Copyright Images in Website Design
Small businesses in the UK are being warned to check their website design images in order to avoid costly copyright claims. Many firms use web design agencies to source pictures for their sites, but not all of them have secured permission to use the images and this is leading to a rising number of copyright complaints. Although a design firm may have chosen and uploaded the images, the small business can still be held liable for copyright infringement. Large photo businesses like Getty Images are now pursuing website owners who do not have appropriate clearance to use their pictures.
A number of small firms have already received letters demanding payment for images they didn't know they had to pay for. The digital age has certainly blurred the boundaries of image copyright in many people's minds, and some business owners mistakenly believe that any image available on the internet can be reused without permission.