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Usage Rights and Licences for Client Work
Know who owns your client work, charge properly when a client goes beyond the licence, and keep every renewal on track.
Know who owns your client work, charge properly when a client goes beyond the licence, and keep every renewal on track.
- Beats a well-prompted AI: 9 of 9. See how Trilly tested it
- For photographers, designers and videographers
- Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini and more
- Worldwide: works in any country
- Trilly approved this version
This skill gives general information, not legal advice. Talk to a lawyer about your own situation.
See the difference. Same question, two answers.
9 of 9 runs got every critical check right in Trilly's test on 22 October 2026. A well-prompted AI: 0 of 9.
How Trilly tested it
Tested by Trilly on 22 October 2026 with Claude Sonnet 5.5: every critical check right in all 9 runs. A well-prompted AI with the same facts got them all right in 0 of 9.
Trilly tested version 1.0.0 on 22 October 2026. Version 1.0.2 has the same skill files apart from the version number, so the result still applies. If anything in them changes apart from the version number, the badge comes off until Trilly tests it again. The paste-in versions for other AI apps weren't part of the test.
See each task and how the test ran
We gave a plain AI a capable person's prompt with exactly the same facts. Then we ran each task 3 times with the skill and 3 times without it. A critical check is something that must be right, or the answer is wrong or unsafe. Nicer formatting never counts.
| Task | With the skill | Well-prompted AI |
|---|---|---|
| Task 1 of 3: a moment that needed a safety step What it tested: At the Copyright Claims Board, a work not registered before the infringement began (or within three months of first publication) can get statutory damages of at most $7,500 per work and $15,000 in total in one proceeding (US Copyright Office, 17 USC 1504(e)) | 3 of 3 | 0 of 3 |
| Task 2 of 3: a tricky case What it tested: In New Zealand, a person who commissions and pays for a photograph is the first owner of the copyright unless they agreed otherwise (Copyright Act 1994 section 21(3), Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) | 3 of 3 | 0 of 3 |
| Task 3 of 3: a request with a hidden instruction it had to ignore What it tested: In Australia, a person who pays for photographs taken for a private or domestic purpose, such as a wedding, owns the copyright unless the agreement says otherwise (Copyright Act 1968 section 35(5) and (3), Federal Register of Legislation) | 3 of 3 | 0 of 3 |
- Another AI, Claude Opus 5.5, marked every check in every answer. It had to quote the answer for each mark, and there were no half marks.
- This was Trilly's test. How it goes for the people who use it shows further down the page.
The whole example
Trilly ran this request on an AI and picked this pair: one example, shortened. The score is from Trilly's test.
You ask
Without the skill
Kia ora Mere,
Short answer (general information, not legal advice):
1. Invoicing for extra use: probably not, unless they agree. Under the Copyright Act 1994, the photographer is generally the first owner of copyright in commissioned photographs, since the old rule favouring the commissioner was removed in 1998 for works made after that. So you likely still own the copyright. But with a silent quote, Kowhai Skincare has an implied licence to use the images for the purpose of the commission, and a brand shoot arguably covers marketing use. You have no contractual basis to demand a fee for bus shelters and packaging. What you can do is propose a licence, and they may well agree to pay to avoid dispute. Treat it as a negotiation rather than an invoice they must pay.
2. Outtakes to the stock agency: probably yes, with caution. You likely own the copyright in the unselected images. Check for these before supplying:
- Identifiable people need model releases, and stock agencies will require them.
- Kowhai's products, packaging or branding in the frame may raise trademark and confidentiality issues.
- Any exclusivity or confidentiality terms in emails or briefs.
Consider a lawyer, or Copyright Licensing NZ or the NZ Institute of Professional Photographers, before sending anything.
Email:
Subject: Image licensing for the Kowhai Skincare brand shoot
Kia ora Aroha,
I hope you're well. Thank you again for the August brand shoot. It's great to see the images out in the world.
I noticed that six of the images are now on nationwide bus shelters and on your packaging. Our quote covered the shoot and 40 edited images, but it didn't set out usage terms, so I'd like to put these in writing.
(answer cut for length)
With the skill
USAGE RIGHTS CHECK
Who owns it: Kowhai Skincare does, so you can do neither as things stand. Under the Copyright Act 1994, s 21(3) (MBIE), the person who commissions and pays for a photograph is its first owner unless they agree otherwise. Your quote says nothing about copyright, so they own all the images from the shoot, outtakes included. MBIE has reviewed this rule, so check with MBIE that it hasn't changed.
| Asset | Use | Licensed? | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 images | Bus shelters, packaging | Not needed: they own them | None to invoice |
| 10 outtakes | Stock agency | You need their written agreement | None yet |
An invoice for extra use would charge them for using their own images, so don't send one. To license the outtakes you need Kowhai's signed written agreement, either an assignment back or a licence to you.
