(I took this photo.)
Do you ever wonder where your favorite websites find the amazing photos they display online?
In some cases, the pictures are snapped by the site’s employees or professionals that are paid for their services. However, many times, individuals pilfer images from random sources without reading the terms and conditions of their use.
For the record: Unauthorized use of a copyrighted photo is illegal.
If you are in need of a picture to use for a term paper or to showcase on a personal website, public domain pictures are your best bet. However, keep in mind that even though all photos posted on the Internet are in the public domain, just because they are accessible on the web doesn’t give you the freedom to use them any way you choose.
Bottom line: Always read the fine print.
The good news for people who can’t afford to purchase photos to use as they wish is that the majority of public domain images are free of copyright restrictions. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t include a courtesy credit. By crediting the photo’s source, you can avoid infringement issues.
In addition, copyrighted photos are different from images that are “rights managed.” These types of pictures can only be used in a limited capacity and require payment of a nominal fee each time the photo is used. Calculating the fee requires factoring how and where the image is used and the duration of use. To avoid draining your back account, you are better off using restriction-free public domain pictures.
So how can you tell if you will get in trouble for reusing a photo you find online?
If an image was published prior to 1989, you will see a mandated copyright notice. Photos published on the web after 1989 do not require a posted notice. Most restriction free photos don’t have notices and are available for use by the public for free unless otherwise stated. Still, you should never assume that a photo isn’t protected by copyright if it doesn’t have a notice or warning posted next to it. Your best bet is to read the site’s fine print to see if the image is free to use before cutting and pasting for personal use.
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