Royalty free.
Public domain.
These two terms are often mistaken by online entrepreneurs wanting to use images on their websites and throughout their products and services.
AND THAT MISTAKE COULD COST YOU. BIG.
“Royalty free” does NOT mean images are “free” to use. It just means that you can use the copyrighted image without paying a royalty or license fee every time you use it. You pay once for the right to use the image as often as you wish, within the parameters of the license agreement (always ready the license agreement.)
And just because an image is on the internet does NOT mean it’s “public” and therefore free for you to use.
Same goes for Google images and all the ones you see on social media sites.
Infringing on someone else’s copyright is costing online entrepreneurs thousands of dollars. Stock image companies are watching and they are sending out demand letters to anyone who uses their images without paying for that use. And they have every right to collect from you.
Oh, and giving attribution doesn’t count.
As entrepreneurs, we tend to not want to bother with all the legal aspects of running a business; We’re creatives! We just want to create.
I get it. But if we don’t take our heads out of the sand? Let me just put it this way…
PLEASE TAKE YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE SAND. YOU ARE NOT AN OSTRICH.
(You’re not, right?)
And the last thing you want is to be facing a lawsuit. Those stock image companies are ruthless. Do not mess with them.
Always always always make sure you Cover Your Assets Online.