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When it comes to the copyright laws that are out there, many times people don't realize how much is really protected, specifically on the internet. In doing some research and learning more about these laws there are some things that all internet users and web designers must know before really diving obtaining in and the importance of avoiding materials that are not their own.

The first thing to know is that everything posted online is almost always copyrighted. When it comes to copyright laws in general, anytime you go and write something down, create a program, take a photo and post it on the internet, it is then copyrighted. Everything that is posted on the internet always has a copyright behind it from the original user or person that is responsible for going and posting it on the internet. A user can never go and find something on the internet and post it on their website, as if it is their own, because if what they obtained was from the internet, then it must have a creator or person that posted it. That is why everything that is on the internet is copyrighted in one way or the other. You must take the proper steps in order to obtain permission to use content that you find through the internet.

In getting more specific, there are more common areas that need to be addressed with copyright laws in websites. First of all, images are never to be copied and used from any website with the permission of the original creator. When inserting images, always try to go and input your own. This way you are covered no matter what, and you can go use your own work and not have to worry about someone coming to you to collect for damages caused by using their image. Another specific area is text you find on websites. You cannot use the text you find on other people's websites. You cannot go and copy and paste into your own, again without permission of the original user. You also cannot go and just reword what they said. It is also important to stay away from using trademarks of companies on your website. It is not allowed to go and use a trademark of a company on your website, unless you have the permission of the creator of the trademark or website.

Just because you do not see a copyright symbol at the bottom of the webpage or anywhere else on the webpage for that matter, that does not mean that the materials you are looking at are not covered or protected under copyright laws. If for some reason someone were to go to your webpage and copy some of the pictures you might have posted and use them for their company, you would still be covered under copyright law even if you did not have the copyright symbol at the bottom of your page. However, if you do have the copyright symbol at the bottom of your page or posted somewhere on your page, the person you would be going after couldn't claim that they didn't know the material was protected. It would just be better to always have that posted along with the "All Rights Reserved" claim for additional protection in some international countries that do not enforce copyright laws or symbols.

When it comes to linking or posting links to other websites on your webpage, doing so is perfectly fine and legal. However, there are some cases where people are posting links on their webpage and posting multiple links, and finding themselves in court defending themselves against the people that are the original creators of the websites to those links that are being posted. One state tried to make it illegal, but it is almost impossible to do that. If you add links to other people's work or web pages, make sure to do it with respect and recognize the real creators of the websites that are connected to those links.

Adherence

When it comes to my website and its design of how and what I want it to look like, I have to look at these copyright laws and regulations and make sure that I am right in line with all of them. I personally have adhered to these copyright laws in the construction of my website in many ways. First of all, I only have one posted image in my website at the moment, but it is a photo that my wife and I took and we are the rightful owners of that photo. I did not go and find a picture or image on the internet that I wanted to use, so I do not have to worry about breaking any copyright laws, because all my images so far are ones that were created and belong to me. I have also been able to adhered the copyright laws by typing in everything and not copying the work of others. I have not copied and pasted any information from the internet. Rather, it is all of my original work either from my own knowledge or I was able to learn about. Everything I have in my text is written by me and me alone. Another area that I have adhered is with the actual format and layout of my website. I first created images of what I wanted it to look like all based off of what I was able to think of on my own and then do my best to create it as best I could. From the colors used to the layout, everything I did and created were original ideas I thought of. Just as I have been able to create my own work and follow the copyright laws for my website, you must do the same for your website by reviewing everything that you have put into the site and make sure that you are not in violation of copyright laws. From images, to text, to layouts, and trademarks, you must make sure you represent yourself and your work and not the work of others.