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  1. Media Law
July 28, 2016

Newsquest journalists urged not to just ‘find a picture on Google’ because of growing number of copyright claims

By Dominic Ponsford

Newsquest’s editorial development director Toby Granville has urged the group’s journalists not to take pictures from the internet without permission.

In a memo circulated around the group he said: “Copyright claims against Newsquest are growing exponentially and are bringing real cost to the business in every region.”

In it he said: “Unless you are satisfied that we own the copyright or we are licensed for the particular use you are contemplating, or there is a legal defence available, or there are other special circumstances (which you should discuss with your editor), then don’t use it.”

He said: “Never simply find a picture on Google (or elsewhere on the internet or from any other source) and use it to illustrate a story without first considering whether you have the lawful right to use it or a sound legal defence…

“There are plenty of free stock pictures available – for instance, www.pixabay.com is a source of copyright-free stock pictures for commercial use not requiring attribution.”

Source: Roy Greenslade.

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