Image License Terms & Conditions

01 Copyright & Ownership

All photographs, illustrations, videos, and visual assets published on Terroir Cocoa’s digital platforms, press kits, and marketing materials are the exclusive intellectual property of Terroir Cocoa and its contracted photographers, unless otherwise explicitly stated. These materials are protected under international copyright law, the Berne Convention, and applicable U.S. and Ecuadorian intellectual property statutes.

Terroir Cocoa retains full ownership, moral rights, and exclusive licensing control over all farm imagery, product photography, and brand assets. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial exploitation without a valid license agreement is strictly prohibited.

02 License Types & Scope

Terroir Cocoa offers three primary licensing tiers for our visual assets, each tailored to specific use cases:

• Editorial License: Grants non-commercial use for news reporting, journalism, academic publications, and documentary purposes. Does not permit advertising, product packaging, or promotional campaigns.
• Commercial License: Permits use in advertising, marketing campaigns, retail displays, product packaging, and paid promotional content. Requires a signed usage agreement and applicable fee structure based on reach, medium, and duration.
• Personal/Print License: Limited to individual, non-digital reproduction for personal enjoyment (e.g., home printing, personal journals). Strictly non-transferable and non-commercial.

03 Permitted Uses

Authorized licensees may use Terroir Cocoa imagery for the following purposes within the bounds of their licensed tier:

1. Publication in accredited media outlets, magazines, and digital news platforms (Editorial)
2. Integration into approved marketing campaigns, social media promotions, and advertising materials (Commercial)
3. Academic research, culinary education, and sustainability case studies
4. Press features and culinary journalism covering fair-trade agriculture and artisanal chocolate production

Licensees must ensure all usage aligns with Terroir Cocoa’s brand values, emphasizing sustainability, ethical farming, and artisanal craftsmanship.

04 Restrictions & Prohibited Uses

The following uses are strictly prohibited without explicit written consent from Terroir Cocoa’s legal & licensing department:

• Use in connection with competing chocolate brands, synthetic cocoa alternatives, or unrelated food products
• Modification, cropping, or digital alteration that distorts the farm’s appearance, misrepresents farming practices, or compromises the dignity of our farming families
• Use in adult content, political campaigns, hate speech, or any material that violates ethical journalism standards
• Hosting on stock photography platforms, clip marketplaces, or third-party licensing databases
• AI training datasets, machine learning models, or generative artificial intelligence pipelines without a separate data licensing agreement

05 Attribution Requirements

All licensed and editorial uses must include clear, legible attribution in the following format:

Digital publications must include a hyperlink to our official website (www.terroircocoa.com) where feasible. Print publications must place attribution in the photo caption, credit line, or end-of-article acknowledgments. Failure to provide proper attribution constitutes a breach of licensing terms.

06 Modifications & Derivative Works

Minor color correction and cropping for layout purposes are permitted under Editorial and Commercial licenses. However, the following modifications require prior written approval:

• Adding text overlays, logos, or graphical elements that imply endorsement
• Compositing or merging images with unrelated backgrounds or subjects
• Altering the natural appearance of cacao pods, farm landscapes, or workers

Terroir Cocoa reserves the right to request proof of usage or audit licensed materials to ensure compliance with brand guidelines.

07 Termination & Liability

Terroir Cocoa may terminate any license immediately upon written notice if a licensee breaches these terms. Upon termination, all licensed materials must be removed from circulation, and digital copies must be permanently deleted.

Licensees agree to indemnify and hold harmless Terroir Cocoa, its founders, employees, and affiliated farms from any claims, damages, or legal actions arising from misuse of licensed imagery. Terroir Cocoa’s liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential damages related to licensed assets is strictly limited to the licensing fee paid, if applicable.