Naperville Business Lawyer Discusses the Use of Images on Your Company’s Website

images, Naperville business lawyerIn today’s competitive business landscape, it is important for business owners to utilize every available avenue for reaching potential customers and clients. Print advertising campaigns, television ads, and radio spots are all good examples of how some businesses market themselves, but not every company can afford to spend a great deal on aggressive advertising. Having a professional and informative company website, however, is a different story.

As a business law attorney and a business owner, I recognize that every business needs to be online. At the very least, your current and prospective customers should be able to use the internet to learn how to contact your company, as well as to learn about the products and services that you offer. As a visual medium, a website will include a variety of photos and other images along with the company’s vital information. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for business owners to run into problems for misusing online images.

Stock Images

If you are working with a website designer or an online marketing service, your service contract probably contains language regarding your website’s images. If you are building the site on your own, you will need to be aware of how the licensing process works for stock images. Stock images refer to photographs, illustrations, and other visual creations that are made available for use either by the creator or through a stock image service like iPhoto, Fotolia, or Shutterstock.

Some stock images are available to be licensed for free, but most such services make image licenses available for purchase—either on a per-image basis or a monthly subscription basis. The terms of the licensing agreement can be complex and, in some cases, more limiting than you might realize, so it is important to read the fine print before spending the money for stock images.

Do Not Just Copy and Paste

While you might realize that buying stock image licenses is the best way to go, you may be wondering why you cannot just download an image from someone else’s site and use it on your own. After all, it only takes a few clicks to save a photo and upload it on your company’s site.

The problem is that using images for which you do not have a license could result in legal action being taken against you and your business. Over the last few years, I have had several clients come to me saying that they received letters from law firms regarding copyright infringement related to images on their websites. Advances in image-recognition technology have made it easier for artists and stock photo companies to find license violations, and the cost of getting caught is quite high.

A DuPage County Business Lawyer Can Help

If you have questions about using photos or images on your company’s website, contact an experienced Naperville business law attorney for answers. We will help you avoid unnecessary risks and ensure that your company is fully protected. Call 630-756-1160 for a confidential consultation today.

Sources:

Entrepreneur

Medium

Practice Areas

Archive

+2018

+2017

+2016

+2015

Please note: These blogs have been created over a period of time and laws and information can change. For the most current information on a topic you are interested in please seek proper legal counsel.

Blog Sign Up

 

Like what you see?

Follow us to stay current!

Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Youtube
search

630-756-1160

CONTACT US

Fields marked with a * are required
 
 
 
Napervile-attorne-disclaimer
The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.
 
 

Providing You With

Peace of Mind
Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Youtube BBB
From our offices in Naperville, Illinois, we handle matters throughout Illinois including DuPage, Cook, Will, and Kane counties and within towns such as Addison, Aurora, Barrington, Batavia, Burr Ridge, Carol Stream, Chicago, Darien, Downers Grove, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Geneva, Hinsdale, Hoffman Estates, Lisle, Lombard, Naperville, Oak Brook, Roselle, Schaumburg, St. Charles, Warrenville, Wheaton, and Winfield.
association and logos
© 2024 Gierach Law Firm | 
1776 Legacy Circle, Suite 104, Naperville, IL 60563 | 
630-756-1160
OVC INC
Back to Top