General Terms and Conditions for using the image database of ÖsterreichWerbung

  1. General

Österreich Werbung (The Austrian National Tourist Office) maintains an image database with numerous images that serves to promote Austria as a tourist destination.

Österreich Werbung does not only maintain the image database for its own advertising productions, but also makes the image material available, in accordance with these General Terms and Conditions, to other interested parties for their purposes – provided they do not conflict with Österreich Werbung's aims. Österreich Werbung’s purpose is to promote tourism in Austria and to represent the interests of the federal provinces in the field of tourism.

When images from this image database are made available, these General Terms and Conditions in the version of May 2025, which can be accessed at https://views.austria.info/en/agb_komm_en.html, are deemed to have been agreed. Deviations from these General Terms and Conditions or the granted permission to use are only possible if they have been expressly agreed in writing with Österreich Werbung for each individual case.

The currently available image material of Österreich Werbung is stored on the Internet at the address www.views.austria.info and can be viewed and selected there.

Depending on the target group (user group) for which you register, different images will be activated for you. You are responsible to select the correct target group (depending on the profession or industry you belong to).

  1. Target groups (user groups)

  • The target group (user group) "touristic users" includes businesses in the Austrian hotel and catering industry, transport operators (railways, bus lines, shipping, airlines, etc), Austrian tourism organisations, travel agencies and tour operators, tour guides, tourist guides, advertising agencies for clients in the tourism industry.

Within the scope of the types of use and purposes specified for each image, the target group (user group) "touristic users" may use the images to advertise and promote the reputation of Austrian tourism destinations (image advertising, advertising for Austrian tourism businesses).

  • The target group (user group) "press/media and other non-commercial users" includes reports about Austria in and by print and online media (newspapers, magazines, no books!), in and by television and radio, as well as non-profit organisations, schools, universities, adult education institutions, Austrian and EU authorities, congress, conference and incentive organisers.

Within the scope of the types of use and purposes specified for each image, the target group (user group) "press/media and other non-commercial users" may only use the images in a context that serves to promote the reputation of Austrian tourism destinations and institutions. Journalistic use is only permitted in connection with reports about the tourism destination Austria, but not in connection with other topics.

  • The target group (user group) "commercial non-touristic users" includes, for example, advertising agencies for clients outside the tourism industry, companies outside the tourism industry, PR agencies, and publishers of postcards, books or travel guides.

Images that are activated for the target group (user group) "commercial non-touristic users" can be ordered for a fee through the image database of Österreich Werbung for use outside the Austrian tourism industry  and without any connection to Austria as a tourism destination.

  1. Receipt of the images and Confirmation of Use

  1. Touristic users - Press/media and other non-commercial users

Users of the target groups (user groups) "touristic users" and "press/media and other non-commercial users" who are authorized to obtain images in accordance with these General Terms and Conditions can download the images free of charge and, for each download, receive a confirmation of the permitted use ("Confirmation of Use").

The Confirmation of Use issued by Österreich Werbung for each download is your proof that you may use and exploit the image material you have downloaded in accordance with the specifications contained in the confirmation and these General Terms and Conditions.

  1. Commercial non-touristic users

Österreich Werbung is free to refuse orders of images for commercial non-touristic use without giving reasons or to further restrict the conditions of use and exploitation set forth in these General Terms and Conditions (see in particular points 5. to 7.).

Österreich Werbung will be pleased  to inform you about the applicable prices for the use of the images or any costs for making them available as well as the modalities of the permission to use the images.

  1. Types and purposes of use

A distinction is made in the image database between the following types of use and purposes. The downloaded images may only be used for the types of use and purposes specified for each image in the image database and in the Confirmation of Use:

  • Editorial use in the context of reporting on current or past events in connection with the tourism destination Austria, both online and offline;
  • Activities or advertising on social media platforms;
  • Online: Use on websites and in apps;
  • Activities and advertising in other media as part of (paid) media cooperations, both online and offline;
  • Below-the-line ("BTL"): Non-traditional advertising and communication, both online and offline, aimed directly at a specific target group (e.g. folders, brochures, mailings, flyers, leaflets, PR photos, press kits, trade fair advertising, exhibitions and events [event marketing], info sheets, CD/DVD covers, postcards, company and customer magazines, calendars, annual reports, catalogs, POS material);
  • Above-the-line ("ATL"): Advertising measures, both online and offline, that include directly recognizable advertising in mass media (e.g. outdoor posters, advertisements, advertorials, city lights, rolling boards, mega boards, online banners, cover images for travel agency catalogs).
  1. Permission to use

Please note the restrictions stated in these General Terms and Conditions and in the Confirmation of Use with regard to the use and exploitation of the downloaded image material. Any further use and exploitation of the images is not permitted:

Österreich Werbung grants a non-exclusive, geographically unlimited license for the one-time use and exploitation of the downloaded image material only for the types of use and purposes specified for each image in the image database and the Confirmation of Use.

The permission to use is limited to one year from the date of downloading the images, unless a shorter - and therefore applicable - period is stated in the Confirmation of Use. If no use of the license is made within this period, it will automatically expire.

