POTENTIAL LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF USING AND EDITING GRAPHICAL IMAGESUnit 30 - Task 05

Copyright• Is a legal practice giving the creator of an original work exclusive

rights to it, usually for a limited time.• Generally, it is ‘the right to copy’, but also gives the holder the

right to be credited for the work• In digital graphics, copyright it used to prevent others from

stealing others work and calling it their own.• It comes into force as soon as the creator has transferred an idea

from their head to something physical• It is infringed when someone copies/adapts a big enough part of

your designs without your authority. It varies country by country on what is regarded as a large enough infringement but the rule of thumb is that the substance of your work is that part that gives it its originality and if this is copied it is usually the time authorities can be informed.

What cannot be copyrighted?• Variations of lettering, or colouring• Titles, names, short phrases & slogans• Familiar symbols or designs• Listings of contents• Ideas, procedures, methods, systems, processes,

concepts, principles, discoveries• Common information• Legal documents

It needs to be taken into account that these cannot be copyrighted but a number of these things may be protected by trademarks. Source:

http://myows.com/blog/copyright-basics-for-graphic-designers-part-1/

To what extent can © images be used?

• Using pre-created work to create a new may be infringement without the owners’ permission. However, the copyright in the new section will then be owned by both of you.

There is a number of “fair dealings” that can used with copyrighted images• Use for non-commercial research & private study• Use for review/criticism• Use in news reporting• For purposes of teaching (for example writing on the

board about a graphic)• For purposes of examination

What would be infringing copyright?• Issuing or making available copies to the general public• Copying the graphic• Amending/Altering the graphic

The copyright owner can give permission for these actions to be taken however, so they will need to be approached if you wish to do this

Length of copyright

Source: http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/images/copyright-duration-lg.gif

Length of non-crown copyright

Length of Crown copyright

Source: http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/images/crown-copyright-duration-lg.gif

Crown copyright is that of servants of the Crown or Government departments and agencies, and works that have been commissioned by the Crown

How to gain permission to use © images

• The only way to fully prevent infringing copyright is to find out the owner of the graphic & then get them to give you permission for whatever it is you want to do with the product.

Me using digital graphics and the copyright issues involved• When working with graphics that already exist, it is

important to know that you have permission to use the image whether that is for research or because of the forum in which it will be used.

• As the images I have used are either mine or the schools they all fall within copyright which I have access to. Designs I have used I have adapted so they are original but I have still referenced the original creator in concurrence with the copyright laws.

• To file my work under copyright I would use the “poor man’s copyright” method in which I would send the work to myself in a sealed envelope by registered mail, using the postmark to establish the date.

Sources all taken on 7/10/13• http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/guide/copyright-and-digit

al-images/ - Slides: 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8

• http://myows.com/blog/copyright-basics-for-graphic-designers-part-1/ - Slides: 3, 4 & 8

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright - Slide: 2