Using Unlicensed Photos on Websites

For a long time, people have generally felt it appropriate to go onto various image search engines, find a photo and then cut and paste it into their publication or website. One of the reasons this was so easy to get away with was that there was no effective way for photographers to find unlicensed uses of their work. Of late, however, photographers either have acquired new technology or have engaged search companies that have image-searching technology.

15 minute read August 01, 2015 at 11:58 AM

Joshua Kaufman

For the last six months, I have been getting no less than three phone calls or e-mails a week from clients who have gotten letters from photographers (or their representatives) seeking licensing fees for photos that have been posted without permission.

This premium content is locked for The Intellectual Property Strategist subscribers only

ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS IN The Intellectual Property Strategist

Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends

Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more

Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

Already have an account? Sign In Now

For enterprise-wide or corporate access, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or call 1-877-256-2473.

Real Property Law

Adverse Possessor Provided Insufficient Evidence to Support TackingTown’s Installation of Guardrails Did Not Constitute a TakingMortgagee Entitled to Deficiency JudgmentLandowner Adequately Alleged Trespass During Renovation

August 13, 2026

Entrepreneurship Is Already Hard: Rising Above Extraordinary Personal Crises to Build an Award-Winning Professional Reputation

Entrepreneurship. It has such a romantic ring, doesn’t it? When we hear the word, we think of incredibly successful people who must lead a charmed life. But the truth of the matter is often far from that. Just ask Melissa Rogozinski whose recent book, Becoming Phoenix, tells a much different story.

August 01, 2026

Applying the Zero Trust Model to Manage Risks of Agentic AI

Agentic AI introduces risks that are novel and complex, but the most effective response is a familiar one. Zero Trust answers the problem of when an AI agent misfires on its own by constraining what an agent can do rather than betting on how it will behave.

August 01, 2026

California’s AI Transparency Stack: From State Obligation to Adoption Strategy

California is betting that it can accelerate AI adoption by acting as a demanding, trusted buyer, and that the governance evidence it extracts through procurement can become infrastructure the rest of the market reuses.

August 01, 2026

Using Unlicensed Photos on Websites

This premium content is locked for The Intellectual Property Strategist subscribers only

Continue Reading

Real Property Law

Entrepreneurship Is Already Hard: Rising Above Extraordinary Personal Crises to Build an Award-Winning Professional Reputation

Applying the Zero Trust Model to Manage Risks of Agentic AI

California’s AI Transparency Stack: From State Obligation to Adoption Strategy