The editorial development director of a regional news publisher has issued a memo to editors, warning against the print, or online publication, of copyright-protected photographs alongside its articles.
The news comes after publisher Newsquest provoked several copyright claims in recent months, due to its ongoing failure to check the provenance of sourced images prior to publication.
Toby Granville, Newsquest editorial development director, has issued a warning to regional editors – which has been circulated in the form of a memo across the Newsquest group’s 215 print and online titles.
After seeking professional advice, Granville issued a warning to writers to always identify the names of photographers in captions where necessary.
“If the source is unknown, you must say so,” read Newsquest’s memo.
It added: “Unless you are satisfied that we own the copyright or we are licensed for the particular use you are contemplating, or there is a legal defence available, or there are other special circumstances (which you should discuss with your editor), then don’t use it.”
The Newsquest team urged writer to “Never simply find a picture on Google,” and pointed toward free “stock picture” websites freely available online, such as ShutterStock.
Such websites allow writers to source copyright-free ‘stock photos’.