Legal question: Using the image of something that's free?

[acrimon]

lol I know this is a weird question but anyway...

Is it legal to use the image of something that's free? Like can I use a thumbnail of a free template to show what a site on that topic would look like?

I'm assuming it would be legal because it's a free template but I don't know if I can use a thumbnail of it to sell something else.

[Wickham]

It depends.

The free template site will give you the free code and if the thumbnail image is in the code, then it's free. For instance, most free templates have many design features based on images which are intended to be free and used as part of your page otherwise there wouldn't be any point in using the template.

If the thumbnail is on a page like the template homepage that is describing what templates are available, or in a demo, or in examples, then you would be contravening copyright by using it.