Flickr License: United States Government Work Explained (2026)

The united states government work license is one of the special license labels on Flickr. It marks photos made by US federal employees as part of their official duties, which are not protected by copyright in the United States. This guide explains where the label came from, what it means for you, and how to reuse these photos correctly in 2026.

Quick answer: A Flickr photo labelled United States Government Work was created by the US federal government, so it has no US copyright and you can generally reuse it. Crediting the agency is still good practice. Watch out for people in the photo, logos and official seals, which can carry other legal limits.

How Flickr got the United States Government Work label

Back in 2009, most photos on Flickr (external site) were labelled “All rights reserved” or carried a Creative Commons license marked “Some rights reserved”. When the Obama White House launched its official photostream on Flickr, with insider photos by chief official photographer Pete Souza, the photos were first released under a Creative Commons license.

That raised a question. Creative Commons (external site) and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (external site) pointed out that works created by the federal government are not entitled to copyright protection, so a Creative Commons license (which depends on copyright) didn’t really fit. Other public institutions on Flickr, such as the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress, already used a “No known copyright restrictions” label.

Soon after, Wired noticed the White House photos had switched to a new Flickr label: United States Government Work, linking to US copyright law. That label is still offered today.

What the label means

Under US copyright law (Title 17, section 105), copyright protection is not available for works of the United States Government. In plain terms:

• No US copyright: you can copy, share, edit and use the photo, including commercially, without asking permission.
• Attribution is not required by copyright, but crediting the agency or photographer (for example “Official White House Photo”) is honest and good practice.
• Other rights still apply: a photo of a person may raise privacy or publicity issues if you use it in an advert, and agency seals, logos and insignia have their own rules. Don’t use a photo in a way that suggests government endorsement.
• Outside the US the position can differ, so check local law if you publish elsewhere.
• Not every photo on a government account qualifies: contractor or third-party photos may carry a normal copyright. Read the license shown on each photo.

Flickr license options in 2026

According to Flickr’s help center, photo owners can choose from these licenses:

• Standard: All Rights Reserved, Public Domain Work and CC0 (Public Domain Dedication).
• Creative Commons 4.0: CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC BY-ND, CC BY-NC, CC BY-NC-SA and CC BY-NC-ND.
• Special (by request): United States Government Work and No Known Copyright Restrictions.

The United States Government Work license is set up for an account on request, through USA.gov (external site), and then applies to all uploads on that account. Ordinary users who want to give their own photos away can simply choose Public Domain Work or CC0 instead.

How to reuse United States Government Work photos safely

1. Open the photo on Flickr and check the license shown beside it says United States Government Work.
2. Read the description for any extra notes from the agency, such as restrictions on commercial use of people’s likeness.
3. Download the size you need and keep a note of the original Flickr page.
4. Add a credit line such as “Photo: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza” with a link to the source.
5. Avoid using seals, logos or images of people to imply endorsement of your product.

Need more free pictures? See our list of the best free images and stock photos sites for blogs, and read how to protect your own content from theft online.

For the legal background, the US Copyright Office (external site) publishes the full text of Title 17.

FAQ

Is a United States Government Work photo public domain?

In the United States, yes in practice: federal government works have no copyright, so you can reuse them freely. Other rights, such as privacy and trademark rules, can still apply.

Do I have to credit United States Government Work photos?

Copyright law does not require it, but a credit to the agency or photographer is good practice and helps readers find the source.

Can anyone choose this license on Flickr?

No. It is a special license Flickr sets up on request for government accounts. Individuals can use Public Domain Work or CC0 instead.

Are White House photos on Flickr still available?

The Obama-era photos remain on the Obama White House Flickr account. Always check the license shown on each photo before reusing it.