







The internet has opened doors for marketing and promoting one’s brand. With just a simple search we can access different photos to add to our social media or even add that hot song everyone may be jamming to on your video promotion.
The real question is: are you actually allowed to do this?
Oftentimes, people forget copyright laws with how easy it is to find certain photos, illustrations, and videos that are easily available on the internet. While most people know that looking up an article online and rearranging it to pass it off as your own is both considered as plagiarism and a copyright violation, the same cannot be said for photos, videos and the like. Unfortunately, social media and online blogging has further blurred that line. It is not uncommon for small and medium businesses to accidentally violate copyright laws without realizing it, especially those without experienced marketers or lawyers on their staff.
Worry no further for we have compiled it in a simple article. Here, we will look at what brands can or can’t share on social media.
Understanding Copyright
The Digital Milennium Copyright Act (DMCA) has made it very straightforward that everything published online is automatically copyrighted by the original creator. This extends to music, written text such as blog posts and ebooks, pictures, and videos. Things protected by copyright cannot be claimed as your own and used without the proper permission.
The consequences of posting copyrighted content could range from receiving a cease and desist order, a lawsuit, and even large legal fees. Note that being sued over copyright is a real thing because copyright is a law.
Share the right way
Since most people use photos and videos for their social media sharing for better engagement rates, worry not for there are still ways to share those kinds of content even if you do not have the resources of an extensive photo library. Here are the kinds of content you can socially share.
1. Copyright-Free Stock Photos
These photos are free and a safe choice to be used however you want them. It is important to note that while some photos are free for personal use, not everything is free for commercial use and have specific regulations attached to them. Some examples of these free stock photos websites are Unsplash , Pexels , and Pixabay. Sites such as these have come such a long way, delivering high quality images which is a far cry from the cartoonish free images that used to be the norm before.
While these are essentially free don’t forget to exercise vigilance and do reverse-image checks to be sure the photos are really copyright free and to properly source the images by sharing the attribution which can be just saying “source: photographer” or linking their site or social profile to your post. Exercising extra caution will just help you and your business as it is always better to be on the safe side.
2. Paid Stock Photos
Since these photos can only be used if you paid them, you are free to use them for your social media. Sites such as Shutterstock and iStock.
It still is important to double check the licenses in these cases as while sometimes some photos are fine to use in social media or in blog posts but would require an upgraded or enhanced license should they be used in billboards or print advertising which would have a bigger audience.
3. Photos from Other Brands
When in doubt, it’s always best to reach out to the brand themselves and ask for permission to use the photo. Once they give you the green light, make sure to give the proper credit in a way that is easily seen. Tagging the brand in the actual photo is always a good move.
4. Licensed Music
Straightforwardly, using licensed music in any branded content is not allowed. Ad platforms have every reason to reject your ad or even suspend your account and the possibility of getting fined for using the music. It is not unheard of that a lot of videos are being removed from social media platforms for this reason.
Instagram has a way around this by letting you add licensed music clips to your content with their Instagram Stories’ music sticker. This can let you choose from their extensive library of songs to your content.
5. Excerpts from Other Authors
When we see a well-written article, the tendency is to want to share it as part of your branded content.
However, there is a right way of doing it. Adding the proper attribution and link to the original content is foolproof to ensure you are properly crediting them. You can share the entire social post then add your own thoughts or opinions in the update section. Another way is to share the snippets you like the most and to put them in quotes, tag the brand and whoever you want to mention, and add the link so your audience can see the original content.
To summarize, it is best to stay out of trouble so taking time to double check what you’re sharing on social media goes a long way. Specific concerns about the content you share is best left to marketing experts who can help you get the best content for your social media without all the additional hassle. Leave it to a partner agency like iRepublic who can help your branded content on social media be relevant and copyright-free. Interested to see how we can help your business? Leave us a message.
#iManila #iRepublic #WebsiteDevelopment #WebsiteBuilding #DigitalMarketing #DigitalAgency #DigitalIndustry