Awareness Of Web Copyright Laws Will Keep You Out Of Trouble

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It used to be so easy to go around grabbing images, music, movies etc, from the internet. It was no big deal. Everyone was doing it. Alas, those times have changed. Lately I keep hearing about people getting in trouble for copyright infringement, including a couple of close friends.

Some people had images on their website that they'd snagged from another site. Another close friend was downloading and uploading movies. Other times it's as innocent as a client using a design I created before I had a chance to replace the watermarked placeholder image. (Not that I've let them keep it there long enough to get in trouble.)

When requesting graphics or web design from your favorite designer, you need to be aware that the designer will often use placeholder images from a stock art company. This image looks exactly the same as the final image will look, except there is a watermark indicating that it's just a placeholder. It may also be a lower quality image. Once you approve the image and the design, the designer will purchase the image and replace it in the design.

Designers do this because there's no point in paying for an image that the client won't like or approve.

Many digital image publishers are using specialized search services to find unlicensed copies of their copyrighted material. They can find their images even on rarely used websites. It is no longer practical to depend on flying under the radar. No one has to actually look at your website, for you to get a strongly worded letter from a lawyer.

The law is painfully clear on this subject: unless you created it, or have a license, somebody else owns it. If you use somebody else's image or text without permission, you owe them $150,000 if they decide to take you to court. Generally, they will simply demand some arbitrary sum as an out of court settlement.

The fines I've heard of range from $500 to $3000 to settle out of court, which is the only practical way to deal with the situation. Copyright attorneys say that there is no precedent for winning these copyright cases, and the penalties and court costs are quite steep.

Another consideration on internet freebies: many free downloads, whether software, fonts, or other items often have viruses. Not worth it to save few bucks, only to end up with serious computer problems.

The moral of the story? Be aware, be careful.


About the Author:
c 2009 Emilie Nottle. As web designer and online strategist at Zooop Design, Emilie helps entrepreneurs to establish an effective and profitable web presence. If you're ready to get the most mileage from your website and online marketing, sign up for her free monthly eZine, and receive the free eBooklet, "Three Surefire Ways to Increase Targeted Traffic to Your Website."



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