Unless expressly stated otherwise (possibly also restrictively) in the Confirmation of Use, the permission to use refers exclusively to photographic copyrights (rights of the photographer) and the rights of persons depicted in the images (moral rights, neighbouring rights), but not to works (e.g. works of fine arts including architecture or works of applied art), trademarks or other proprietary rights depicted in the downloaded images. The rights required for the use and exploitation of these proprietary rights must be cleared separately and independently by you with the respective rights holders.  

Furthermore, the permission to use only covers the use of the image material in its present form. It does not include any editing or alteration of the image material.

The transfer of the image material or the sub-licensing of the permission to use to third parties is expressly excluded unless Österreich Werbung has given its express written consent in this respect.

The images must not be used for any purpose which is contrary to the purpose of Österreich Werbung. In particular, the images must not be used in connection with anti-democratic, racist or sexual content, political parties or political content, or sociopolitical or environmental campaigns or in an unlawful manner. Using the image material in a way that damages the reputation of Austria and its tourism is also expressly prohibited.

Furthermore, the image material may not be used to promote travel destinations other than Austria.

Moreover, the images must not be printed on products or product labels, regardless of whether these products are intended for sale or as gifts (e.g. promotional gifts, merchandising products, souvenirs).

You undertake to use and exploit the image material only for the types of use and purposes specified for each image in the image database.

You undertake to label the image material in accordance with copyright law. For more details see point 9 – photo credits.

After using image material, you are obliged to send Österreich Werbung at least two free specimen copies at your expense.

  1. Further restrictions

If no express permission has been granted for the commercial non-touristic use, the image material may only be used and exploited in a touristic context and in connection with the tourism destination Austria. None of the images must be used for commercial advertising projects outside of direct image advertising for travel to Austria and advertising for businesses involved in Austrian tourism without the written and separate permission of Österreich Werbung, and especially not for advertising products, merchandise or services outside the Austrian tourism industry.

  1. Special provisions for commercial non-touristic users

In addition to the conditions for the use and exploitation of the images contained in points 5. and 6., the following special provisions apply to the target group (user group) "commercial non-touristic users":

  • Images with people in which individual people make up the main part of the image, may not be used and exploited for commercial non-touristic purposes. This also applies if the user has not been specifically informed of this restriction.
  • Use of the image material in films or on posters is also subject to separate authorisation.
  • The image material may only be used once the agreed fee has been received by Österreich Werbung and Österreich Werbung has confirmed receipt of the payment.
  1. Deviating conditions

If the images are subject to deviating licensing conditions that exclude the applicability of these General Terms and Conditions, the deviating licensing conditions shall apply exclusively. A reference to such deviating licensing conditions can be seen in the image database next to the image concerned.

  1. Photo credits

  1. General

Whenever material from the image database of Österreich Werbung is used or exploited, the name of the rights holder and – followed by a forward slash – the name of the photographer must be indicated in the photo credits.

See the examples in point 9.b.

Credit must be given in such a way that it can be easily attributed to the image in question when it is viewed. Anyone who fails to provide such photo credits must expect the immediate revocation of the permission to use – not just of the image(s) in question – and is liable for all damages incurred by Österreich Werbung due to the failure to provide correct photo credits.

  1. Examples

Credit in, for example, the bottom right corner of the image "Photo: © Österreich Werbung / Gerhard Weinkirn".

If the photo credits are not placed directly in or next to the image, but in the imprint of a printed work, the exact location of the respective image must be indicated there. A list of photographers without such indication (e.g. photos of A, B, C and D) is insufficient. The name of the rights holder and the photographer can be found in the file description of the respective image or in the Confirmation of Use.

If the rights holder or the photographer are not apparent, please ask Österreich Werbung for it. The absence of information in the file description or in the Confirmation of Use does not release you from the obligation to provide correct and complete photo credits.

  1. Revocation of permission to use

Österreich Werbung is entitled to revoke or (further) restrict the permission to use once granted at any time without giving reasons.

  1. Liability and warranty

The liability and warranty of Österreich Werbung is limited to the existence of the granted permission to use the downloaded images. Any further liability and warranty are excluded. Österreich Werbung is only liable to the user for gross negligence and intent. In particular, claims for consequential damages, loss of profit, etc. are excluded.

If you infringe rights of Österreich Werbung by using or exploiting the image material contrary to these General Terms and Conditions, the Confirmation of Use or other agreements in this respect, Österreich Werbung may take legal action against you.

You further undertake to fully indemnify and hold harmless Österreich Werbung for any and all damages (including the costs of legal defense and/or prosecution) incurred by Österreich Werbung as a result of a breach of these General Terms and Conditions or the Confirmation to Use or if third parties assert a claim regarding an infringement of their rights due to your use or exploitation of the images in a breach of these General Terms and Conditions and the permission to use and you pledge to support Österreich Werbung if third party rights are asserted.

  1. Applicable law and place of jurisdiction

Austrian law shall apply excluding all conflict-of-law rules and the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. The Commercial Court of Vienna is agreed as the exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from or in connection with these General Terms and Conditions and the use and exploitation of image material from the image database of Österreich Werbung.

  1. Severability clause

Should any provision of these General Terms and Conditions be or become legally invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, this will not affect the legal validity or enforceability of the other provisions. The legally invalid or unenforceable provision will be replaced by a valid and enforceable provision which comes as close as possible to the content and purpose of the legally invalid or unenforceable provision; the same shall apply to any loopholes. 

Version dated: [22.05.2025]