The internet makes it easy to use someone else’s work. But is that actually allowed? What is and is not allowed with text, photos and films on the internet?
Using someone else’s work
Do you ever post a video that friends have made on your Facebook account? Or do you copy a photo from the internet to make a text more beautiful? That shouldn’t be easy. Some things are laid down in copyright law and those rules also apply to the internet. It will also be Copyright © called.
What is copyright?
When someone makes something new, for example a film, photo or text, they automatically have copyright on it. This way the work is protected. Others may not reuse or publish it without permission from the creator. This also allows someone to earn a living with it. Only the maker decides what happens to his/her work.
What is allowed and what is not?
Where is the dividing line between using it and not using it?
This use is allowed:
- A photo, movie, or text that you own the rights to (you are the creator, bought rights, or obtained permission from the creator).
- Material that is royalty-free.
- A quote from a text.
This is not allowed:
- Download images, videos and music from the Internet without permission.
- Posting photos of someone else on the internet and social media without permission.
Where can I find royalty-free photos?
It can be quite difficult to find out if something is royalty-free. Most photos on the internet are not royalty-free and cannot be used freely. It is therefore good to be careful. If something is not royalty-free, this requires a lot of arranging with the maker. This is only useful if you really want something and are willing to pay for it. There are sites to download free images.
We list a few for you:
Want to read more about free images on the internet? Also read our tip ‘Free pictures on the internet’.