What Is a Credit Line? An Answer for Anyone Wondering

A credit line is a notice that shows who the author who created the content is~.
It's also called a copyright notice.

Selling products that use illustrations from this site is OK, but we ask that you include this credit line~.
Below is an explanation for anyone thinking “So how am I supposed to write a credit line?”

What to write

Please write your credit line using the examples below as a reference.

Credit line examples

© PIYOTASO
This uses illustrations from PIYOTASO, a free illustration site.
These illustrations are by PIYOTASO!

And so on. Basically, anything is OK as long as people can tell you're using PIYOTASO's illustrations~. We're not picky.

A link or URL isn't required, but adding one might give interested people a reason to visit, so we'd be happy if you added it.

Where to write it

If you're wondering where to write it, please refer to the following.

Items sold through online shopping → the product page
Items sold in stores, etc. → the packaging, or a POP display is also OK

Anything else? Anyway, as long as you write it, anywhere is fine.
Please make it a size and color that can be seen with the naked eye.

Does this need a credit line?

From the questions we often get, here are some typical examples of cases that need a credit line and cases that don't~.

Printing on T-shirts, keychains, etc. and selling them → A credit is required.
Use in work produced on commission → When using an illustration as part of a design such as a flyer or banner, no credit is required.
Printing on a T-shirt and selling it to friends or acquaintances → Not required! You only need to include it when selling to an unspecified number of people.
Publications → If the illustrations aren't the main feature and are only used as accompanying pictures, it isn't required, but we'd be very grateful if you included one.
Selling products that use hand-copied versions of the illustrations → A credit is required.

Why we ask for a credit line

The reason we ask for a credit line is to prevent the rights to the illustrations from becoming unclear on some of the sites and services where products are sold, and to prevent it from looking as if the seller holds the rights.

There are various other concerns too, but we didn't make this rule thinking “If anyone breaks it, we'll sue!” or anything like that. We made it simply because we want to avoid trouble.

Thank you so much for your understanding~.

A chick bowing formally with its wing tips on the floor, asking “Please”