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Whether you need templates for social media marketing or just like to design as a side hustle, Canva has long been amongst the top creative platforms – and that remains true in 2025. Its ease of use and vast library of design assets make it a go-to tool for many Australian creatives and small business owners.
If you’ve used Canva Free, you may have noticed that access to many images and icons is restricted. In fact, a lot of their content is watermarked, and the only way to use these premium assets is to either pay for a one-time use license or upgrade to Canva Pro. This model continues to be in place, ensuring that designers receive fair compensation for their work.
But once you’ve got full access to their content, does that mean you’re fully covered from a legal perspective?
Even with a Canva Pro subscription, there are still several crucial legal issues to consider. For instance, ask yourself the following:
- Who actually owns your final design?
- Can you sell or redistribute the designs you create on Canva?
- Are you legally allowed to use the images on Canva as your own?
- Can you trademark a final design made on Canva?
When working with a platform like Canva, it’s essential to confirm that you’re not inadvertently breaching any copyright laws. After all, you’re handling a variety of unique content, some of which is created by independent designers who grant Canva limited rights through formal licensing agreements. For further insight into protecting your creative work, you might want to review our Intellectual Property Guide.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about copyright when using Canva, and clarify what you can and cannot do under your licensing agreement with the platform.
What Is Copyright?
Before delving into the intricacies of Intellectual Property (IP), let’s first define copyright. In Australia, an idea isn’t automatically protected until it has been expressed in a tangible form. Once your idea is materialised, it is automatically protected by copyright and is officially yours.
Since Canva hosts a diverse range of content created by various designers, it’s essential to understand how copyright applies to the content you use from the platform.
Is Canva Copyright Free?
As a general rule, you should assume that virtually nothing is truly copyright free. However, if you stick to using Canva’s FREE photos, music, and video files, you can generally use them for both commercial and non-commercial purposes. Why? Because the designers supplying these assets have entered into a Contributor Agreement with Canva, which permits the platform to distribute their work under specific terms.
This arrangement is essentially a licensing model. The key point is that while Canva’s content is generally royalty free for end-users under its licensing agreements, it is still subject to certain restrictions. It’s always a good idea to double-check the terms associated with any content you use, especially if it includes identifiable images or logos that could raise issues of copyright infringement.
Your access to royalty free content also depends on your subscription plan. For example:
- Canva Free – You can use most of their copyright free content, but you won’t have access to watermarked items unless you purchase them separately.
- Canva Pro – You have full access to all content, including watermarked files. However, you must abide by the terms of your licensing agreement. Notably, you cannot sell the final design for profit if it includes unaltered Canva content.
You can read more about Canva’s licenses and copyright policies here.
Canva Terms & Conditions
Like every service, Canva has terms and conditions that all users must comply with. A few key points include:
- Non-transferable: The licence granted by Canva cannot be transferred to a third party – sub-licensing is strictly prohibited.
- You cannot use the platform for any commercial solicitation purposes; in other words, you may not sell your design for money directly.
- The use of Canva’s trademarks or any mark that might be confused with them is forbidden without written consent.
- As an end-user, you agree not to “sell, license, rent, modify, distribute, copy, reproduce, transmit, publicly display, publicly perform, publish, adapt, edit or create derivative works from any Canva Content.”
If any of these terms are breached, Canva reserves the right to suspend or terminate your access to their service. It’s always wise to familiarise yourself with the Terms & Conditions to ensure you understand your copyright and licensing obligations, as explained in our guide on legal requirements for starting a business.
You can read Canva’s full T&Cs here.
Am I The Owner Of My Canva Designs?
If you upload your own original content to create a design, all of that remains your intellectual property (referred to as ‘User Content’).
However, if you use any of the elements provided by Canva (known as ‘Canva Content’), you are merely using them under a licence – they remain the property of their respective creators. In other words, while the final design you create can be considered yours, the individual elements are still owned and licensed by Canva.
This might come as a surprise, so let’s consider it from a legal perspective. When you design something on Canva, you are utilising materials and forms of IP provided by the platform under a Licence Agreement. This means that although you can use your final design for personal or business purposes, the way you can use and distribute that design is subject to Canva’s licensing restrictions.
Can I Sell Things That I Design On Canva?
The short answer is: it depends.
YES – You should be able to sell completely original designs that are entirely your own work. However, exercise caution to ensure that the design is 100% original.
NO – You cannot sell or redistribute unaltered content directly from Canva. Altered content refers to a design derived from purchased Canva content that has been significantly changed so that it is not recognisably identical to the original. Selling unaltered content contravenes Canva’s licensing terms.
