Each 3D model in the Sketchfab Store includes a royalty-free Sketchfab license, either Standard or Editorial:
What is a Standard license?
A Standard license means you may use the 3D asset worldwide, on all types of media, for all types of use (whether commercial and non-commercial), in all types of derivative works. Others can do the same, as none of our licenses are exclusive.
What is an Editorial license?
In addition to our Standard license detailed above, Sketchfab offers a specific license for certain limited 3D assets which we call "editorial". We have additional restrictions for these assets. In particular, you may use the said 3D assets only in connection with events that are newsworthy or of public interest (news articles, documentaries, creations of cultural value, etc.). You may not use them for any commercial or promotional use. You may edit the 3D assets only if its editorial quality is not altered.
What uses are forbidden?
As a rule of thumb, you may not use the 3D asset in a way that allows others to use or access the 3D asset as a stand-alone.
Some examples of what you can and cannot do:
- You cannot sub-license a purchased model.
- You cannot purchase a model and sell it directly to another client/customer.
- You cannot purchase a model and offer it as downloadable on your own Sketchfab profile.
- You cannot distribute the 3D asset incorporated in a derivative work if the derivative work is too similar to the 3D asset. (An example of this is printing a 3D asset or a slightly modified version of it and sell it.)
You may not use the 3D asset in pornographic, defamatory or otherwise unlawful use. Similarly, you may not use the 3D asset for the direct or indirect promotion of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, gambling, weapons and explosives.
You may not claim you are the creator or copyright holder of a 3D asset you purchased.
Comments
50 comments
https://skfb.ly/6CZMP - this is my paid model ( https://skfb.ly/6AoNT ). The user https://sketchfab.com/adriandietrich bought it and share it for free downloading!! - is it ok? Or do i need to chose different kind of license
@architect47 no that is not ok for the user to do, but it looks like they deleted it?
"Similarly, you may not use the 3D asset for the direct or indirect promotion of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, gambling, weapons and explosives."
Would that also mean that I am not allowed to use 3D Models of airplanes and helicopter in a war video game for example?
Hi @jpod977
Your use case is totally permitted as you are not promoting the sale of actual weapons or explosives.
Hello! I need some clarify... What if I bought raw scaned model and made from this model lowpoly model for using in games. And I want to sell this low poly model that I made by myself. Can I do it or it's forbidden by standart licence? Thanks!
Hello,
That would not be considered enough of a change from the original asset, so it would be forbidden, sorry!
Dear James, Thanks for the comments! But I wanted to know - do I have the right to sell 3D models of museum exhibits, naturally under the Editorial license? On the one hand, museums own licenses for real objects, but on the other hand, if I scan, for example, a car that does not belong to me, then I do not own either the real object, nor the owner of the design, trademark and much more, but I can sell car scans. Does the legislation of each particular country matter in this case, or is it possible to apply common practice? Tell me please
Hi ferret - I am not a lawyer, but here is my 2 cents:
There is no simple answer to this question - it will depend on the object/exhibit in question, whether you are talking about 3D models or 3D scans, the circumstances of creating or capturing the object, the museum's imaging policies and how intensely they wish to enforce them. Many other factors too.
It is generally considered that objects in the public domain (which as you note different countries judge differently / have different laws) then 2D or 3D images of it can not be claimed under copyright by a museum - so you *should* be fine creating a 3D model and selling it.
I recommend that you read these articles by Michael Weinberg which explains it much better than I can:
https://www.shapeways.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/white-paper-3d-scanning-world-without-copyright.pdf
https://slate.com/technology/2019/11/nefertiti-bust-neues-museum-3d-printing.html
As 3D scanning becomes more common I am sure we will see legal precedents form and new laws get put into place.
