iStock's AI-free policy bans fully AI-generated video clips
iStock prohibits fully AI-generated images and videos in its library and says it uses detection. What that means when you mix stock clips with generated ones.
iStock's AI-free imagery policy prohibits fully AI-generated images and videos, and also AI-added new elements, subjects or objects. A clip bought from iStock's library is therefore described as non-AI, while its separate generator is labeled and never added to the library.
What is allowed
The policy allows limited edits to original non-AI work, and CGI, 3D and illustration. It says detection uses proprietary tools, forensics, metadata and human review.
| Item | Policy says |
|---|---|
| Fully AI-generated images and videos | Prohibited |
| AI-added new elements | Prohibited |
| Limited edits to original non-AI work | Allowed |
| CGI, 3D, illustration | Allowed |
| Detection | Proprietary tools, forensics, metadata, human review |
Why it matters for a mixed edit
If a cut mixes stock footage and generated shots, a viewer or platform label should reflect that. Keep a shot list that says which clips are stock and which came from a model job.
On the generation side
Sume bills video jobs at provider list times 1.25 and returns usage.cost, which makes the generated share of a budget easy to separate from licensed footage. See Sume pricing.
Sources
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Written by Sume