THE DEFAULT
No symbol, still protected
The IPO says a © symbol does not have to be present for copyright to exist, and most images online are likely to be protected.
Read a licenceStart
WHAT THE GUIDANCE SAYS
Found it online?
Check the licence.
A picture on a screen is not a picture for the taking.
The UK Intellectual Property Office says the vast majority of images online are likely to be protected by copyright. The safe routes are a licence, a permitted use or an expired copyright, and Creative Commons labels make the first one easier to read.
© OR CCcheck before you use
Read a licenceKeep in mind
- No © does not mean free
- Read the licence letters
- Credit title, author, source
- Permission first, then publish
THE SHORT ANSWER
Assume copyright,
look for permission.
Three points from UK Intellectual Property Office guidance
on using images from the web.
IN PUBLIC
Buildings and sculptures
You do not need permission to photograph buildings and sculptures on public display. Posters and murals are treated more carefully.
Four checks
OLD PHOTOS
Life plus 70 years
In the UK, copyright in images generally lasts for the creator's life plus 70 years, though it depends on when the image was made.
See the numbersA QUICK LICENCE CHECK
What do the
letters allow?
Pick the Creative Commons label on a photo to see what it lets you do. The bar shows how many conditions come with it.
Based on Creative Commons' own descriptions of its licences. Always read the full licence for the photo you want to use. This is general information, not legal advice.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
How long it lasts,
how many ways to share.
One figure from UK copyright guidance,
one from Creative Commons.
70 years
Copyright in an image, after the creator's death
The IPO says copyright in images generally lasts for the creator's life plus 70 years from the end of the year they died, so images under 70 years old are still in copyright.
UK DURATION · IPO
6 + CC0
Types of Creative Commons licence
Creative Commons offers six licence types, all requiring credit, plus the CC0 tool for creators who want to give their work to the public domain.
LICENCES · CREATIVE COMMONS
The IPO adds that a retouched digital copy of an old image is unlikely to create a new copyright, though it says there is some uncertainty.
FOUR CHECKS BEFORE YOU POST
Permission first,
then publish.
These follow the routes the IPO describes for using an image safely: a licence, the site's own terms, an expired copyright or a permitted use.
Step 1
Find who owns it
The person who takes a photo is generally the first owner, but an employer usually owns photos taken as part of a job.
Step 2
Read the licence terms
A picture library licence or a Creative Commons licence sets out exactly what you may do. Some CC licences are non-commercial only.
Step 3
Ask friends and family too
The IPO says photos sent by a friend or relative should be treated like any other image: you would usually need to ask.
Step 4
Credit it properly
Creative Commons recommends TASL: the title, the author, the source with a link, and the licence.
LINKS AND COPIES
Linking is not
the same as copying.
The IPO says sharing a simple link to an image that the owner has posted publicly is usually not restricted by copyright. Copying the image and hosting it on another site, however, will usually be an infringement.
Metadata embedded in a photo can name its owner, and the IPO says deliberately removing it is unlawful. If an owner cannot be found after a diligent search, the IPO runs an orphan works licensing scheme.
Questions
Questions on the way
If a photo has no © symbol, can I use it?
Not necessarily. The UK Intellectual Property Office says the copyright symbol does not have to be present for copyright to exist, and most images on the internet are likely to be protected.
Can I photograph a statue in a park and use the picture?
The IPO says you do not need permission to photograph buildings, sculptures and similar works on public display in public spaces, and your photo has full copyright protection. Posters and murals need more care.
What does CC BY-NC mean?
It lets you share and adapt the work with credit to the creator, but only for non-commercial purposes, which Creative Commons defines as not primarily intended for commercial advantage or monetary compensation.
How should I credit a Creative Commons photo?
Creative Commons recommends including the title, author, source and licence, remembered as TASL, with links to the source and the licence where you can.
Who owns my wedding photos?
The IPO says copyright in commissioned photos usually stays with the photographer, so you need their permission for further copies or posting, unless your contract says otherwise.
Destination