Everything You Need To Know About Canva & Copyright (2025 Updated)

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Whether you need templates for social media marketing or just like to design as a side hustle, Canva has always been amongst the top creative platforms in 2025. Its user-friendly interface and extensive library of graphics, photos, icons, and fonts make it a popular choice for entrepreneurs and small businesses alike.

If you’ve used Canva Free, you may have noticed that your access to certain images and icons is restricted. In fact, many of their assets come with watermarks, and you can only access non-watermarked versions if you opt for one-time purchases or upgrade to a subscription like Canva Pro or Canva for Enterprise.

But once you’ve gained full access to their content, does this mean you’re completely covered from a legal perspective?

Even if you’re with Canva Pro in 2025, there are still several legal considerations to bear in mind. For example, think about the following:

Who actually owns your final design?
Can you sell or redistribute the designs you make on Canva?
Are you legally allowed to use the images on Canva as your own?
Can you trademark a final design created using Canva elements?

With a platform like Canva, it’s important to ensure that you’re not inadvertently breaching any copyright laws, particularly as you work with a wide range of unique content created by diverse designers. For instance, when working on business communications, you may want to double-check your usage if the design includes elements that are subject to specific licensing terms, much like those covered in our Intellectual Property guide.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about copyright when using Canva in 2025, and what you can and cannot do under your licensing agreement with the platform. For further clarity on legal documents and design rights, you might also find our article on contract review useful.

What Is Copyright?

Before we dive into the specifics of Intellectual Property (IP) as it relates to your designs, let’s clarify the fundamentals – what exactly is copyright?

In New Zealand, an idea isn’t automatically protected until it is expressed in a tangible form. Once your creative idea is materialised, it is automatically safeguarded by copyright law and becomes your legal property.

Given that Canva offers a diverse range of content owned by various designers, understanding how copyright applies is key. The platform operates under complex licensing agreements that allow you to use these creative materials, but do not necessarily transfer full ownership to you.

Is Canva Copyright Free?

As a general rule, very few things are entirely copyright free. However, if you stick to using Canva’s FREE images, music, and video files, you are allowed to use them for both commercial and non-commercial ventures according to the provided licence.

While many images, icons, and fonts were originally created by individual designers, they enter a Contributor Agreement with Canva, which permits the platform to distribute their work under certain conditions.

This arrangement, known as licensing, is central to how Canva operates. Essentially, the content is made royalty free by the established agreements, but it is important to review the particulars of each licence, especially when using identifiable images or logos – as this might lead to potential copyright conflicts. For more insight into how licences work in practice, you could also check out our discussion on contract law fundamentals.

For instance, you might be using an image featuring a recognisable face or a well-known logo, which can heighten your risk of infringing on copyright. Your level of access to royalty free content will also depend on your subscription plan:

Canva Free – you can access and use copyright-free content; however, watermarked content remains restricted unless purchased separately.
Canva Pro – provides access to a wider array of content, including watermarked files once appropriately licensed, though the terms of use still apply. It is important to note that even with a Pro subscription, you cannot sell your final design outright for profit if it comprises unaltered Canva elements. You may refer to our guide on online business terms and conditions for additional context.

For a detailed breakdown of Canva’s licences and what constitutes copyright material, you can read more here.

Canva Terms & Conditions

Like every other service, Canva requires that users comply with its Terms & Conditions. Here are a few key examples:

Non-transferable Licence: When Canva grants you a licence, you are prohibited from transferring that licence to any third party. This means sub-licensing is not permitted.
Commercial Use Restrictions: Canva’s design tools are not intended for commercial solicitation purposes – you cannot sell a design directly in exchange for money if it predominantly contains Canva content.
Trademark Limitations: You are not allowed to use Canva trademarks or any similar marks without express written consent.
Distribution Restrictions: As an end-user, you agree not to sell, licence, rent, modify, distribute, copy, reproduce, transmit, publicly display, perform, publish, adapt, edit or create derivative works from any Canva Content.

In the event of any breach of these terms, Canva reserves the right to suspend or terminate your access to its services. It is extremely important to familiarise yourself with these Terms & Conditions so you remain compliant with your copyright obligations. For further legal considerations on IP and copyright, you might also want to review our trade mark registration service.

Am I The Owner Of My Canva Designs?

If you upload your own original content to create a design on Canva, that content is yours (this is known as ‘User Content’). However, if you incorporate elements provided by Canva (referred to as ‘Canva Content’), these elements remain under licence from Canva.

This means that while you can use the final composite design for personal or business purposes, the underlying Canva elements are not legally yours. It’s a subtle but important distinction. We discuss similar themes in our guide on copyright basics.

Can I Sell Things That I Design On Canva?

The answer depends on how much original content is incorporated in your design. Yes, you can sell designs that are 100% original. However, you cannot sell or redistribute unaltered content from Canva. Altered content refers to designs that have been sufficiently modified so that they no longer resemble the original Canva template or asset.

Canva’s Terms & Conditions set clear rules around redistribution, and any final product containing Canva’s intellectual property remains subject to those restrictions. If you’re unsure whether your design is sufficiently original, it’s a good idea to consult with an intellectual property lawyer – our team at Sprintlaw is here to help with legal advice on issues such as licence agreements.

