Photos on our website and in print materials: a reminder about copyright and AI-generated images
Posted on behalf of: Digital and Creative Media Team
Last updated: Monday, 31 March 2025

University photographer Stuart Robinson taking a photo on campus
Sussex photography should showcase what makes us distinctive, so avoid using stock photography wherever possible. We should all be using on-brand images taken by the University photographer to promote the University. There is a large collection of approved photos on our Asset Bank and, if needed, you can commission the photographer to capture specific shots.
On the occasions when sourcing your own photos is the only solution, all the images you use will need written copyright permission (or a licence to use) and media consent. This means both the photographer/copyright holder and the people in the photograph must give consent. Our guiding principle for image usage is: no permission, no use.
Under no circumstances should you use AI-generated images to promote the University, as these are not authentic images and do not support our brand.
The University has recently received several complaints about images being used online and in print without permission from the copyright holder. Please make sure you have all the necessary permissions in place before using. Full guidance is available on our website.
Please email the Digital and Creative Media team at dcm@sussex.ac.uk if you need advice or would like to set up a photoshoot.