What is copyright?

Definition: The exclusive and assignable legal right, given to the originator for a fixed number of
years, to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material.
Copyright law originated in the United Kingdom from a concept of common law; the Statute of Anne
1709. It became statutory with the passing of the Copyright Act 1911. The current act is the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.

https://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p01_uk_copyright_law

How to identify the ownership of an image

Anything that is created and published on the internet is under copyright to the original owner. Due
to this, copyright owners do not have to make any statement to have copyright over anything they
publish such as images, text, web pages, videos, music etc. It is automatically has copyright under
the law. Even if the item, image or whole site you would like to use does not have a clear copyright
statement on it, it does not mean you can copy it freely. The copyright symbol is not always shown
on a persons work. You must always research and find out the original owner of what you want to
use.

What is meant by copyright

Copyrighting is when you legally protect a piece of work produced by yourself so that nobody else
can copy, reprint, publish, perform, film or use as musically material, literacy or any artistic use. This
copyright protection stays in place for a number of years and is exclusively assigned to the originator
of the copyright material. It is a legal document which the originator has sole right for use and
distribution of their product.

What is meant by copyright free

To be copyright free means that the materials in question are in the public domain, either because it
has been donated to the public domain by the creators or the copyright protection has expired
leaving it free to have the right to copy. A copyright holder can give up the right to not have their
work copied deeming it copyright free or can actually give up parts of their rights to protect from
copying. A copyright holder must ensure that their property is protected; by ensuring their copyright
protection has not expired.

How to gain permission to use an image

You must always seek permission from the owners to find out whether you can use their item, but
you must ensure the permission is from the original copyright owner. Any rights they have been
given or have been bought will be restricted to the usage on their site only; you must have
permission of the original rights owner if you would like to copy it on your own site

What is the potential impact of breaching copyright

-

Loss of employment
Loss of property; Equipment used by the person who breached copyright might be
confiscation or taken completely
Monetary fines; The monetary fines are based on the scale of the breach, also monetary
compensation can be taken for the time and resources spent tracking and prosecuting the
breach
Jail time
Community service
Probation
Loss of any educational privileges

Example of copyright breach

Mannie Garcia 2006
(Via The New York Times)

Shephard Fairey 2008

(via Wikipedia)

Famous street artist Shephard Fairey created the Hope poster during President Obamas first run for
presidential election in 2008.
The photograph on which Fairey based her design on was revealed by the Associated Press as one
shot by AP freelancer Mannie Garcia with the AP demanding compensation for its use
The artist and the AP press came to a private settlement in January 2011, part of which included a
split in the profits for the work.
https://99designs.com/designer-blog/2013/04/19/5-famous-copyright-infringement-cases/

Sources
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/staff/web/copyright/
http://makingamark.blogspot.co.uk/2008/12/difference-between-copyright-free-and.html
http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_meant_by_copyright_free
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-are-the-consequences-of-breaking-copyright-laws.htm