What Every Business Owner Should Know About Image and Video Copyright Laws

Unless you’ve intentionally researched and understood the policies around sharing images and videos on your social media and website, you’ve probably broken some copyright laws. It may sound dramatic, but the truth is that, as a business owner, you have a responsibility to make sure that your media is fairly sourced. 

If you’re unsure where to get your media and how to follow copyright laws, this post is for you! We’ll go over the dos and don’ts to obtaining media to feel confident that what you’re doing is legal. 

 #1 The Best Way to Get Images and Videos Without Worrying about Copyrights: Hire a Professional

Pros: 

If you want a fool-proof and high-value way to get media for your business, the best option is to create your own content or hire a professional. 

By hiring a local photographer or videographer, you can sleep easy not only knowing that your content is developed by someone who’s going to be directly compensated for their work, but you’ll also get the best content!

Bringing in an expert to capture your brand and promote your business is a powerful way to get noticed and make a unique impression on your audience. No business is just like yours. When you get custom media, you’re able to showcase your company’s unique attributes.

Think about it this way; if you were your business, ripping images off a quick google search to represent who you are would be like using a celebrity look-a-like for your profile picture. It’s cheesy and doesn’t accurately represent your actual appearance or showcase what makes you unique. The same is true for your business; internet pictures and videos don’t do you justice.

Cons:

Hiring a professional can be quite an investment and may be out of reach for some business owners. Although we see this as a worthwhile investment, there are other options to get you by until you’re ready to take the next step.

#2 A Better Way to Get Images and Videos: Paid Stock Image and Video Sites

Pros:

If an in-house or independent photographer/ videographer is out of budget, you can safely obtain images and videos through paid stock image and video sites like Adobe Stock, Canva, and Alamy. Sites like these provide a variety of media that they source directly, or find in the public domain. By using a third-party, you gain access to a variety of media without paying an outrageous fee or breaking copyright law. It’s really a win, win.

Cons: 

When you use stock images, you run the risk of looking generic. In order to make sure that you’re representing your business the best way you can, be sure to search through images thoroughly and try to stay on-brand. Run everything through the filter of “Does this look like something I want to represent my business?” If not, move along. 

Make sure that you read the stock image legal policies carefully before you start using their images. Sometimes you’ll discover interesting challenges in the fine print. For example, Canva offers all rights to their stock images for paid subscribers, but does not allow their users to incorporate media as part of a Trademark or Logo.

#3 A Good Way to Get Images & Videos: Royalty-Free Sites 

Pros: 

If you’re looking to get images fast and free, there are some sites that give you access to free stock images. Royalty-free sites like Unsplash offer you a variety of images for free! Sites like this have done the dirty work of finding images from the public domain, and sometimes pay for access to media to share with their subscribers. 

If you need something quick, and you’re not too concerned about finding unique images, this is definitely an option for you! You can find images, and skip the worries about copyrights. 

Cons: 

Unfortunately, you’re probably not the only business owner out there looking for free images. Sites like this gain much traffic, and their images are spread throughout the web. If you want to avoid looking generic or commercial, we recommend spending a little more going with a paid stock-image site or hiring a professional. 

Additionally, sites like this will subject you to much more advertisements and pop-ups. After all, they’re going to make their money somehow.

And that’s it! Here are three ways to start finding images and video content for your business while following copyright laws. If you’re still confused or wondering if you’re doing the legal thing regarding your marketing images and videos, don’t be shy! Please contact us and set up a free discovery call to get your questions answered.

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