Can I use images from the internet for my website?
February 22, 2024 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Christiane Melzer
Dear Internet and Computer Law Attorney,
I operate a website for my small online business and have been using images from the internet to showcase my products and services. Now I have heard that this could have legal consequences, as some images are protected by copyright. I am now very concerned that I may be violating the law and I wonder if I can continue to use the images or if I should remove them and use royalty-free images instead.
The images I have been using so far have been sourced from various places such as Google Images, Pinterest, and other websites. I simply downloaded them and uploaded them to my site without considering whether I had the right to do so. I now worry that I may be infringing copyright and could be subject to a cease and desist letter.
Could you please advise me on whether I can continue to use the images on my website or if I should remove them and replace them with royalty-free images? I do not want to break the law and want to continue operating my online business legally. Is there perhaps a way to use the images without risking legal problems? I would greatly appreciate your expertise and advice on this matter.
Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Christiane Stricker
Dear Mrs. Stricker,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the use of images on your website for your online business. It is very important to be aware of the legal consequences associated with using images from the internet, as this can indeed lead to copyright infringement.
In most cases, images published on the internet are protected by copyright. This means that the creator of the image has the right to decide how their work is used. Therefore, if you download images from other websites and use them on your own site without obtaining the necessary rights, this can lead to legal issues.
It is advisable to only use images for which you have the appropriate usage rights. This includes images you have created yourself, images for which you have purchased a license, or images that are under a Creative Commons license or similar that allow for specific purposes.
In your specific case, I strongly recommend that you review the images you have used so far and remove them if you do not have explicit permission to use them. Instead, you should use royalty-free images that you can legally use without infringing copyright.
There are various platforms on the internet where you can find royalty-free images, such as Pixabay, Unsplash, or Pexels. There, you can download and use images for commercial purposes for free, without having to worry about potential copyright infringement.
It is important that you take the legal aspects of using images on your website seriously to avoid legal issues. If you are unsure about whether you are allowed to use a particular image, I recommend seeking legal advice to be on the safe side.
I hope this information helps you and supports you in operating your online business legally. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best regards,
Christiane Melzer
Attorney specializing in Internet and Computer Law
