Solving the Online Copyright Puzzle
There is a common misconception amongst some internet users: If something is on the internet, it’s public domain. No one owns the rights to it, and I can use it however I want.
Understanding exactly how online copyrights work can be confusing. The general rule of thumb is that if you didn’t create it yourself, you can’t use it. If you follow that rule, you’ll be safe from most of the potential copyright problems.
Unfortunately, it’s not always that cut and dried. Some site owners allow you to use their work, as long as you link back to the original article. There are free article sites that allow you to use work by other writers, as long as you include the writer’s bio and link on your page. Some site owners will grant special use of their work if you email and ask. And that’s not even getting into the different licenses for using online photography from sites like Flickr.
Just because something is on the web, it doesn’t mean that it is free to use. Some sites have copyright or terms of use information available, especially if you’re on a content marketing site where people are encouraged to use the material, as long as they follow the proper attribution guidelines. If there is no copyright information, email the webmaster or site owner. They may allow you special permission to use their content, or offer to create similar content for your site, usually for a small price. If you do secure special permission, make sure you follow the writer’s requests exactly, and that you fully attribute the credit back to them.
Photo copyrights aren’t that dissimilar. Unless the site says that their images are usable, don’t use them. If you are looking for pictures to use on your website, you can search for Creative Commons pictures; these are usually free to use as long as you correctly follow the posted guidelines. For example, some pictures can only be used on non-commercial sites, some can be used commercially but not altered, and some are free to do change and customize to fit your needs.
There are also ways to purchase licenses to use stock photos from different sites. Each site usually has their own rules for how these licenses work and what they cost.
If you want to learn more, check out the US Copyright Office and the Creative Commons.
Where do you find the images for your websites? Are there any hidden gems online that offer a great selection of Creative Commons images?
