How much do you really know about copyright laws? Are all your employees aware of them? When you use photo images, do you know how to ask for permission correctly? One of our clients recently got into copyright trouble, please read on…
By M. Zaki
What would you risk if you broke copyright laws?
Recently one of our clients learned this the hard way.
Please read the following account, so that you may avoid trouble yourself.
Google offered our client, Jamie (not her real name), a free website. So Jamie asked her intern to handle the website design. During the design process, there wasn’t any supervision because Jamie trusted her do a good job. Her intern did do well.
that made her heart sink like a rock…
A stock photo agency claimed that Jamie was featuring one of their photo images illegally and demanded an immediate four-figure compensation.
Apparently, her intern had used photo images from many internet sources, without seeking for permission!
How did Jamie react?
Jamie has since deleted everything on her website and she had written an appeal letter to the stock photo agency. She is still waiting for a favourable reply and I hope that the agency pardons her oversight.
Jamie regrets not supervising her intern.
What about you?
Did you give your website design to an employee, an intern or did you choose to outsource it?
If so, did you make an effort to scrutinize any images or videos being used? And clarify about the sources and copyright issues?
They may be unknowingly breaking copyright laws. But it will be you who will be held responsible.
The 1-Minute Guide to Copyright Laws
- Copyright protection applies to photographs, films, books and many other media – the moment they are published (see link below).
- The owner of the work has several kinds of rights to his/her work, so you must obtain permission for the correct rights (see link below).
- Some subject matters are not protected by copyright laws, eg: ideas, concepts, procedures, methods and more (see link below).
- The works are still protected by copyright laws even if there isn’t a copyright notice.
- Don’t assume that “copyright-free” photo images can be used without authorization (see link below)!
How can you avoid copyright law troubles?
How can you avoid copyright law troubles?
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If you give your website design to someone else, make sure that they are aware of copyright laws!
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Always supervise them regularly!
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You can use your own in-house photo library or engage professional photographers to obtain your own photo images (we have a guide to “Picking images your prospects will remember”).
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If you choose to use from stock photo agencies, always read their terms & conditions!
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If you choose to use from other sources, ask for permission correctly (the comprehensive guide to asking for permission is below)!
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When your website design is done, double-check all the photo images used!
I hope that this article will help you avoid Jamie’s brush with the stock photo agency.
Don’t assume anything,
Supervise,
Double-check,
And read the links below!
Please share your personal stories
If you have a personal story to share about copyright troubles, email us your story. You may just help another business owner like you avoid similar troubles…
If you have questions, ask now while the topic is still fresh in your mind. Later, you may forget and leave behind a chance to improve your business…
Have your questions answered by writing an email to DezignQuest at info@dezignq.com or call us at (+65) 6396 4125.
View our work: http://dezignq.com/works/dq-portfolio-new.pdf
Further Readings:
Singapore Government’s website on copyright
Royalty free or copyright free? Are they the same?
10 Big Myths about Copyright explained
Another article about looking for photo images
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