Just because you find an image online does not mean that it is free to use.
When using an image in your work, make sure it has a stated license (for example Creative Commons and Public Domain) or see if the item is covered under Fair Use.
Remember: you must also always cite an image, just as you would a work in print.
Creative Commons helps people to share their works with the world.
Creative Commons licenses are a standardized way to give others permission to share and use a piece of work. Learn more with the Creative Commons Flyer.
Depending upon when a work was created, it might be in the Public Domain.
What does it mean when a work is in Public Domain? Essentially, it means that the material in question is no longer under copyright because the copyright date has expired. This means you can reproduce the material without paying royalties and that it's generally free for you to use.
Copyright Term and the Public Domain, a guide to copyright duration created by Peter Hirtle at Cornell University, is a comprehensive and useful resource for researching a work's copyright status. You can also use the Copyright Slider from the American Library Association for quick reference for figuring out the rights and permissions for material that you are using.
As a general rule, works registered or published in the U.S. before 1927 are in the public domain.
January 1 of each year is "Public Domain Day" . Jennifer Jenkin's, Director of Duke University's Center for Study of the Public Domain published a great article about works entering the public domain in 2022. The author also makes a passionate presentation about the cons of the current length of copyright and why the public domain is so important.
