Can I Use Images Found on the Internet?

Last updated: 14 January 2009
Published in: Finding and using digital media
Tags: copyright | finding images

Comments (0)

Summary

Answers to some frequently asked questions about using images downloaded from the web.

I have found an image on the web that lends itself to a page on our intranet, are we allowed to use it?

Not unless you have explicit permission from the creator of the image. In some cases, a rights statement alongside the image will tell you how you can use it. If it’s not clear, you need to find out by contacting the image creator, the copyright owner or the website owner.

We were unable to trace an image’s creator, are we able to use the image before permission has been granted?

If possible try to find an alternative image, for which you can obtain permission. Otherwise, if you have made every effort to trace the copyright holder and have no alternative but to use the image without permission, you should record all your attempts to locate the owner in a ‘copyright diligence’ file. You should also state alongside the image that you have made every effort to contact the owner, and invite them to come forward. Note that this method should not be used as an alternative to actual permission and you should always seek legal advice if in any doubt.

The images we have downloaded from the web are very low quality, can we improve them?

It’s usually difficult to make much improvement if the copy you have is poor quality. However, you can always ask the creator of the image if they can provide a higher quality version.

How do I copy images from a website?

Depending on the operating system you use and the type of mouse you have, you can usually right-click the image and select the option to download or save the image. If you are using a Mac and have an older mouse or one which is not set up with right-clicking enabled, you should be able to hold the control key down and click. Some web images are protected and the copy function will be disabled.

Is there anywhere on the web I can find better quality images?

There are hundreds if not thousands of websites and picture libraries giving online access to billions of images. Some of the larger commercial companies are very expensive, while others offer free-to-use or extremely cheap images. Links to some of these and more information can be found in our advice documents: Finding Video, Audio and Images Online and Finding Subject-Specific Digital Media Resources. See also our free-to-use online tutorial: Internet for Image Searching.

Last updated: 14 January 2009
Published in: Finding and using digital media
Tags: copyright | finding images

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Comments (0)