Pixabay.com stands as a popular hub for accessing a diverse collection of free stock media, ranging from photos and illustrations to vector graphics, film footage, and music. Founded in November 2010 in Ulm, Germany, by Hans Braxmeier and Simon Steinberger, Pixabay initially made its content available under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) declaration, effectively dedicating its materials to the public domain.
However, in a notable shift on January 9th, 2019, Pixabay altered its approach by adopting a more restrictive licensing model known as the "Pixabay License." This new license introduced constraints, prohibiting the direct sale of unaltered copies of licensed works and restricting their distribution as standalone stock images or wallpapers. Despite this change, content that had already been released under the CC0 declaration prior to this shift remained accessible through alternative mirrors and channels.
The acquisition of Pixabay by Canva, an Australian design and publishing platform, in May 2019 marked a significant transition for the platform, aligning it with a broader ecosystem of creative tools and resources.
More recently, on April 17th, 2023, Pixabay made substantial revisions to its terms of service. This included a shift in nomenclature from the "Pixabay License" to the "Content License," alongside the reinstatement of the CC0 license specifically for content uploaded to the platform before January 9th, 2019. These changes aimed to redefine the usage and distribution parameters while accommodating the community's concerns and preferences.
Despite varying opinions about the overall quality of the content offered on Pixabay, the platform remains a go-to source for creatives seeking a wide range of subjects and media types.