--- title: "OpenAI Says It’s Fine to Sell Images Made With DALL-E 2" description: "It's official. OpenAI is finally bringing the beta of their viral DALL-E software — as in, that viral text-to-image generator famous for creating amazingly spot-on renderings of anything from anamorphic bowling balls to the one true Burger King — to the public. Well, they're bringing the beta tech to one million users from their waitlist, that […]" date: "2022-07-21" modified: "2022-07-21" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/openai-sell-images-dall-e" categories: - "Artificial Intelligence" - "OpenAI" tags: - "ai" - "artificial intelligence" - "image generator" - "OpenAI" --- # OpenAI Says It’s Fine to Sell Images Made With DALL-E 2 ![Upon announcing the public rollout of the DALL-E 2 beta, OpenAI declared that all DALL-E imagery can be commercialized and sold.]() *\Image: OpenAI/Futurism\* It's official. OpenAI is finally bringing the beta of its DALL-E 2 machine learning system — as in, that extremely impressive text-to-image generator famous for creating everything from [anthropomorphic bowling balls]() to the [one true Burger King]() — to a million members of a public waitlist. That's a major announcement on its own, but in [its press release](), the Elon Musk-founded company dropped a second bombshell: from now on, all images generated with DALL-E 2 can be sold for profit by its creator, who they say will claim full rights to do so. "Starting today, users get full usage rights to commercialize the images they create with DALL-E 2, including the right to reprint, sell, and merchandise," reads OpenAI's statement. "This includes images they generated during the research preview." OpenAI's press release for DALL-E 2 markets the advanced tech as a "powerful creative tool" that will speed up and inspire the creative process. But as some have already started to point out, the ability to commercialize DALL-E 2 will likely have a pretty major impact on creative industries — and some of the resulting ramifications may not be good. 'This is absolutely insane," [wrote one Twitter user]() who claims to have used the software. "I've been using it for a bit and its understanding of composition, lighting, color is mind blowing. So many implications we're having to think through on how this tool is used and what it means for artists/creators now that it's opening up rights." The company's press release claims that it's already had users say the software will be used for projects ranging from movie storyboards to illustrating children's books. But while access to the artificial intelligence could be an incredible tool for folks who don't have the funds to, say, hire an illustrator or a graphic designer for a creative project, it could change the job market for artists. That being said, access to DALL-E 2 might ensure that individual artists have an easier — and faster — time creating, reproducing, and cashing in on their works. Importantly, OpenAI's press release is careful to note that all commercialized imagery must comply with its [very strict content policy]() — as [*NPR* reports](), the company has previously withheld its product from the public for fear that bad actors could use the tool to spread misinformation or [create biased](), hateful, or otherwise upsetting imagery. In the end, the breadth of ripple effects remain to be seen. Who knows, though — maybe someday soon we'll be hawking t-shirts and coffee mugs with Picasso-style, DALL-E 2-made Futurism logos. **More on DALL - E 2:** *[Ai Generates Painting of Actual "Burger King" And There's a Terrifying Hunger in His Eye]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()