That perfect photo you found on Google Images for your latest blog post? It might turn out to be quite an expensive mistake.

PicRights, a company that monitors copyright infringement on behalf of photographers and news agencies such as Reuters, recently fined BAFTS just over £200 for using copyrighted images on one of our blogs without permission. What we at first thought was a scam, turned out to be a growing business model that’s catching bloggers, small businesses and website owners off guard.

So, learn from our mistakes and don’t assume that if an image appears in Google search results, it’s free to use. In fact, every photograph, illustration, and graphic is automatically protected by copyright the moment it’s created.

Copyright enforcement companies like PicRights use sophisticated image recognition technology to scan millions of websites, identifying unauthorised use of their clients’ images. When they find a match, they send demand letters – often for hundreds of pounds per image.

Pleading ignorance of copyright law won’t wash with them. Courts consistently rule that website owners are responsible for ensuring they have proper licensing for all images they use, regardless of where they found them. Removing the images immediately after we received the first Picrights email didn’t do anything to help our cause either. They were very persistent and intransigent.

Safe Alternatives

• Free stock photo sites: Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay offer high-quality images under Creative Commons licenses
• Using Canva: if you have the free version, you will have to pay to use non-free images. If you have the paid version, use of all images is included and no copyright issues should be encountered
• Using AI to generate images: images you generate belong to you
• Affordable stock subscriptions: Services like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock provide licensed images for a few pounds each
• Create your own: Original photography and graphics eliminate all copyright concerns

Best Practice

Before using any image, ask yourself:

• Do I have written permission from the copyright owner?
• Is the image clearly marked as public domain or Creative Commons?
• Did I purchase a license from a reputable stock photo site?
• Can I prove my right to use this image?

If you can’t answer “yes” to at least one of these questions, find a different image.

The Bottom Line

As fair trade businesses, I don’t think any of us would knowingly infringe copyright, but we can all make mistakes. Respecting copyright is about both following the law and also protecting your business from unwanted financial consequences. So, don’t let a £200+ fine be your introduction to copyright law – do everything you can to keep your blog looking good while being legally compliant.