Example
Ash is a university student passionate about visual design and has been using Canva Pro in 2025 to experiment with her creative ideas. She creates a funky calendar aimed at the student market by utilising Canva’s Pro Stock Media. When she attempts to produce over 200 copies for sale on Etsy, she finds out that the platform’s terms prohibit the direct resale of unaltered Canva content. This example highlights that while Canva licenses give you extensive creative freedom, the underlying intellectual property remains with the original creators.

I Used Canva To Make My Logo – Can I Trademark It?

A common question is whether you can register a logo as a trade mark if it was designed on Canva.

For trademark registration in New Zealand, you need to demonstrate clear ownership of the design. If you design a logo using Canva’s pre-made elements, you may encounter challenges when filing for a trade mark due to the shared nature of the content. To avoid such complications, especially when building a brand in 2025, it’s advisable to work with a professional designer to create a fully original logo, ensuring that you retain complete ownership and the ability to trademark it.

This also relates to broader intellectual property concerns, as discussed in our trade mark renewal and advice articles.

Can I Use Music On Canva?

If you subscribe to Canva Pro in 2025, then yes – you can use the included music tracks. However, note that premium audio tracks are generally licensed for online use only, such as in YouTube videos or web-based advertisements, rather than for television commercials where additional licensing fees may apply.

This is because Canva’s Terms & Conditions restrict users from commercial distribution methods intended to generate revenue directly from the licensed content. For more insight on how this impacts your marketing materials, view our Consumer Law resources.

Overall, the use of audio tracks is clearly governed by your subscription and the specific terms of the licence.

How Does Licensing Work?

We’ve mentioned how Canva limits the use of your designs through licensing. Simply put, a licence agreement is where the licensor (Canva) gives you, the licensee, the right to use their intellectual property in your designs without transferring ownership.

This means you are permitted to use the IP subject to the licence’s terms, such as restrictions on commercial resale or redistribution. For those needing more guidance on how licence agreements affect your business, check out our helpful guide on business set-up guides.

Getting A Licence On Canva

The reason you do not fully “own” your Canva designs is that you are provided with a licence to use Canva’s content. If you review Canva’s updated Terms & Conditions as of 2025, you’ll see that they explicitly retain all ownership of their material while granting users a limited right of use.

Canva users are not breaching copyright laws by using the platform; however, you must adhere to the specified restrictions linked to your subscription. Ensuring that your utilisation of any Canva material conforms with your Licence Agreement is essential for staying on the right side of copyright law.

Canva currently offers two primary licences:

Free Media Licence Agreement

Under Canva’s Free Media Licence Agreement, which applies to Canva Free users, you can design content at no cost using copyright-free images. However, if you wish to use watermarked content, you must either opt for a one-time payment or upgrade your subscription.

One Design Use Licence Agreement

The One Design Use Licence Agreement applies to Canva’s Pro Stock Media – indicated by a small crown on the asset – and is limited to that specific use. With a Canva Pro subscription, you enjoy unlimited access to these assets under the stipulated licence conditions.

Previously, Canva offered additional licences such as the Multi-use Licence Agreement and the Extended Licence Agreement for broader distribution rights; however, these were consolidated in November 2020. For businesses and teams, subscribing to Canva for Enterprise provides advanced features and team-sharing options, which is well-suited for growing companies in 2025.

Example
You’re launching a small business selling unique hair accessories on a limited budget. You decide to use Canva for your social media content, knowing that you can create attractive posts without a heavy financial outlay. For your logo and branding, you hire a professional designer to ensure you have clear ownership and can register a trade mark later. With Canva for Enterprise, you add a junior designer to your team, enabling them to access and create cohesive promotional content that uses copyright-free media and approved Pro Stock resources. When developing a TV commercial, you commission original creative work rather than repurposing Canva content, thus avoiding any potential licensing issues.

Anything Else?

Canva remains a fantastic platform for personal projects and smaller-scale designs. However, as your business grows and ventures further into branding, marketing, and commercial distribution, it becomes ever more important to ensure that all the intellectual property you use is entirely yours. This means considering professional design services for critical components such as logos and brand identities. For advice on protecting your business identity, you can explore our business set-up and intellectual property resources.

Moreover, staying abreast of legal updates – including those related to digital content and copyright in 2025 – is crucial. Recently updated guidelines and case studies are available in our latest articles section. Engaging with professional legal advice can prevent future complications and protect your creative output.

The key takeaway is that Canva Pro does not automatically shield you from issues of copyright and ownership. Always review your Licence Agreement and consult legal expertise when necessary to ensure full compliance with the relevant laws.

Whether you need assistance with trade mark registration, draft agreements with professional designers, or simply a clear understanding of your legal rights, Sprintlaw’s team of experienced lawyers is here to help. For more information on protecting your creative work, you might also find our Intellectual Property guides very useful.

If you would like a consultation on your options moving forward, please reach out to us at 0800 002 184 or [email protected] for a free, no-obligations chat. We’re here to help ensure your business’s creative assets are fully protected in 2025 and beyond.

Rowan Gardoce

Rowan is the Marketing Coordinator at Sprintlaw. She is studying law and psychology with a background in insurtech and brand experience, and now helps Sprintlaw help small businesses