iStock photos on design

[Ahead]

Hello!
I´ve seen many designers use iStock photos in their designs. I mean they use photos without buying them because photos have this white logo on them ( like here http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-9455998-kids-heads-set.php ).
So it is legal to do that?

 

[JMCDesigner]

no it aint. And just because someone else is doing it doesn't make it legal. Shame on them. If you use them for composition privately then it aint an issue, but if you are using unpurchased istock images in websites you have sold, you are breaking the law. And to purchase an image is like 2 bucks (which you can then use in all your designs), so why steal??

 

[Ahead]

Thank You for answering!
If I am not selling the design, but just doing it for practice and upload it somewhere ( deviantart.com for example ) then I am breaking the law, right?

 

[rexusdiablos]

Yep. Copyright basically prevents theft. Royalty free means you won't be charged on a per use basis (like Michael Jackson had the royalties for the Beatles) but will instead be charged once. It doesn't mean free though.