Just because photos are on the Internet and easy to download or use is not an excuse to infringe the photographer’s rights.
Francis Vachon, a Canadian photographer outlines 10 bogus excuses that people use when they steal a photo from the Internet. This instructive and straightforward list is a good reality check. For example, you can’t use a photograph or image without permission just because it is free on the internet or because 10 million others are using it.
The topic must resonate with other photographers, professional or amateur, as this post also appeared in the Guardian, November 2013.
Copyright at Langara has an Image Resources Guide with links to images we license or that are covered under creative commons type agreements. If in doubt or you need permission to use an image, contact us at copyright@langara.bc.ca.
