Use of images

We would like to remind BOA members (and our readership) on the issues of image copyright.  If using images when composing a presentation, writing for a publication, recording a screencast or another purpose, you must ensure you have copyright or permission to use the images.  If you are not the copyright owner you must check whether copyright law permits use of the image or acquire the relevant license or permission to use the image in your work.

It is especially important to note that just because an image is freely accessible to view online and can be found via a browser image search, it does not mean the image is legally available for re-use.

There are a number of sources of freely licensed and public domain images on the Web such as  https://unsplash.com/images/stock/public-domain and https://free-images.com. However when using an image from a freely licensed source, you are still responsible for checking the copyright status of the image.

There are instances where copyright law permits re-use:

• The image is a public domain work.  ‘Public domain’ refers to creative materials that are not protected by intellectual property laws such as copyright, trademark, or patent laws.
• The image is under a Creative Commons (CC) license.  More information on CC license is available at: https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/cclicenses.
• The image is copyrighted, but qualifies as an exception to copyright.  Further info on exceptions to copyright can be found at: www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright.
• If an image is subject to a licensing fee (i.e. images from library stock image databases such as Shutterstock), the image can only be used according to what the license allows.

Things to consider when using images:

• Use of an image for any purpose is subject to copyright whether it is a written article or an oral presentation being recorded for re-use.
• Images found online via an image search are not necessary free to re-use.
• Screenshotting or using a snip tool to ‘copy’ an image found online is a likely infringement of copyright.
• Check if the image is under a Creative Commons (CC) license.  More information on CC license is available at: https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/cclicenses/
• Google Images Advanced Search is a useful tool which enables you to filter results by Usage Rights, similar to Creative Commons categories.
• AI and Bots are now able to scan websites and recorded material to check for copyright infringements.  Therefore, it is especially important you check any images in your work that could be potentially uploaded to the BOA website as the BOA would be liable to cover costs of any copyright infringements.