A. Whether you’re adding a photo to the ministry website or creating a newsletter, keep in mind that copyright laws protect most creative works.

Using images, music, video, and other artistic works that you find through an Internet search may make your ministry legally responsible for copyright infringement, even if a copyright symbol or notice is not displayed.

Even if your ministry has a general license to use songs, videos, and movie clips, the license isn't likely to authorize the use of photos or images.

To avoid fines and legal fees involved with copyright infringement, find the original source of the image and obtain the owner’s permission to use it. Discovering the original owner of the image is sometimes difficult, especially when the website that’s hosting the image may not have permission to use it. If you aren’t able to locate the owner of an image and receive permission to use it, you’re better off not using the image.

Even if your ministry has a general license to use songs, videos, and movie clips, the license isn’t likely to authorize the use of photos or images. In addition, images labeled royalty-free may not be free from any cost. Generally, purchasing a license to use such images is still required.