Why do I have to pay the Smithsonian Libraries a fee for use of public domain images?
As the physical rights holder of this material, most of which is in the public domain for copyright purposes, Smithsonian Libraries charges a usage fee if images are to be used in any nonprofit or commercial publication, broadcast, website, exhibition, promotional material, etc. The usage fee is not a copyright fee. You are free to obtain a copy of these images from a source other than Smithsonian Institution Libraries. Licensing and imaging fees directly support our collections and projects. Licensing also helps to maintain the integrity of our collection by regulating where and how our images may be used. Smithsonian Libraries provides free and open access to its digital images and the images may be freely downloaded for personal, research and study purposes only.
