Since ignorance of the law is no excuse when it comes to copyright, and the costs of defending an infringement action are expensive, up to eighty-thousand dollars or more, and settlements or awards high, not knowing the law can cost you. And like every driver that speeds on the highway, even the information highway, there is always that chance of getting a ticket. The purpose of this paper is to debunk certain myths and arm you with the information you need to protect yourself, your job and your client from infringing the copyright of an image owner. The Copyright Act is a complex federal statute. This paper is only intended to be an overview, so you know when you should ask a few more questions before you assume an image is free.
Many myths circulate the dens of designers, graphic artists and other users of images.
Like most myths, the origins are unknown, but are assumed to be universal truths. These myths are not, in fact, based on the Copyright Act or case law that explains copyright. If relied upon, you and your employer, or your client, could end up violating the Copyright Act and face costs much greater than if permission to use the image had first been obtained and a license fee paid before using the image. If you change the medium, you don't need permission Familiarity with some basic copyright concepts will help you understand why these ideas are untrue. Copyright is essentially an economic property fight, owned initially by the author.