Can I use images from the internet for my website?
July 29, 2023 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Alice Falk
Dear Sir or Madam,
I run a small website for my art and would like to use pictures from the internet to showcase my products. However, I am unsure if this is legally allowed and if I may be committing copyright infringements. I definitely do not want to get into legal trouble.
Currently, I have downloaded some pictures from other websites and published them on my site, as I really like them and they fit well with my product. But the more I think about it, the more concerned I am that these pictures may be legally protected and that I do not have permission to use them.
Therefore, my question is whether it is allowed to use pictures from the internet for my website and how I can ensure that I do not commit any copyright infringements. Are there possibly free or affordable sources of images that I can use to be on the safe side? Or are there specific rules or guidelines that I should follow if I want to use pictures from the internet?
I look forward to your professional advice and thank you in advance for your help.
Kind regards,
Christine Schulz
Dear Mrs. Schulz,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding copyright law in relation to using images from the internet for your website. It is understandable that you are concerned about potentially infringing on copyright and how you can ensure that you are on the safe side.
First and foremost, it is important to know that all images published on the internet are generally protected by copyright. This means that you are not allowed to download and use images on your website without the permission of the creator or rights holder. If you do so, you are committing a copyright infringement that can have legal consequences.
To ensure that you are not using protected images, I recommend either using free image sources that explicitly offer licensing agreements allowing for commercial use, or purchasing images from paid stock photo providers. These providers offer a variety of high-quality images for which you can acquire the appropriate usage rights.
Some well-known free image sources include Pixabay, Unsplash, or Pexels. These platforms offer a wide selection of images that have been published under various licenses, including Creative Commons licenses that allow for commercial use.
If you want to use images from the internet, make sure to carefully read and understand the licensing agreements to ensure that you are using the images legally. Also, be sure to properly attribute the creators of the images if required by the licensing agreements.
It is advisable to educate yourself on copyright laws before using images from the internet and, if in doubt, opt for free or paid image sources to avoid legal issues.
I hope this information is helpful to you and I am available for any further questions.
Best regards,
Alice Falk
