Whether it’s engaging infographics or informational videos, an important feature of any website is using visual content.

Not only do they add a personal touch to your website but images are notoriously easier to read than your bog standard text. With 65% of the population describing themselves as visual learners, it makes sense to use images and visual media to represent your business.

However, many businesses run into problems when they use images that aren’t properly licensed to them.

Copyright Laws and Penalties

There are number of copyright laws you must know before adding images to your website. Copyright laws can also help to protect any of your own content should another person or business take credit for your images, video or written content.

Copyright is a designation given to creative works that you publish into the world in a “fixed form”, meaning the minute you upload a blog or post a photo on Instagram you are protected.

Copyright covers a number of areas including literary works i.e. books, poetry and articles, performing arts such as music and lyrics, visual arts i.e. artwork, jewellery, photos and digital content such as websites and blogs.

If you find that somebody has taken your content without getting the rights from you first, you should go to the Trading Standards Agency, who are responsible for enforcing the copyright laws.

As a business who has taken the content without having the correct rights, you are liable for a fine of up to £50,000 and a custodial sentence of up to 10 years. Therefore, you don’t want to make the mistake of using images or content that do not belong to you for the sake of your business reputation and employees.

When designing and building websites, Ghost IT Solutions Essex make sure all of our chosen images are from reputable, commercial imaging websites. That means we can the correct license for using the images we have chosen.

Not only can we design a website for your business, but we’re also one of leading business for Web Hosting Essex, meaning we can manage and monitor your site at an affordable cost.

To contact the IT experts at Ghost IT Support Essex, get in touch with us on 01708 390370 or email sales@ghostservices.co.uk