Images are powerful marketing tools that help you stand out from the crowd and are a pillar of online content. They grasp your audience’s attention, increase messaging, and elevate the effectiveness of the content you are publishing. Whether you are creating a social media post, a web page, or a newsletter, adding images will constantly improve the online user experience. Unfortunately, you cannot take any image from the internet and use it. It’s important to know how to use images legally without breaking the law. Violating copyright can lead to serious consequences, and many online platforms like Google and YouTube have copyright policies that strongly emphasize claims and actions. Before we begin mentioning how to use images legally, let’s discuss what copyright law is!
Copyright Law
Copyright law is complicated and involves a particular approach to using images online, especially today, where AI is becoming more common daily. No matter where you find an online image, whether from Google, Instagram, or Bing, every photo receives a copyright the moment it is released online. The main priority of this law is to protect the creativity of authors, artists, photographers, etc, and provide them exclusive rights to publish, send, and share their work. Without copyright law, there would be no consequences for online users stealing and using creators’ work for whatever purpose they intend to use it for.
Online Image Guidelines
Please keep in mind that even though images seem to be “free”, there is a high chance that they have hidden restrictions on their usage and how they are shared and distributed. If you plan on using online images, you should follow these tips:
- Receive proper licenses and permissions
- Respect the terms of use
- Be cautious when making fair use determinations
- Seek permission from the copyright owner
Dive into the best images to use legally online below!
No Copyright Images
These images are in the public domain and are free to use without copyright restrictions. The reasons they are free could be various, like the copyright expired, never had a copyright to begin with, or the copyright owner released the image to the public domain.
Stock Photos
Stock photos are an excellent resource for marketers because they are considered high-quality and convenient! They provide access to endless amounts of professional photos that can align with any situation or need.
Your Photos
When it comes to using photos online, using your own will always be your best option! It’s a simple technique that provides the simplest way to avoid copyright issues while also avoiding controversy with online creators. Remember! If you’re the photographer, you can never violate copyright laws because you own the photo!
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