Put the Web to Work

Play it Safe So You're Not Sorry Copyright laws were set with the goal of protecting the "original works of authorship." So, what exactly does this mean? Let's skip the legal mumbo jumbo and just say this: if you didn't write it yourself, take the photo or video yourself, or purchase a license from the creator to use it in your business marketing, you are at risk of a copyright infringement claim. This includes text/copy used on your website and social media, images, video, music tracks, and any other media you might use in your business marketing.  The Top Copyright Mistakes Business Owners Make These are the things we see businesses doing everyday that make us cringe. 1. Searching in Google and "grabbing" an image they like. 2. Creating Facebook marketing videos and using celebrity TV clips. 3. Creating a  marketing piece that mimics a logo or tagline from a major brand. 4. Posting quote graphics or memes they didn't create ...

A great image can turn a simple post into something that makes your brand stand out! While you can easily find an image just by searching for it in Google, legally you cannot use those images found in random places on the internet. This is where many companies could get into a lot of trouble. Let's explore some of the copyright related terms you should know and understand to protect your business. Copyright Laws  Article I, Section 8, clause 8, of the United States Constitution states the purpose of copyright laws is “to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.” When you think of copyright, the first thing that may pop into your mind is probably copy, or written text; however, copyright also applies to images. As soon as an original work is created, copyright applies. It is an automatic right that does not require paperwork from the creator, such a...