Copyright protects original creative works and prevents others from copying and using those works without permission. The Copyright Hub is a database that allows users to search for images and contact rights holders to request permission to use images. It provides advice on the copyright process and connects users with stock photo suppliers and organizations that can help locate image owners. Some major organizations that allow legal access to images include Getty Images, BBC, and the British Association of Picture Libraries, which provide image licenses and fees depending on intended use.

1. Sourcing Images

2. 1. What is copyright and what does
it protect?
Copyright is something that someone will apply to their work in order for them to have
control over what happens to it- you may only use their work if you gain permission from
the creator.
Copyright can protect original works such as writings, music, photos, films , drama, art,
sound recordings and broadcasts as long as they’re not copied from previous works of a
same kind; music or literary work must be recorded in writing and must be reproducible.
If you were to create something as part of your work- an image for a double page spread
for example- then it belongs to your employer, however they can transfer the rights to
you as well as provide permission for someone else to use it without giving away
ownership. When someone has copyright over their work, however does provide
permission for it to be used, this is known as licensing, otherwise you are breaking the
law and can face a legal battle. Although it exists in all countries, the laws may vary from
place to place, however copyright can be put in place no matter what your age is- there
are no exceptions in copyright law.

3. 2. How can you use ‘Copyright Hub’ to get
permission to use images?
Copyright Hub allows you to search for images through their database and set up
conversations with the rights holders so that you can gain permission to use their work. As
well as this they provide advise on how contact them yourselves or even run a private
search for you if the photo does not exist on their website. They’ll put you in contact with
organisations that can give you advise as well as assist you in making the process of
gaining consent simpler. In certain cases you will be asked to pay a fee in order to use
someone's work- in these cases copyright hub will instruct you on how to best go about
this. They also put you in contact with stock photo suppliers such as Getty Images and The
British Association of Picture Libraries who’ll help you find the original rightful owner.
Overall they make the process a lot quicker, hassle free and legal as well as guide you
‘through the subject and it’s complex terminology and structures’.

4. 3. What are the organisations that you can contact
to gain access to use images legally?
There are a multitude of stock photo websites that you can contact in order to gain
permission to use a photo; these are websites in which the rightful owner of the image
has licensed the organisations to either sell on the image for a small fee or distribute it
for free legally. Some of these include ‘Getty Images’- the worlds largest photo agency-
the BBC and The British Association of Picture Libraries.
The British Association for Picture Libraries- they’ll provide links and contact details to a
wide range of image suppliers in the UK who’ll then provide you with a license to suit
your needs.
Getty Images- they allow you to search their libraries for an image using key words,
once you’ve found it you’ll get a license depending on how you plan to use it.
BBC- you can find images then pay a small fee to use them

5. The following image of Charlene Soraia is the one I chose
to use for the front cover of my magazine. I originally
sourced the image from google:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=lisa+hannigan&espv=
2&biw=937&bih=570&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=r
xdwVf-
However, after an extensive image search using the
copyright hub search tool I can neither find the owner of
the image nor who holds the copyright to it. After googling
the artists name I came across a similar photo of her
wearing the same outfit in the latest music video of her
song ‘ghost’-in order to support the advertisement of it an
image was taken that can be seen on iTunes which tells me
that, that was the original use of the image.
If I was working within the professional industry, I would not be allowed to use this image and would therefore
have to delay this edition of the magazine until permission was sought. Copyright Hub have a process in place in
which you can send them a link to the image and they will source it for you within a couple of weeks and provide
you with the results. As well as this they provide guidance as to what steps you could take as an individual if you
want results quicker; this involves contacting the website or journal in which you found the image- in this case I
found it on Charlene’s ITunes page- and asking them about the photo. If after I’ve contacted her she grants me the
right to use it, I would have to source the original photographer so that they’re work is credited for.