We believe in writing cool shit. We also believe in not getting sued. Let’s keep it that way.
So what’s this all about? Unauthorized usage of images and graphics is bad news. And it is rampant across the inter-webs.
How bad is bad? If you don’t have permission granted by the original creator of the image, that is tantamount to stealing. And that is not good for anyone. Including you.
When you need to find a graphic or image for your article, don’t play Google roulette. Follow the rules below and keep on truckin’.
Make your own stuff, bro. You are creative, damn it. And while you might not be the next Ansel Adams or Nat Geo photographer, you’ve got an iPhone and Microsoft paint. So stop relying on the internet and use images and graphics that you created. Your own photography or graphics are fair use. And they make you look like you actually care. This ranges from photography to computer-generated cartoons to hand-chiseled Egyptian hieroglyphics scanned into Photoshop. Feel free to incorporate these into your work (especially the hieroglyphics. Reddit loves that sh*t.) Want credit where credit is due? You can register your work with Creative Commons.
Ask for permission, not forgiveness. This isn’t one of those cases where you ask forgiveness later. Ask the original creator of the image for permission FIRST. Once you are granted permission, all is clear. Full steam ahead.
On deadline? Find Creative Commons images and graphics. Look for images on the Creative Commons website that fit your use type. This ensures that the images you find are in fact legal to use. And that we won’t get sued. Creative Commons has all sorts of files. You can add background music, video clips or photography. Just follow their guidelines and make sure your use type is accurate.
Cite, cite, cite. Link back to the original work. Give credit to the original creator. It’s not cool to take credit for someone else’s work. Plus, Google Image search will let them sniff it out right away.
Public what? In some rare cases, old copyrights have expired putting images into what we call a pot’o’trouble or what the law calls Public Domain. This can be tricky. Best to cite just in case. Hyperlink out to where you found the image.
High rollers read this. Big article? Needs that one shot to put it over the viral wall edge? Ok cool. Let’s talk stock images. Getty, Veer, and Shutterstock are our preferred stock image vendors. These images are royalty free and legal. Talk to your editor. We can make it happen when it counts.
Don’t know? Ask. You’ve got editors and a legal team for a reason. This memo is just a refresher. If you aren’t sure, use you resources. Ask the question. We promise we will only call you dumb behind your back.
So what? You are an overachiever and want to know more? Yeah, we get it. Do your own research on US Copyright law. We dare you to make it more interesting than this.
Now that you have been schooled in the legality behind images, go crazy.
I am glad we had this talk, aren’t you?
Hugs,
Your Legal Team
A Digital Attaché 