Understanding Copyright

Be aware of intellectual property and copyright issues and how they apply to materials used on the web:

  • Intellectual property rights ensure that people can earn recognition or benefit financially from their inventions or creations.
  • Copyright laws protect original works of creative expression.

If you want to use a copyrighted work (photos, graphics, video, music and other audio), you either need permission or your use must fall under an exception or limitation in the Copyright Act. There are a variety of exceptions for specific circumstances, but they are generally not applicable when using works on the open web.

To avoid infringing on a creator's copyright, use images that are licensed for use. Failing to do so creates an unnecessary risk to the university. Licensed images may be sourced in various ways:

  • through Queen鈥檚 (such as images that are shared in Queen's Image Bank)
  • by paying fees for usage (such as for stock images)
  • by embedding and streaming content from a platform where royalties are paid
  • by using Creative Commons licensed content.

The is a non-profit corporation. It provides free licenses for individuals who want to license their work in a way that allows for the work to be shared, remixed, or used by others for both commercial or non-commercial purposes.