Can I Use Images Without Copyright?

When using images online, it’s important to know if they are copyright protected. This is because it can be a serious legal issue to use an image without permission or a license.

There are some ways to avoid this, such as finding public domain images or CC-licensed images that require attribution.

Free images

As any entrepreneur will tell you, finding images that aren’t copyrighted can be a challenge. There are millions of images available on the Internet, but figuring out where to source them and how to use them legally can be tricky.

Fortunately, there are many ways to find free images without breaking any copyright laws. These sources include searchable image sites, tools that let you create your own image, and more!

There are also a few ways to source non-copyrighted images, including public domain, Creative Commons (CC) licenses, and even royalty free images. Regardless of the license you choose, always read up on its terms before using an image to make sure you’re in compliance with the law.

A great place to start is MorgueFile, which has a wide range of categories and thousands of high-quality, unique license-free photos that you can download for free. If you’re looking for a specific kind of picture, the site makes it easy to narrow down your search with filters like color, orientation, and style.

You can also check the website’s copyright policy before downloading an image. Some sites require attribution to the original artist or prohibit any changes to the photo.

Burst, an online stock photo platform for entrepreneurs by Shopify, has a huge library of over 2 million photos with new ones being added all the time. They have an intuitive search bar that allows you to find photos by theme and niche, so it’s a great place to go for high-quality photos that are relevant to your business.

Pexels is another great resource for royalty free photos. They offer thousands of high-resolution, searchable photos that are licensed under CC0 with new images added every month. The only downside is that signing up is fairly lengthy, but once you’re in the know, it’s a great resource for finding images quickly and easily.

AP Images doesn’t have the most user-friendly search, but they do have a huge library of images to choose from. You’ll need to fill out a pretty detailed sign up form in order to view pricing and download images, but it’s worth it once you get used to the process.

Creative Commons

Creative Commons is a free, easy-to-use system that allows you to share creative works with others under flexible and legally sound licenses. CC licenses can be applied to any type of work, from music to photographs and educational resources to government information and much more.

There are a few key things to keep in mind when using Creative Commons materials. The most important is that attribution must be given, as per the terms of the license. This attribution can be done through an online form or through the image itself. It’s also a good idea to make sure that you are crediting the author of the original photo and the website or source of the Creative Commons material you use.

If you don’t have the time or resource to manually check the Creative Commons licensing for each image, you can use a search tool such as Compfight to do this for you. This can filter out professional stock photos and only return images with a Creative Commons license.

Another great way to find Creative Commons images is through Flickr (an online photo sharing service). This allows you to filter your search by the type of license you’re looking for. This can be a huge time saver when you are searching for particular colors or images that you have in mind.

In addition to Flickr, you can use a variety of other services and tools to help you locate Creative Commons material. One of the best is Multicolr Search Lab, which will show you only Creative Commons-licensed images. This can be a great tool for matching colors, and it’s also a great way to discover new images.

Attribution is the main way to make sure that you’re not infringing copyright laws, but it isn’t always necessary. Some CC images have a public domain license, and you can use these without giving credit.

You may also want to consider using images that are licensed under fair dealing, which is a way of legally allowing you to use an image for non-profit or educational purposes without having to seek permission from the copyright owner. However, if you’re planning to do this, it is a good idea to check with your legal adviser first, as this is something that should be done with each individual case.

Public Domain

Many works of art, photography, music and more are available for use without copyright. These are known as public domain images, and they’re a great way to add something unique to your blog posts, graphics or printed materials.

These public domain images can be used in any manner, including alterations and adaptations of the work, so long as you give the original author credit. If you’re using an image in a commercial context, you need to be sure to check the license to determine what kind of permissions are required.

Pixabay has more than two million royalty-free images and offers a range of filters that make it easier to find the perfect picture for your project. You can also search by color, orientation and copy space, so you can be sure to get exactly what you need.

Unsplash has a similar CC0 license, meaning you can use their photos freely for both personal and commercial projects. They also have an Explore feature to help you find the most popular images, as well as Editor’s Choice pages and curated collections (e.g., wild animals, people from around the world, celebrating women).

Another excellent resource for finding free public domain images is The Commons. Their ethos is to “share hidden treasures from the world’s public photography archives” and they have dozens of orginisations contributing to their collection, including museums, libraries and other cultural institutions.

As a bonus, they have an excellent Premium Download option for larger images, which is a good alternative to paying for stock photos. Their image database is constantly updated, and you can always subscribe to their newsletter for new curated photo packs.

The Public Domain Review is a curated selection of historical images, illustrations and artwork that are in the public domain. You can browse the site for inspiration or join their Curator’s Choice group to receive a monthly guest post featuring a different public domain image each month.

The National Gallery of Art has been digitizing its collection and making it accessible to the public since 2008. This collection includes 45,000+ open access digital images that are available for free to download, use, and share with credit given to the institution. In addition to their digital repository, the National Gallery of Art website also features a standards-based reproduction guide and help section.

Attribution

When you use images, it’s important to credit the creator. This is called attribution, and it’s a moral right outside of copyright law. If you don’t do it, you could find yourself in legal trouble.

Image attribution is a crucial part of avoiding copyright infringement. This is especially true for images that have a Creative Commons license – you’ll need to credit the original author, and provide a link back to their website if required by the CC license.

Attribution can be confusing, and it’s easy to forget that images are subject to copyright laws in most countries around the world. You may be tempted to simply host or link to an image without attribution, but this is actually copyright infringement, and you can be sued for damages.

There are several factors that affect your attribution, and each has different consequences for you and your project. For example, if you use an image for an academic project, it’s important to follow the rules of fair use.

Another factor is if you’re using an image for business purposes. For instance, if someone sees your business’s ads online, they may decide to visit the store. Attribution can help you determine which ad or campaign caused the customer to make this purchase.

Similarly, when you use an image for a blog post or presentation, it’s critical to give credit to the photographer. Attribution is a key part of the image’s licensing terms, and it’s often a requirement for payment.

For most images, attribution is easy to do. For example, you might want to follow the TASL method for attribution (Title, Author, Source, License). You can also add in a link to the creator’s website. This way, you’ll ensure that the attribution is fully visible and accurate.