Get copyright for web content

Quick guide to make sure you have the proper rights to use content on the web. I also list and explain the most used forms of copyright.

Get copyright for web content
Copyright statement in a book

When you publish on the web, you soon come up against copyright. I will first answer the most common questions and then explain the most common forms of copyright.

Copyright is a form of intellectual property that protects original works of authorship once an author records the work in a tangible form of expression. In copyright law, there are many types of works, including paintings, photographs, illustrations, musical compositions, sound recordings, computer programs, books, poems, blog posts, films, architectural works, plays, and much more!

Today, national copyright laws are standardized to a certain extent by international and regional agreements such as the Berne Convention and the European Copyright Guidelines.

The copyright laws of different countries have similarities, but each jurisdiction has its laws and regulations. Some jurisdictions also recognize moral rights of creators, such as the right to be credited for the work.

Are all images copyrighted?

All images on the web are copyrighted.

If the infringement is noticed, you may receive a notice ordering you to cease and desist from any infringing activity. Every so often that is enough, but it can also lead to a lawsuit. This web page explains it in detail:

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/what-is-copyright-infringement/

Yes, actually, they do. But it does not apply to sharing photos within a platform such as Twitter, Instagram or Facebook because you have given permission for that. Here is handy scheme:

Scheme to check if you can use an image on Social Media.
Scheme to check if you can use an image on Social Media.

Typically it is mentioned, but otherwise you will have to search in the database or ask. If in doubt, or if you can't find a copyright holder, it's best to leave it at that.

After these frequently asked questions, I'll briefly explain the three most common forms of copyright. It's not exhaustive, but as they are the most widely used, it should go some way to explaining them.

Creative Commons (CC0)

The use of a work under the CC0 licence has no restrictions for personal or commercial use. Basically, if a work is classified as CC0, you can post it, modify it, add to it, share it, and do whatever you want without having to mention the author's name or ask permission. It's as free and open as can be.

Creative commons logo. Photo by Umberto
Creative commons logo. Photo by Umberto
Creative Commons — CC0 1.0 Universal

Royalty-free

Royalty-free (RF) material that is copyrighted or otherwise protected by intellectual property rights may be used without the need to pay royalties or license fees for:

  • any use
  • per copy sold
  • volume
  • a specified period of use or sale

Rights managed

Rights Managed, or RM for short, is a type of licence for the use of stock images, which can be purchased from a stock photography agency, such as Getty Images. This type of licence is sold on a one-off basis. It allows the buyer to use the photo in a certain specific way, and only in that way. This type of right can pay off if it is an image that is very decisive in your marketing.

More guidance on copyrighted images

The guide from Pixsy goes into more depth and also explains Fair Use, the Public Domain and copyright as an employee.

A Beginner’s Guide To Using Copyrighted Images - Pixsy
It’s by no means impossible to use a copyrighted image – but you just need to get a license or other permission to use it from the creator first. Read our guide.