Am I allowed to publish photos from others on my website?
June 4, 2022 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Isabel Tressel
Dear Media Law Attorney,
My name is Andreas Heck and I run a website where I regularly report on various topics. Lately, I have been consistently publishing photos from other websites or social media on my website to make my posts visually appealing. However, I am now concerned about whether this is legally permissible.
My situation is as follows: I am not a professional photographer and therefore do not have my own photos to use for my website. Instead, I use photos that I find on the internet and that I believe fit well with my posts. However, I am unsure if I have the right to simply use these photos without obtaining permission from the original creator.
My worry is that I may be violating copyright law by continuing to publish others' photos on my website. I do not want to risk any legal consequences, so I would like to know if there is a way to legally use photos from other websites or social media. Is there a specific type of image usage that is allowed without needing the creator's permission?
I would be very grateful if you could assist me with this and provide me with possible solutions. It is important to me to continue making my website professional and appealing, but at the same time, I want to ensure that I am legally compliant.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Andreas Heck
Dear Mr. Heck,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the use of foreign photos on your website. Copyright is indeed a very important issue, and it is understandable that you are concerned about avoiding legal consequences.
In general, every photo you find on the internet is automatically protected by copyright. This means that the creator has the sole right to decide on the use of their work. Without their permission, you cannot simply publish the photo on your website. Otherwise, you would be violating copyright law.
However, there are some exceptions that allow you to use foreign photos legally. One option is to use royalty-free images, which are often offered for free or for a small fee on various platforms on the internet. These images can be freely used as long as you comply with the provider's terms of use.
Another option is to use Creative Commons-licensed images. These images can be used for free under certain conditions, such as attributing the creator or non-commercial use. It is important to read the specific license carefully and ensure that you comply with the terms.
Another option is to contact the creator and obtain their permission to use the photo. Often, photographers or image agencies are willing to provide their images for a licensing fee or under certain conditions.
It is important, however, to make sure that you do not simply copy photos from other websites or social media and publish them on your website without obtaining the creator's permission. If you are unsure whether you can use a photo, it is advisable to err on the side of caution and either use royalty-free images or obtain the creator's permission.
I hope this information helps you and provides guidance on how to legally handle the use of photos on your website. If you have any further questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Isabel Tressel
Media Law Attorney