As a general rule you should check with the museum you want to scan at and prefer the Editorial license if you are unsure.
bom dia! preciso que cancelem essa inscrição nesse site, cancelem a assinatura nesse site! podem ver que eu nunca acessei nada aqui, nem produzi nenhum modelo 3D, imaginei que este site pudesse fornecer aulas de anatomia 3D,
preciso que cancelem imediatamente, pois vou cancelar junto ao cartão, pq está só gerando fatura no cartão,
aguardo um posicionamento da empresa, o mais breve possível!
peço desculpas pelos transtornos,
att
Iracelle Carvalho Abreu
Hello,
Sorry, I'm a bit confused. I don't see any paid subscription on your account: https://sketchfab.com/iracellec
Hello! I'd like to clarify something.
Can I buy a 3D model (Standard license) and use my own rendering engine to render images or videos, and then use the generated images and videos for advertising and promotion? Of course, the object of advertising is my rendering engine.
hello heathuihui
I'm not a lawyer but as far as none of the models will be available for download as a stand-alone file and its simply for visual reference there it should be ok. if you have any follow up questions please feel free to reach out to store(at)sketchfab.com
Hello, i noticed that the following model:
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/robo-skeleton-android-cyborg-robot-character-e1e97f50f8f04fe9acca8a6789ffe0fc
has a standard license.
However i found the same model on Turobsquid (from user with the same name as here) and there it has an editorial license
https://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/3d-robo-skeleton-cyborg-character-1493437
Why does it have a different license there? Can i use this model in a commercial computer game?
hi TauFrost
as sellers are selecting the license options themselves please feel free to ask the seller about this directly on the model page.
Hello, if I buy a standard licensed model, can I make it into a sculpture and use it for commercial sale?
Hi wuti - No, you cannot simply make a physical sculpture of the 3D model and sell it. You must use it in a larger work, and/or make significant changes.
Hi,James - If in a park project, I took standard licensed models, made games and fiberglass sculptures, and used them commercially, is that what you're talking about for larger work? Whether this situation is ready for commercial use.
hi wuti
If I understand you correctly - you'd like to buy few sculpture models and use it in a game and then sell the game - is that accurate?
hi avi
As a matter of fact, After purchasing the standard license model, I made a game and a sculpture for commercial sale.
hi wuti
I'm not a lawyer obviously but as far as it is a part of the game (derivative work) you are good to go.
sculpture made out of bought model can not be resold however because it needs to incorporate other elements to be considered as a derivative work.
You can always email us at store@sketchfab.com if you want to share an examples or have more questions
Hi avi
Thank you for your answer. For example, I bought a dinosaur model, and the sculpture of this dinosaur model is combined with other vegetation or props for commercial use and sale. Is this possible? Is that what you mean by saleable derivative works?
Hi avi
Or I explained to you that I bought the model and then made the model into a sculpture, which was combined with other props and vegetation to form an actual annual theme park scene. In this case, can I use and sell it commercially? Can derivative works in this situation be used for commercial use and sale?
wuti
again I'm not a lawyer but this seems to me ok because you using it in a derivative work and building more of a project
Hello, my name is Gabriel. I was wondering what license should I use if I make a 3d model based on a concept arts?
Hello,
If I use a 3D model in Sketchfab as a reference, draw by looking at it, and I create a 2D animation with paint from my own drawings, would it be a copyright issue.
For example the gait of a human model.
Thank you!
lgavo627 We can not provide legal advise, but we would recommend obtaining permission from the original concept artist.
modolla This depends :)
Again we can not provide legal advice, but to be safe it would always be better to license/buy the model in question that is being used as reference or if its creative commons licensed asset to provide the credit and url in animation credits.
Thank you Nebulousflynn,
You are right. I think it is also necessary to give information and get permission.
I also did some research and came to such a conclusion; (my personal opinion, not legal) the human walk cannot be royalty, or the flight of a bird.
Therefore, if the motion in the 3d work used as a reference is a natural movement, it does not create a copyright problem. If the movement is original and unique to its creator, copyright may be required.
Thanks for the information!
Is it possible to use any models for NFT purposes?
If not what would be an acceptable edit for NFT's? Are there any limitations to the amount o said edits??
Thanks!
Hello,
The Standard license may be appropriate, but any model(s) you purchase must be incorporated as a part of a larger derivative work (such as a video or game).
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