Illustration copyright: how to use images

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How often do you use pictures found on the Internet? What can you say about the copyright of the owner? If you haven’t thought about it before, it’s time to find out more. Using someone else’s work is illegal, so it’s worth learning more about the existing rules. They not only protect the rights of the authors, but also contain information about which photos can be used for the site for commercial and other purposes.

Image copyright: what is it

The copyright of the images

The copyright of the images belongs to their creator. This is quite logical. But there are separate articles in the legislation that determine the possibility of using intellectual property. You should study this side of the issue in advance and only then use other people’s work on a blog or website.

So, copyright is divided into two categories: property and non-property. In the first case, the author owns:

Creation of collages or other forms of illustrations is prohibited. The interests of the owners are defended in court. But the decision can be influenced if the requirements of the law are met in advance. The difficulty comes down to the need to negotiate with the creative author.

Property copyright for images on the Internet is valid throughout the life of the author, as well as for 70 years after his death. Since the illustrations were created relatively recently, their use requires the permission of the owner (legal successor).

How to Use Illustrations Legally

If you are wondering if you can use pictures from the Internet, finding the answer is not difficult. Yes, you can choose a photo from the web and add it to your blog, but there are a few conditions. Since the search for images is carried out in different ways, we will study the algorithm of actions in each of the cases:

  1. Search system. It is enough to enter a query in google to go to an unlimited number of options. For legal use of the picture, you need to find the source where the initial illustration is located. After that, it remains to find the name of the copyright holder and obtain his permission.
  2. Social media. Despite the limited options, this search method is more convenient. You need to pick up a picture from open sources and use it in your blog. Remember to add a link to the author, but his permission is no longer required. It is legal.
  3. Stock platforms (depositphotos). Platforms where authors share their creations enter into an agreement with the owners themselves. So, downloading and using illustrations will be legal, and you do not need to look for the author and obtain his permission.

Figuring out if you can use a stock photo on your site and under what conditions is much easier than in other cases. The owner signs an agreement to transfer rights to their files to the platform, and users freely select and download pictures.

It is also worth acquiring evidence of the legality of use, subject to the choice of content on the photo stock. To do this, you need to register on a suitable platform before downloading. The history of actions is saved in the account, so if necessary, it is used to confirm the legality in court.

What are the dangers of using someone else’s work?

The owner of the original work may find illegal use of his work. Undoubtedly, the author will go to court and win it. To understand which images can be used for commercial purposes, you need to follow the recommendations from the previous block.

If the requirements have not been met, the company, website or blog may be held liable in the form of:

It’s definitely not worth counting on the likelihood of no punishment. It is much easier to use those photos that are selected from the range of stock platforms. It is also better to create your own image for book or magazine covers. This will save both time and money.

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