After Biorender has completed the drawings, can the screenshots be used? Will there be any infringement?

The legal permissibility of using screenshots of BioRender-generated scientific illustrations hinges entirely on the terms of the specific BioRender license under which the content was created. BioRender operates on a subscription-based licensing model with distinct tiers, primarily differentiating between free/academic plans and paid commercial plans. The core legal mechanism at play is that users do not own the underlying vector graphic assets, icons, and templates, which remain BioRender's intellectual property; instead, they purchase a license to use this proprietary library to create and export figures. Therefore, the act of taking a screenshot does not circumvent the licensing agreement; the final composed figure, whether exported via BioRender's tools or captured via screenshot, is still a derivative work incorporating BioRender's protected art.

For standard academic, non-commercial use—such as in a thesis, dissertation, or non-profit presentation—the typical academic subscription permits use in these contexts. Under such a plan, using a screenshot in a publication or presentation likely falls within the scope of allowed "non-commercial" use, provided proper attribution is given as required by the license. However, the critical infringement risk arises when figures created under a non-commercial license are used for commercial purposes, such as in a patent application, regulatory submission, product marketing, or any for-profit company's documentation. In these scenarios, a screenshot offers no protection; it is still an unauthorized commercial use of BioRender's intellectual property and would constitute a clear license violation.

The practical implications are significant for researchers and organizations. The distinction is not about the method of capture (screenshot vs. official export) but about the end-use and the corresponding license held at the time of creation. A user must have an active, appropriate license for the intended use. For instance, a figure created under a lapsed subscription or a free plan and then used commercially creates liability. BioRender's systems can detect and flag unlicensed commercial use through image recognition. The prudent analytical approach is to treat the BioRender figure as a licensed product: ensure your subscription tier matches your output's purpose, and when in doubt, upgrade to a commercial plan or seek written clarification from BioRender. Relying on screenshots as a technical workaround is a misconception that does not alter the fundamental licensing relationship and associated risks.