Canva’s T&Cs clearly prohibit the resale, sub-licensing, renting, or assignment of ownership of designs that incorporate their IP. If you are uncertain, it’s best to contact Canva support for clarification.
| Example Ash, a university student passionate about visual design, signs up for Canva Pro and creates a funky calendar tailored for Australian uni students. She uses Canva’s Pro Stock Media but then wishes to sell over 200 copies on Etsy. Unfortunately, due to Canva’s licensing rules, she cannot do this because the content she used was licensed to her rather than owned outright. |
I Used Canva To Make My Logo – Can I Trademark It?
A common question is whether you can register your logo as a Trade Mark if it was designed on Canva.
In Australia in 2025, to trademark something you must be able to demonstrate ownership. As discussed, if you design your logo on Canva using their elements, the underlying IP remains with Canva. To avoid any issues when filing your trademark application, it’s prudent to commission a professional designer so that you can retain full ownership of your logo. For more guidance on trade mark registration, check out our Trade Mark Registration Service.
This limitation is a direct consequence of working under a Licence Agreement – you’re granted the right to use the platform’s IP, not to own it outright.
Can I Use Music On Canva?
If you have a Canva Pro subscription, then yes, you can use its Pro Audio features. However, note that pro audio is typically licensed for online advertising purposes (such as YouTube videos) and is not intended for use in TV commercials or other mediums where you would earn direct income from its use.
This restriction exists because Canva’s T&Cs prohibit the distribution of content in a manner that generates revenue. Although YouTube channels may be monetised, Canva requires that you verify your Pro Audio usage through your account to affirm that you are complying with the licensing terms.
All of this comes back to the terms of the licence agreements provided at the time of subscription.
How Does Licensing Work?
We’ve touched on Canva’s limitations due to licensing, so let’s explore what licensing actually means. Simply put, a Licence Agreement involves a licensor (in this case, Canva) granting the licencee (you, the end-user) the right to use their IP under defined conditions. Importantly, this does not transfer ownership of the IP to you.
The licence allows you to use the IP subject to certain restrictions imposed by Canva. For additional detail on licensing agreements and your rights, our article on How Does Licensing Work is an excellent resource.
Getting A License On Canva
The reason you don’t own your Canva designs is that you are granted only a licence to use their content. A quick review of Canva’s updated T&Cs reveals that they continue to retain ownership of all original content. As long as you abide by the stipulated terms, you won’t be breaching copyright laws – but it’s essential to remain aware of your licence’s limitations.
Canva currently offers two main types of licences:
Free Media Licence Agreement
The Free Media Licence Agreement is available to all users of Canva Free. Under this licence, users can design without cost using copyright‐free images – albeit with some access restrictions.
If you require access to watermarked content, you can either purchase a one-time licence or upgrade to Canva Pro for full access.
One Design Use License Agreement
The One Design Use Licence Agreement applies to Canva’s Pro Stock Media – identifiable by a small crown symbol. As the name suggests, this licence is limited to a single use of that specific design element.
With a Canva Pro subscription, you enjoy unlimited access to these assets, though all usage remains subject to the licensing terms.
Previously, Canva also offered the Multi-use Licence Agreement and the Extended Licence Agreement; however, these options were discontinued over three years ago and are no longer available as of 2025. For businesses looking to collaborate on design projects, subscribing to Canva for Enterprise remains the best option – and if you need further legal clarity on protecting your brand assets, check out our article on IP licensing.
| Example You’re starting a small business selling unique hair accessories. While you decide to have your logo professionally designed (so you can eventually trademark it), you continue to use Canva for creating social media templates. By upgrading to Canva for Enterprise, you add a junior designer to your team, ensuring he has full access to your design assets. He produces short promotional videos using Canva’s copyright free music – all without any legal complications, because none of the team’s designs are being directly resold. |
Anything Else?
Canva remains an excellent platform for personal projects or smaller endeavours where profit-making isn’t a primary concern. However, as your business grows in 2025, it’s vital to ensure that your intellectual property is entirely your own. Relying solely on Canva’s licensing may expose you to risks if you plan to expand your brand, such as registering trade marks or using designs in exclusive products.
In addition, consider that digital platforms continuously update their policies. If you’re using Canva extensively, it’s important to stay up to date with any amendments to their licensing terms. For more legal insights on digital content and protecting your business, we invite you to check out our Legal Requirements for Starting a Business guide and our comprehensive IP guide.
Whether you need help registering a trade mark or drafting an agreement with a designer, Sprintlaw’s experienced team is here to ensure that your intellectual property and creative assets are fully protected in 2025 and beyond.
You can reach out to us at team@sprintlaw.com.au or call us on 1800 730 617 for an obligation-free consultation.
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