How an online copywriting course can steer you away from legal dangers

Content writers are sometimes required to provide images to go with their copy. But a good online copywriting course will spell out the legal dangers, especially with copyright.

The simple rule is: never publish an image that doesn’t belong to you to illustrate promotional content, press releases, SEO articles or features.

If you do, you could be landed with an expensive copyright fee.

Most images agencies like Getty and Shutterstock use trackers that locate illegal use of their images and then send a legal letter to the publisher.

Getty were one of the first agencies to bring a case like this.

Back in 2010 they sued a London removal firm for using their copyright image on its website.

They claimed the usual commercial fee, plus costs, and compensation for the ‘insidious damage’ caused by the alleged misuse.

The ‘insidious damage’ claim was unusual at the time, but set a pattern that other businesses have followed. They claimed that misuse of the images affected their general commercial performance.

Since then, other image owners have received damages for ‘flagrant breaches’ based on the trade they may have lost because of the illegal publication. The penalties can run into thousands of pounds.

The safest option is to use a free image from a site by Pixabay. But make sure you follow the license conditions.

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