.

Third-party content and provenance

Microsoft’s stock library can include assets licensed from third-party providers. That creates two implications:

1. The asset’s original license may impose conditions beyond Microsoft’s typical in-app usage rules.
2. Microsoft’s interface may not always display full provenance or third-party licence metadata.

Because of this, treating all Microsoft-offered stock images as identical from a license perspective is risky. If your use is high-risk (commercial merchandise, resale of standalone images, mass-distribution marketing), verify the origin or obtain the asset directly from a stock vendor that provides clear standalone commercial licenses.

Differences from third-party stock image licenses

How does Microsoft’s model differ from a standard stock site (Getty, iStock, or similar)?

• Microsoft’s stock content is typically licensed for use within Microsoft 365 apps and to export those apps’ files with embedded content. It is optimized for Office workflows.
• Traditional stock sites commonly sell specific standalone licenses (royalty-free, rights-managed, editorial only, extended commercial, etc.) that permit saving the image as a separate file and using it on websites, merchandise, or ad campaigns — subject to the purchased license.

If you need a separate downloadable file or broad usage rights (e.g., print on demand, product packaging), a conventional stock vendor’s license may be more appropriate.

Commercial use scenarios — what you can and cannot do

Question: Are Microsoft stock images copyright free for commercial use? The practical answer is layered:

• You can use Microsoft stock images in commercial Office files (for example, deliver a paid PowerPoint presentation or sell a document template) as long as the images remain embedded and are not extracted as standalone assets.
• You usually cannot extract the images and use them on commercial merchandise (T-shirts, prints, posters, phone cases) unless the license explicitly allows standalone commercial distribution.
• For advertising or product packaging where standalone artwork is required, obtain assets from a stock provider that grants explicit standalone commercial rights.

If your commercial project relies heavily on a specific image being used beyond an Office file, do not assume the Microsoft-provided asset is sufficient — verify the license or purchase the appropriate rights.

Practical guidance and best practices

To reduce legal risk and ensure compliant use of Microsoft stock assets, follow these practical steps:

1. Keep the image embedded. When possible, keep the stock image inside the Office file rather than exporting it as a separate asset.
2. Avoid Save As extraction. Do not use Save As or direct copy/paste to create and distribute standalone image files from Microsoft stock unless the license permits it.
3. Check provenance. If provenance is visible (credit or source), review the originating license terms for additional restrictions.
4. When in doubt, use a licensed stock vendor. For merchandise, packaging, large print runs, or standalone web use, obtain images from a service that grants explicit standalone commercial rights.
5. Use royalty-free or public-domain resources with clear licenses if you need broad re-use rights — but verify the license and, if necessary, the image owner.
6. Maintain records. Keep screenshots or documentation of the Microsoft interface showing the asset included in your Office file and the date of use in case you need to demonstrate permitted use.
7. Consult legal counsel for high-risk uses. If your use carries significant commercial or reputational risk, get legal review.

Using Bing image filters and Creative Commons images

Bing’s image search offers filters (including license filters) to help find images labeled for reuse. However:

• Bing filters are a convenience; they do not guarantee the image’s license is valid or that the source is permitted to license the content.
• Images surfaced via Bing may link to third-party sites with varied and sometimes incorrect license metadata.

If you find an image via Bing that claims to be under a Creative Commons license, trace the image to the original host page and confirm the license and attribution requirements. Creative Commons licenses vary (CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC0, CC BY-NC, etc.), and some restrict commercial use or require attribution.

Frequently asked questions (short Q&A)

Q: Are Microsoft stock images copyright free for websites? A: If you embed an Office file that contains the image (for example, an embedded document or presentation displayed via Office Online), that use is typically permitted. Directly extracting the image and uploading it as a standalone file to a website is frequently restricted. Check the license and provenance.

Q: Can I save a Microsoft stock image and use it in Photoshop? A: Usually no — saving and editing a standalone copy for use outside Office may violate Microsoft’s usage terms unless the asset’s license explicitly permits standalone usage.

Q: Can I put a Microsoft stock image on merchandise for sale? A: Not typically. Selling merchandise that reproduces the standalone image often requires a broader commercial license from the asset’s rights holder.

Q: Do I need to credit Microsoft when using their stock images? A: When using images inside Office apps under Microsoft’s permitted uses, attribution is generally not required. For third-party images or assets obtained through Bing, follow the source license and attribution requirements.

Legal considerations and disclaimer

This article provides general informational guidance, not legal advice. Licensing terms can change and may differ by region, Microsoft subscription plan, or specific asset. For authoritative guidance, consult the Microsoft 365 End User License Agreement, Microsoft support pages on premium creative content, and the license language displayed at the point of use.

If you need definitive answers for a particular use (e.g., product packaging, high-volume commercial distribution, or use in regulated industries), consult your legal counsel or a licensing specialist.

References and primary sources

As of 2024-06-01, authoritative sources include Microsoft’s official support and legal pages. Suggested documents to review:

• Microsoft Support: guidance on premium creative content and permitted uses within Microsoft 365 (Microsoft Support pages discussing stock images and premium content).
• Microsoft Legal: copyright and licensing FAQs and the Microsoft Services Agreement / Microsoft 365 End User License Agreement.
• Microsoft Q&A and community threads addressing stock-image extraction and usage questions.

(Reporting note: As of 2024-06-01, Microsoft Support documentation and Microsoft Legal pages provide the basis for the usage rules summarized above.)

Example links to consult (search titles to find the official pages):

• "What am I allowed to use premium creative content for?" — Microsoft Support
• Microsoft 365 End User License Agreement / Services Agreement
• Microsoft Support articles on Insert > Pictures > Stock Images and Bing image search filters
• Microsoft community and Q&A threads titled "Stock images licensing" or "Can I extract stock images from Office?"

Version history and known changes

Microsoft’s stock-asset library and licensing language evolve. Historically Microsoft has clarified its position that images bundled with Office are licensed for use inside the apps while limiting standalone redistribution. Always check the date on Microsoft support pages and review the license text relevant to your subscription and region.

Related topics

• Using images from the web in Office: how to check license and attribution
• Creative Commons basics: understanding CC BY, CC0, CC BY-NC, and other variants
• Purchasing stock images: what to look for in a commercial license
• Intellectual property basics: copyright, trademark, and rights of publicity

Short checklist for safe use

• Keep the image embedded in Office files when sharing or selling documents.
• Avoid extracting images as standalone files unless the license permits it.
• Review provenance for third-party content; verify Creative Commons conditions when applicable.
• For merchandise, packaging, or ad campaigns, obtain explicit standalone commercial rights.
• Save records of where and when you obtained the asset and the license terms displayed at that time.

Final notes and call to action

If you need images with broad standalone commercial rights, choose a dedicated stock provider that clearly sells the commercial license you need. For Office-native workflows — presentations, reports, templates, and internal/external documents — Microsoft stock images are a practical and licensed resource when used according to Microsoft’s permitted-use policies.

Explore more guidance on safe image use and digital rights management to protect your projects. If your organization needs repeatable, high-volume or high-risk usage, consult licensing counsel.

For further practical tips and related content about secure digital asset usage, explore Bitget’s knowledge resources and product guides to learn more about protecting intellectual property in digital workflows.