Copyright guide: protecting your original work online

Insights

Field note · Why an evidence file needs more than a screenshot.

A screenshot loses its address

A cropped product photo can show a visual match while omitting who posted it or what was being offered. Save the page URL and time of observation alongside the image. A wider capture gives a second reviewer the surrounding context.

A license can change the reading

A retailer may have permission to reuse a campaign image for a launch. Look up the account name, territory and promotion period before treating the match as unauthorized. A short note about the search makes the reasoning repeatable.

Write for the next reviewer

Try handing the record to a colleague who has never seen the asset. Can they find the original, revisit the reported location and explain the decision? Their first unanswered question usually identifies the missing evidence.

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