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24-25 - Career Research : Media Rights & Responsibilities

What are your rights?

Creators - What are your rights? 

In School

You know to give credit when using someone else's language or ideas, but what are your responsibilities and rights when using media (images, music, video, posts, etc.)? In school, you are covered by something called Fair Use; as long as you credit the creator of media (including what you find in a platform like CANVA), you are following the law.

After Graduation 

After graduation this rule changes. When you are no longer producing for an educational environment, you MUST ensure you not only CREDIT creators, but also that you have the RIGHTS to use materials. Below are three methods for finding media that you have the right to use. 

Rights free media & Product platform

Canva 

Canva grants licenses to users, with some requirements. After graduation you would have to cite EVERY IMAGE you determine to use in Canva for a product. However, since you are still in school, please add the following to the bottom of your infographic: Infographic created using CANVA, in accordance with CANVA's Content License Agreement. 

Creative Commons

  • Find media you can share and remix!
  • Click here to access Creative Commons
  • Please read this information, from Creative Commons, before using this platform: "Please note that search.creativecommons.org is not a search engine, but rather offers convenient access to search services provided by other independent organizations. CC has no control over the results that are returned. Do not assume that the results displayed in this search portal are under a CC license. You should always verify that the work is actually under a CC license by following the link."

Library Databases

  • If you use this source, the citations are already created for you!

  • Open the Database by clicking the link below.

  • Please Note: You may use ANY of our library databases to find and cite images. Feel free to use the databases linked within this guide or explore all database options HERE. 

Google Images

  • If you search in Google Images, you can filter the results to find rights free images.

  • Use the Advanced Search Feature OR open a new browser and search for an image. In an advanced search, scroll to the bottom of the page and select "Creative Commons License" under usage rights. 

  • If you open a new browser and find an image, complete the following steps: 

    • Click "Tools" 

    • Select "Image Rights" (use the drop down menu)

    • Select "Creative Commons License" 

  • The copyright should outline your rights; in most cases, you are welcome to use the images displayed as a result of this filter, with proper attribution.