Copyright: may I use this photo or text on my website?
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Detailed explanation, checklist and sources
Being available online does not mean free reuse. Check the work, who can authorise use and whether your publication falls within a licence or statutory exception. Credit alone is not permission.
On this page
1. Record the work and use
This preparation uses Dutch copyright law. International use may require further assessment. Keep the source URL, date and a limited screenshot of the work and terms. Record the intended medium, audience, edits and commercial or non-commercial purpose. A search result or social-media post does not itself grant reuse rights.
2. Check the rights holder
An original qualifying work can attract copyright automatically; registration is unnecessary. Possessing a file, paying for a commission and owning copyright are different matters. Check the creator, employer, any transfer and who can grant permission for the rights holder.
3. Read the exact licence
A licence permits use; a transfer moves rights. Check media, duration, territory, commercial use, editing, attribution and payment. Stock images and Creative Commons also have exact conditions. Ask for written clarification; a receipt alone does not describe all rights. Have the intended scope of use confirmed and keep that confirmation with the terms.
4. Assess exceptions separately
Some uses require no permission, but each statutory exception has its own conditions. A decorative photo is not automatically a quotation; private use differs from public publication. Have the purpose and extent assessed if uncertain. Also check portrait and privacy rights for identifiable people.
5. Keep evidence and resolve uncertainty
Keep the licence version, permission, invoice and publication record. An i-DEPOT can evidence a date but grants neither copyright nor an exclusive right to an idea. If permission or an exception cannot be substantiated, postpone publication or choose material with clearly suitable rights.
6. Respond carefully to a claim
If you receive a claim, retain it, deadlines and evidence of use. Ask which work, rights and calculation are relied on. Removal does not automatically erase a possible earlier infringement. Do not ignore a summons; procedure and representation depend on the claim. Use our help request for a specific dispute.
Is a source credit enough to publish a photo?
No. Attribution does not replace required permission and may itself be a separate licence condition. Check rights for your actual use and any applicable statutory exception.
Documents to prepare
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Need personal assistance? Request a lawyer through our chat. We explain the next step; submitting a request does not engage a lawyer. The links below support the legal information.
Ondernemersplein RVO · Auteursrecht ↗Rijksoverheid · Werk van anderen gebruiken ↗BOIP · i-DEPOT ↗Rechtspraak · IE-procedures ↗Sources may be in Dutch. General information about Dutch law, not individual legal advice.