Data and image licensing
This page describes the licensing and attribution requirements for using images and observation data from Pl@ntNet.
Related page: Using and sharing data in Pl@ntNet
Pl@ntNet is a citizen science project, and the data provided by our community is generally made available under open licenses to support research, education, and conservation efforts. All observations and images are subject to copyright licensing.
Specific attribution and licensing requirements must be followed.
Image usage license
Section titled “Image usage license”License type
Section titled “License type”Most images shared on Pl@ntNet are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA).
This means you are free to:
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Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
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Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially
Under the following conditions:
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Attribution — You must give appropriate credit (see examples below)
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ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original
Verifying individual image licenses
Section titled “Verifying individual image licenses”While most images are under CC BY-SA, always check the specific license for each image you plan to use, as some contributors may choose different licensing options. License information is displayed on each observation page.
Observation data license
Section titled “Observation data license”License type
Section titled “License type”Observation metadata (species identification, location, date, etc.) are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY).
This means you are free to:
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Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
-
Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially
Under the following conditions:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit (see attribution requirements below)
Attribution requirements
Section titled “Attribution requirements”When using Pl@ntNet images or data, you must include the following attributions:
Minimum attribution
Section titled “Minimum attribution”Any use of Pl@ntNet content must include:
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Pl@ntNet app credit: mention that the content comes from the Pl@ntNet platform
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License indication: specify the applicable license (CC BY-SA for images, CC BY for data)
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Contributor credit: mention the name of the original contributor/author
Example for images and observation data (CC BY-SA)
Section titled “Example for images and observation data (CC BY-SA)”Photo(s): [Contributor Username], CC BY-SA
Data source: Pl@ntNet (https://plantnet.org), CC BY
Special use cases
Section titled “Special use cases”Academic research
Section titled “Academic research”For academic publications, we recommend including:
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The Pl@ntNet platform URL (https://plantnet.org)
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The date the data was retrieved
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The applicable license(s)
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A reference to relevant Pl@ntNet publications, where applicable
We also remind you that a large part of our data is available through GBIF, where you can create datasets and obtain a DOI.
Commercial use
Section titled “Commercial use”Commercial use is permitted under CC BY-SA (images) and CC BY (data) licenses, provided that attribution requirements are met. For images under the CC BY-SA license, any derivative work must also be shared under the same license.
API users
Section titled “API users”If you access images or data via the Pl@ntNet API, the same licensing and attribution requirements apply. Ensure that your application or service correctly attributes Pl@ntNet and complies with the license terms.
Summary table
Section titled “Summary table”| Content Type | License | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Images | CC BY-SA | Attribution + ShareAlike + Mention Pl@ntNet |
| Observation Data | CC BY | Attribution + Mention Pl@ntNet |
Questions?
Section titled “Questions?”If you have questions regarding licensing or need clarification on specific use cases, please contact us via the Pl@ntNet website.