Copyright and Fair Use

Images on the Internet

Just because an image is freely available online does not mean that copyright does not apply.  These images are subject to copyright as any other creative work.

The following are time when copyright law permits online image re-use:

• If it is in the public domain.  Generally, anything published in the US before 1923 is in the public domain. 
• If it is available under a Creative Commons License.  Images with a Creative Commons license will be clearly labeled as such.  When using CC images, be sure to provide proper attribution. 
• If the image has been made available for re-use by the content provider.  Some websites will allow you to use the images, as long as certain conditions are met, such as not using the image for commercial use.  You can find this information in the website’s Terms and Conditions.
• If you have permission from the copyright owner.  See NYU’s Subject Guide on Getting Permission for more information on how to request permission from the copyright holder.  Remember, no response from the copyright holder is not an indication that you have permission. 

Attribution

At minimum, it is best to

• Link back to the original work
• Give credit to the image creator
• Follow attribution instructions provided by the source

Generic Image Credit Format:
Title by A. Creator, via source (CC License Type).

** Be sure to double check the license information on all linked content by following any links back to the original source, if possible.