Q&As

How do I approach using photographs sourced from the Internet?

read titleRead full title
Published on LexisPSL on 04/12/2013

The following IP Q&A provides comprehensive and up to date legal information covering:

  • How do I approach using photographs sourced from the Internet?
  • Copyright in photographs
  • Find the owner
  • Obtain a licence
  • Exceptions—fair dealing
  • Term of protection for photographs
  • Use without permission
  • Watch this space

How do I approach using photographs sourced from the Internet?

Copyright in photographs

The Internet may be perceived as an extensive free photo bank to most lay users but permission is usually required to use a photo obtained on line. Most original photographs qualify for copyright protection as artistic works. Photographs that qualify for protection are usually those where individual choices have been made on visual effects or composition: just pushing the button might not do it (but it might if you are in 'the right place at the right time'). For more information on whether copyright subsists in a photograph, see Practice Notes: The scope of photographic copyright—the Red Bus case and Copyright—subsistence and qualification.

Find the owner

If you see a photograph in a hard copy publication you should contact the publisher in order to check the status of the photograph and as a starting point for licensing its use. For users who find photographs (digital images) online, for example on social networking sites such as Google+, Flickr, Facebook and Twitter, finding the owner can be more difficult. Most digital images contain metadata which embeds into the image file captions, copyright and contact information. This should make finding the owner relatively straightforward however, some social networking and other sites have been found to remove photographers' metadata from images that they host. Your first step for online images

Discover LexisPSL
Clear, practical guidance for all legal professionals
Related documents:

Popular documents

Directors’ remuneration

Directors’ remuneration

Directors’ remunerationCompany directors are not, by virtue only of their office as director, automatically entitled under company law to remuneration for services as a director or to reimbursement of expenses incurred in rendering such services. Power to pay directors remuneration for their

Contractual damages—non-pecuniary losses

Contractual damages—non-pecuniary losses

Contractual damages—non-pecuniary lossesThis Practice Note considers the different categories of contractual damages that may be available for non-financial loss (non-pecuniary loss), ie punitive damages, damages for loss of enjoyment and loss of amenity, restitutionary damages and negotiating

Working with counsel

Working with counsel

Working with counselInstructing counsel to advocate on a client’s behalf should be a matter of careful thought and preparation. The role of counsel is to provide independent objective advice and to deploy the skill of advocacy on behalf of the client. Although they are part of a team, they also

Financial Conduct Authority—Principles for Businesses (PRIN)

Financial Conduct Authority—Principles for Businesses (PRIN)

Financial Conduct Authority—Principles for Businesses (PRIN)This Practice Note explains the Principles for Businesses (PRIN) set down by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The Principles form part of the FCA’s High Level Standards set out in the FCA’s Handbook. The Principles are a general