Visuals are excellent sources of grabbing attention, conveying the message effectively, and driving desired actions from viewers. Due to their increasing prominence, images are widely used for marketing purposes. From emails and blogs to social media posts, pictures are everywhere.
However, every image you encounter online is not free to use. Wondering why? This is because photographers and visual creators register their work with copyright agencies to get ownership of their pictures. Due to this protection, unauthorized use of images is highly prohibited.
This is where image licensing comes into play. It serves as a deal between the user and the image owner to use pictures fairly. In this article, we will look at the importance of licensing images and tell you the efficient ways to find pictures and use them ethically.
That’s why continue reading this article, and don’t miss out on anything. Ready to dive in? Let’s roll.
Why Image Licensing Is Crucial?
Image licensing is essential due to the dire consequences associated with its violation. Here are what you may face if you use unlicensed images.
- Copyright Strike
As mentioned earlier, copyright holders have the right to decide who can use their images. If they find you using their pictures illegally, they can file a copyright strike against you. They may also take DCMA takedowns or manually report to the respective services provider to take strict action against you. In this situation, you are asked to instantly remove copyrighted images from your online profiles.
- Financial Penalties
Another worst consequence of using unlicensed images is facing a financial penalty. This situation usually occurs when you are frequently caught making unlawful use of pictures. In this case, the copyright holder may ask authorities to subject heavy fines to you. Bearing such hefty penalties can lead to significant financial loss that might be hard to pay for you.
- Credibility Loss
Along with legal implications, credibility loss is another major outcome of the unauthorized use of images. When your followers find your visuals stolen from others, they start losing their faith in you. This gradually weakens your relationship with the audience and lowers the engagement rate. As a result, your brand’s overall image gets harmed, which leads to decreased conversions.
Ways To Find Desired Images
When it comes to finding pictures on the internet, you have three most efficient options: perform textual searches, search by image, and explore stock platforms. Here are further details about them.
- Reverse Image search
Reverse picture search is a powerful technique that allows you to browse the internet with the help of images. It could prove highly effective in obtaining desired visuals, especially when you need to search for other versions of a reference picture.
To perform a photo search, you just have to access an efficient reverse image search tool and upload the sample image there. This proficient tool assesses the input image deeply and instantly finds all the similar pictures to show them to you. By reviewing the results, you can easily get the images you want.
- Text-Based Search
Although text-based searches are helpful to discover wanted images, they don’t always prove fruitful. This is because irrelevant or inappropriate keywords may show you the images you don’t want to see. That’s why, input the most relevant words and phrases that best align with your purpose.
For further convenience, you can narrow down your search using advanced search filters like location, date, color, format, size, etc. You can also experiment with Google search operators to find images with specific phrases. This practice helps you find the exact visuals you were intending to find. Again, don’t use any image from the results unless you follow the legal considerations.
- Stock Image Platforms
Stock image platforms are great resources for high-quality pictures. These web assets have been specially created to help marketers, content creators, and individuals obtain the images they need. You can easily search these platforms by entering the right keywords.
You can also find images by visual search on some popular stock platforms. One thing you should keep in mind while exploring these websites is that the images present on them are not all free. The paid pictures require you to buy a license.
Legal Considerations To Use Images
No matter by which methods you find the required images, before using them, you must take the below considerations into account.
- Check The Status of The Image’s License
After you get the desired pictures, don’t forget to check the status of their licenses before using them anywhere. Determine whether the picture is under a common or commercial license. If the picture has a common license, it means you can use it freely on your platforms. However, if the image has a commercial license, you must buy it before using the picture.
- Ask Permission From The Original Creator
Sometimes, the licensing terms of a picture you find are unclear. In such situations, don’t rush to utilize the picture blindly. Instead, contact the image’s original owner and ask for permission. When requesting authorization for pictures, you must mention the purpose for which you want to use them. This keeps you safe from facing any legal implications.
- Credit The Image Owner Properly
Another ethical practice you should follow while using an image is to credit the owner. For this purpose, you can mention the copyright holder’s name in metadata, post description, or site content. This practice shows your respect for the time and effort invested by the creator in creating unique content. It also falls under the honest use of visuals.
To Sum Up
After reading this article, we hope you are clear about the significance of image licensing and ethical considerations regarding picture usage. We hope that you will be honest in the use of online images and keep your brand protected from legal implications.