HAVE you ever “borrowed” photographs, designs or wording from the internet to put onto your website, or in an advertisement or report? The chances are it’s probably someone’s copyrighted material, or a trademark.
Copyright is an automatic right given to authors of original artistic, literary, dramatic and musical works.
If you borrow the work and reproduce it, you are copying it and unless you have the author’s permission, you may well be infringing their copyright or trademark.
The author can stop you using the work and demand financial compensation.
Copyright works also attract moral rights which include the right to be identified as the author of a copyright work.
If you identify the author does this exempt you from infringing? Basically, no.
For advice on copyright please contact Alec Brooks, partner and head of commercial services at Lamb Brooks on 01256 305503 or at alec.brooks@lambbrooks.com.
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