You went online and found a clever image, video or copyrighted text that works perfectly with your business’s new marketing campaign. Can you simply copy and paste it onto your website, social media page, blog, etc. without permission?
The answer is…it depends.
In some cases, one’s use of the intellectual property of others may be acceptable under a doctrine called “fair use.” In many cases, however, especially when the purpose of the use is for the user to generate revenue, “fair use” does not apply. Thus, the user must obtain permission from the image’s owner prior to its use. And this applies to many types of intellectual property, including music.
Locating the owner of intellectual property can be difficult, and in some cases, the owner may charge a fee for its use. A lack of due diligence by the user can result in a cease-and-desist order, a demand by the owner for damages, and a lawsuit.
For more information about “fair use,” visit copyright.gov
