Copyright: Use pictures from the Internet - you have to consider that

Copyright is strictly protected by us and this also applies to pictures from the Internet. If you use third-party photos without the express permission of the author, this can have serious consequences for you. In addition, data protection has been tightened again since the General Data Protection Regulation came into force.

Copyright: You have to consider this with photos from the Internet

If you discover images on the Internet that you would like to publish on your own website, you must not simply copy the photos. The following principles must be observed:

• Basically, all photos that you see on the Internet are protected in accordance with Section 72 (1) of the Copyright Protection Act. It is completely irrelevant whether it is a blurred private shot or an artistically styled professional picture.
• Nevertheless, the legislature differentiates between photographs and photographic works. Both are photos. The difference is that photos are just some kind of picture.
• Photographic works, however, make an artistic claim. What the legislator thinks of it is stated in paragraph 2 (2) of the Copyright Act (UrhG).
• For you it is basically completely irrelevant whether the photo is a photograph or a photographic work, you may not copy one or the other. The difference will only be significant if you want to buy the photo from the author - in a substantial price difference.
• Otherwise, the distinction is only relevant for legal copyright protection. Protection expires 50 years after the photo was first published.
• Legislators have set a significantly longer period for photographic works. These images are still legally protected 70 years after the author's death.
• For this reason, only the author of the photo or his heirs may allow or prohibit further use of the image. If you want to use an image from the Internet for your website, you must always obtain the author's consent in advance.
• If you do not have permission from the author and publish the picture on your blog, you can expect an action for an injunction and a claim for damages.
• If the matter comes to court, you can be sure that you are always on the shorter lever in the event of copyright infringement.
• By the way: If you want to sell your own photos, there are special platforms for this.

• If the author is willing to give you permission for further use, be sure to have it given in writing. It is also best to specify what you can use the photo for and for how long.
• For reasons of fairness alone, it is customary to name the author under the photo. Please also discuss this with the owner.
• If you buy the rights to photos from so-called stock photo agencies, you should read the respective license agreement in advance. Often, you are subject to various restrictions when using the images, which should be strictly adhered to.
• Note: Even if you have taken photos yourself, you may not be able to simply publish them. This could be the case, for example, if you have photographed people, objects of art or buildings. In this case, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into play.
• The illuminated Eiffel Tower is under copyright protection, for example. Accordingly, you should not publish the image on the Internet without permission. We have compiled further information in the article Panorama Freedom.

If you have taken pictures with the Dashcam, you may not be able to simply publish them. Especially when people and the property of others are clearly visible, you are walking on very thin ice.