Copyright notice and Terms and conditions of use

© Copyright World Health Organization (WHO), 2024. All Rights Reserved.

The contents of this database, including photos and related metadata (“WHO Photos”) are the property of the World Health Organization. The metadata provided with each photo is an integral part of each photo.

The WHO Photo Library is a unique visual record of the Organization's work, illustrating the challenges, developments, and achievements in public health from 1948 to the present day. Our photo collection is maintained through a continuous program of analogue conservation and preservation, in addition to digital metadata enhancement.

Images and descriptions created decades ago are reflective of their time but can be considered inappropriate today. They can provide important context demonstrating the long and difficult journey of public health but can also demonstrate biases and prejudices. We attempt to balance the preservation of this history with sensitivity to WHO's values. We aim to write accurate and respectful captions and correct factual inaccuracies.

WHO Photos may be used for scientific, educational or journalistic purposes to promote public health awareness and to further the aims and work of the World Health Organization, subject to the following terms and conditions:

  1. WHO grants to you, and your employer if you are licensing on behalf of your employer (the “Licensee”) a worldwide, non-transferable, non-exclusive license, royalty free, non-sublicensable right to access, view, download, use, reproduce, publish, display, broadcast selected image(s) hereinafter referred to as the "WHO Photos" for a single use only, in print, digital and electronic form. Images are licensed on a non-exclusive basis for a one-time usage. Licensee may not sell the images separately but may include the image in a product that is sold such as a book or a film.
  2. Copyright in the WHO Photos remains vested in WHO, and WHO retains all rights not specifically granted under this Agreement.
  3. WHO Photos shall be reproduced with the caption/title and used in the same context.
  4. WHO's copyright will be acknowledged as follows:
    © World Health Organization/Photographer or © WHO/Photographer
  5. WHO Photos shall not be used in the following ways:
    • in connection with the promotion of a commercial enterprise and/or its product(s) or service(s), and/or
    • in any way that suggests that WHO endorses any specific company or products.
    • in any way which is contrary to the policies and principles of the World Health Organization (WHO) (e.g. show a public health worker smoking) and/or which might otherwise jeopardize the good works of WHO, its special programmes and/or its research projects;
    • WHO Photos cannot be sold individually, redistributed or used to create derivative works.
  6. The name and/or logo of WHO shall not be used without prior written permission.
  7. The use of the WHO Photos will be factual and shall be used in the same context as described in the caption. Licensed Materials shall not be altered or modified. Minimal cropping is permitted, as long as it doesn't change the interpretation of the image.
  8. Licensee shall not use any photo in any manner which is or could be considered to be libelous or defamatory, or that in any way is or could be potentially unflattering or controversial for the model in the Image.
  9. WHO gives no representation, warranty, guarantee or undertaking that releases or consents which are required, desirable or necessary for reproduction have been or will be obtained whether in relation to the use of names, people, intellectual property rights or any underlying works of whatever nature depicted in any photo, or that any waivers of any moral rights have been obtained. WHO Photos are being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, and Licensee is entirely responsible for reproducing and displaying the material in your publication. In no event shall the World Health Organization be liable for damages arising from its use.
  10. Indemnification: Licensee agrees to indemnify and hold WHO harmless against any claim for damages, losses or any costs, including attorneys' fees, arising in any manner whatsoever from your unauthorized use of the Licensed Materials supplied to Licensee by WHO or for your breach of any of the terms of this Agreement.
  11. In the unlikely event of any dispute arising in relation to the interpretation or application of this Agreement, that dispute shall, unless amicably settled, be subject to conciliation. In the event of failure of the latter, the dispute shall be settled by arbitration. The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the modalities to be agreed upon by the parties or, in the absence of agreement, in accordance with the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. The parties shall accept the arbitral award as final.
  12. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as a waiver of any of the privileges and immunities enjoyed by WHO under national or international law, and/or as submitting WHO to any national court jurisdiction.
  13. The depiction of specific companies or of certain manufacturers' products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by WHO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.