Christians are being warned to take care over the images they upload to their websites.
The warning came after two unidentified subscribers to EvangelismUK reported receiving invoices from Getty Images for £900 and £1,500 after unknowingly using the pictures without permission on their websites.
Ownership information encoded in digital photos allows owners to track where their images are being used and control copyright infringement.
More than other photo stockists, Getty Images has acquired a fearsome reputation for its crackdown on copyright infringement, hitting web masters with invoices for large sums of money over improper image use.
Web masters may upload images to their sites unaware of the legalities of copyright or because the images were found without proper labelling on other websites, including websites claiming to stock only royalty-free images.
And when it comes to chasing down infringers, size does not matter. Letters have been sent out by Getty to web masters for the illegal use of images as small as a thumbnail.
Jim Currin, of Churches Together in England said: "Can I pass on the warning for all web managers to make sure all images are copyright covered or replaced with your own."
-
Ash Wednesday from ancient tradition to modern practice
-
Why do Christians observe Shrove Tuesday?
-
What is the biblical basis of Ash Wednesday?
-
Church of England winds down Living in Love and Faith as deep divisions remain over same-sex blessings
-
All Nations Christian College to sell campus and move courses online
-
Civil rights leader Rev Jesse Jackson dies at 84
Most Popular
News
Sudan authorities use bureaucracy to stop church rebuilding and worship
Authorities in Sudan are obstructing efforts by a church to rebuild and even to use their place of worship
Ramadan ‘offers a unique opportunity’ to share the Gospel, says missiologist
Dr Emil Saleem Shehadeh has some sage advice for how Christians can engage with their Muslim neighbours and colleagues during Ramadan.
David Tudor hit with another lifetime ministry ban
Having already been banned, the latest sanction merely reinforces an earlier decision.
Armenia’s Christian civilization is under existential threat - the UK must not stand idly by
The constellation of powers that produced the eradication of the Armenian Christian presence in Nagorno Karabakh now have their sights on the Republic of Armenia itself.