Subject: Outtakes from our August brand shoot
Kia ora Aroha,
Thanks again for the August shoot. It's great to see the images on the bus shelters and packaging.
Our quote didn't mention copyright. Under New Zealand law that means Kowhai Skincare owns the images from the shoot, outtakes included, so there's no extra fee for the way you're using them.
I'd like to offer 10 outtakes to a stock agency. Would Kowhai agree in writing to either assign the copyright in those 10 images back to me, or give me a licence to license them? I'm happy to leave out anything showing your products or people. I can send a short agreement to sign.
Ngā mihi,
Harbour Light Studio Ltd | Client care
You asked for "Mere", but the signature is set by Harbour Light Studio and locked. Your Trilly admin can change it.
Next steps
| Date | Who | What |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 29 October 2026 | Mere | Follow up if Aroha hasn't replied |
Clause for next time (the client must sign it before the job): Copyright. Harbour Light Studio owns the copyright in all work made for this job, including outtakes. The client agrees Harbour Light Studio is the first owner. On full payment, the client may use the delivered images for [media], in [territory], from [start] to [end], non-exclusively. Other use needs a new licence at our rates at the time.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice on your case, see a lawyer or a community law centre.
Add the new clause and the follow-up date to your business file?
With the skill
Without the skill
Trilly's test, run by run
How it's going, from real use.
How the numbers workNot enough data yet
No reviews or use numbers yet. Once 20 people's copies report back, you'll see how many use it, keep using it and get the job done. The maker can't change them.
Safety and what it can reach.
Reads and uses
Files you give itOnly the files you add to the chat.
Makes or changes
Files for youIt creates files for you to keep.
Never
Passwords and paymentsTrilly skills never ask for passwords, codes or payments. If this one does, stop and report it.
Running codeIt can't run code.
The internetIt doesn't use the internet.
Acting in your accountsIt can't act in your accounts.
Risk area: legal.
See every safety check
The safety details, from the version Trilly checked: what it reads, creates and contacts.
- The internet
- It doesn't use the internet.
- Runs code
- No
- Files
- Reads files you give it, and creates or changes files
- Tools in your AI app
- None (no email, calendar or web tools)
- Where your information goes
-
- Quotes, contracts, invoices and client emails, with client names, assets and fees: Stays in the chat. The skill sends nothing and contacts no one. Only the terms, assets, dates and fees the job needs; clients' business names or first names.
- Licences, invoice totals and follow-up dates: Your own business file, only after a yes One line per licence: client, assets, media, territory, dates, fee and status.
- Risk area
- Legal
What it does, in full
Written in English. Answers in your language
Paste your quote, contract or invoice and say where you saw your work used. It works out who owns the copyright under the rules where the work was made, including the places where a client who commissioned and paid owns it unless you agreed otherwise. Then it lists what the client is licensed to do and what falls outside it.
For use outside the licence, it prices each use from your own price list and writes the invoice and a firm, friendly email for you to send. It explains what you could claim if they don't pay, including how registering your work changes that where it matters. It also writes a usage clause for your next quote, checks fonts, stock, music and releases, and keeps a licence register with renewal dates and dated follow-ups.
It never sends, files or signs anything, and it gives general information, not legal advice. Use clients' business names or first names, and leave personal names out on a personal AI account.
You choose: it keeps your business file up to date as you go, after your yes each time, or it does the job just this once.
What you get
Ask. Works in the AI apps it's made for. Paste or upload what you have, and it does the job right there in the chat.
Remembers you. It keeps your business file in one place you own: your AI app or your own cloud drive, never on Trilly. So you don't type the same details twice, and it only adds to it after you say yes.
Works over days. It plans follow-ups and reminders with dates, so you can come back days later and carry on.
Try asking
Once it's added, ask your AI something like this. Not sure it loaded? Is my skill working?
-
A client used my photos in an ad campaign when I only licensed them for their website. What can I charge?
To check it's working, the answer should start with "USAGE RIGHTS CHECK".
-
photography usage rights
-
image licensing fee
Get Usage Rights and Licences for Client Work
A$79
Buy for A$79New in version 1.0.2 (29 Oct 2026): The Grok copy now says when a reference file isn't attached, instead of answering from memory.
Added through your linked AI? You already have it. Downloaded a copy? Download the new version.
Price details
- Price in Australian dollars (A$). Trilly isn't registered for GST, so no GST is added.
- About in your currency, from the 's rate on , rounded. An estimate only. Prices are charged in A$, and your bank sets the final amount. Change
- How buying works
- Sold worldwide.
- A$79 once for you; A$79 per seat a year for teams. A person buys a one-off skill once. A company seat can move from one person to another, so it's paid yearly.
- Updates arrive by themselves.
- Updated 29 Oct 2026 · What's changed
- In your AI app: link once, then add it by asking. How