Copyright is the photographer’s pay
A photograph does not magically appear on a website. Behind every image is a person who has devoted time, talent and resources to creating it.
July 23, 2026
When that photograph is used without permission, it is not just a legal issue. It is also a matter of fairness. For a photographer, copyright often represents a vital part of their income. Depriving them of this source of income is, in a sense, tantamount to benefiting from their work without giving them fair compensation. In other words, copyright is the photographer’s remuneration.
We know that some unauthorised uses result from a mistake, a lack of awareness of the rules, or content downloaded in good faith from the internet. To err is human.
But when such a situation is brought to your attention, it is considered fair to acknowledge the use that has been made and to pay reasonable compensation. It is a simple way of restoring balance and respecting the work of the person who created the image.
Authors and photographers make a living from their work just like any other professional. Their creative work deserves the same consideration that everyone expects for their own profession.
This is precisely the aim of copyright, enshrined in the Intellectual Property Code: to enable creators to be recognised and remunerated when their works are used.
In other words, copyright is not merely an administrative formality. It constitutes the mechanism provided for by law to enable creators to be recognised and remunerated when their works are used. When unauthorised use is brought to your attention, rectifying the situation by paying compensation is not merely a legal obligation: it is also a gesture of respect and fairness towards the professional who produced the work from which you have benefited.
Respecting copyright means supporting those who create the images that inspire, inform and bring the web to life every day.
