When creating content online, you need to be sure that you use royalty free images.
WHY CAN’T I USE ANY IMAGE I WANT?
Images taken or created by someone else are a form of property. The person who created the image has the right to decide who uses the image and under what circumstances. This is a type of copyright and is quite serious.
Many images you find online are restricted in their use. That means they cannot be used without permission and, very often, payment of a royalty fee.
In your use of a copyrighted image you usually have to give credit by name to the person who created the image once you obtain permission for its use. This is called attribution.
Failing to honor the ownership of someone in an image is, in my mind, a form of theft and a violation of the 7th Commandment. Christian home business owners should be especially vigilant to respect the property rights of others in this area.
WHERE CAN I FIND IMAGES THAT ARE NOT COPYRIGHTED?
The good news is that there are readily available images where the creators waived their copyrights and related or neighboring rights. These are royalty free images. You are free to adapt and use them for commercial purposes without attributing the original author or source and without paying a fee for the use.
These images are known as CC0 images. HERE is a link to an explanation of that reference.
There are only a couple of restrictions on the use of CC0 images. You can read about those restrictions HERE.
Most of your uses of images will probably fall within the permitted general uses, so don’t get too bogged down.
You’ll find CC0 images on websites dedicated to providing high quality images and videos.
To be candid, I’ve purchased the right to access all types of images. I’m been very disappointed by the variety and quality of images through paid services when compared to free websites that host a variety of CC0 royalty free images. I test my theory periodically and always end up coming back to one site.
My favorite website has become Pixabay. They consistently have what I’m looking for in high quality images or videos.
There are a number of other CC0 sites. Some examples include Freerange, Unsplash, Pexels, and Flickr.
Check them out and any others you find to see which one becomes your go-to site.
IS THAT ALL I NEED TO KNOW?
There’s one more consideration when it comes to the images of others.
Don’t forget that if you see an image on someone’s social media sites, you have no right to assume that you can use that image.
For example, if I have an image as a background on my profile on Facebook, you need to ask me before taking the image for your use. That is true regardless of whether or not the image is of me or my family. The image may seem innocuous, but it may be my property.
When in doubt, ask.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I USE COPYRIGHTED IMAGES WITHOUT PERMISSION?
The short answer is nothing good.
You may or may not get caught. If you are caught, you can face legal consequences for using someone else’s property without permission.
As a Christian home business owner, ask yourself how you’d want to be treated if you’d created the image and were relying on that image for your livelihood. Then act accordingly.
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