Am I allowed to post pictures of buildings or artworks on Instagram?
October 24, 2023 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Verena Friedendahl
Dear copyright lawyer,
My name is Helma Krause and I run an Instagram account where I regularly post photos of interesting buildings and artworks. I have heard that there are legal restrictions when it comes to publishing images of buildings or artworks. Is it true that I need to obtain permission from the creators for this?
I am concerned that I may be violating copyright if I simply post images of buildings or artworks that are not my own. Is there a way to legally post these images without getting into trouble?
I would like to know what legal provisions or restrictions exist when it comes to posting images of buildings or artworks on Instagram. Are there specific rules I need to follow to avoid copyright infringement? Are there licenses that I can acquire to use such images legally?
Thank you in advance for your help and I look forward to your professional advice.
Sincerely,
Helma Krause
Dear Mrs. Krause,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding copyright in relation to posting pictures of buildings and artworks on Instagram. It is indeed correct that there are legal restrictions when it comes to publishing images that are not your own. Especially with buildings and artworks, there are specific regulations to follow in order to avoid copyright infringement.
In general, buildings and artworks are considered to be protected by copyright. This means that the authors of the works have the sole right to decide on the use of their works. So if you want to publish pictures of buildings or artworks on Instagram that are not your own, you should generally seek permission from the authors.
To legally post pictures of buildings or artworks that are not yours, there are various options. One option is to obtain a license or permission from the author or rights holder of the work. This can be done in the form of a licensing agreement, which specifies the use of the image and the associated conditions.
Another option is to use "Creative Commons" licenses. These licenses allow authors to release their works for use under certain conditions. There are different types of Creative Commons licenses, each specifying different usage rights and conditions. You can use images under such a license without violating copyright.
However, it is important to note that not all pictures of buildings or artworks are automatically under a Creative Commons license. Therefore, it is advisable to check the licensing conditions before publishing such images and ensure that you have the necessary rights to use the image.
In summary, there are various legal provisions and restrictions when it comes to posting pictures of buildings or artworks on Instagram. To avoid copyright infringement, it is advisable to obtain permission from the authors or use images under a Creative Commons license. This way, you can ensure that you legally publish images on Instagram.
I hope this information has been helpful to you and I am happy to assist with any further questions.
Best regards,
Verena Friedendahl
