Every business needs images on its website, social media profiles, and marketing materials. But if you’ve found an image online, it could be copyrighted. And using copyrighted imagery without permission is illegal.
What is copyright exactly, though? And how can you find free images to use (legally) for commercial reasons? Here’s a rundown of what you should know.
As a concept, copyright is quite straightforward: it protects authorship of a creative work. If you create an image, you are the ‘copyright holder’. And this means you have the right to use it however and wherever you like.
When using an image you’ve found online, though, someone else may own the copyright. And if you use an image without permission from its owner, you could be accused of copyright infringement.
This is crucial to remember because, if you’re found guilty of infringement, you’ll be liable for damages. So while using an image without permission might not seem like a big deal, it could cost your company a lot of money. And because copyright is so important, we have two key rules:
There are free images available for commercial use, though. You just need to know the kinds of images you can use for free and where to look.
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The two main image types to look for are Creative Commons (CC) and public domain images. Both can be a great resource, but each has its own rules:
But where can you find these free images? We have a few suggestions…
There are many sources for finding free images you can use legally, including:
And if you have copy that you’re using alongside your images, having it proofread by an expert will ensure it always has the right impact.
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