Every image used has a creator. Creators deserve recognition for their work.
Our systems search the internet for images whose rights holders are registered with us. When we find a publication, our system sends the site owner a request to pay a modest amount in recognition of the use.
For recognition of the use of a publication, a fee of just €24.20 (including VAT) is requested. Usually the costs of a claim are a multiple of this.
Autonomous
The systems of LegalCopyright.eu autonomously search the internet for publications in which our clients are the rights holders. These publications are registered, after which the site owner will receive a request for payment.
Fair
The creator receives a relatively low fee, but the recognition matters and high legal costs and lawsuits are avoided for both the creator and the publishing party.
Briefly explained
What is copyright?
Anyone who creates a photo or image automatically holds the copyright to it. That means: only the creator decides where and how that image may be used. Permission for use is usually linked to a fee.
On the internet, images are copied and published millions of times every day, usually without the creator receiving anything in return. No name, no fee, no recognition.
We offer an alternative: not litigating and punishing, but recognising and sharing. We assume good intentions and permit publication, even retroactively, in exchange for a relatively small fee.
How it works
Three steps. No hassle.
Step 1
The creator registers work
Photographers, illustrators and designers upload images into our systems. This way the work is linked to the creator.
Step 2
Our systems find publications
Our system searches 24 hours a day for images registered with us. When an image we manage appears, we request a modest fee much lower than legal claims, so recognition remains feasible.
Step 3
The creator receives recognition
The creator receives recognition and a fee. This way creative work is valued instead of simply being copied and used.
Answers to the most frequently asked questions.
We manage copyright for our clients for all publications we can monitor. In addition to a modest fee, our clients receive recognition for the publication. We try to prevent money being lost on legal efforts or even a possible lawsuit.
We act as an intermediary on behalf of the creators, who retain the rights.
Frequently asked questions after getting a payment request
LegalCopyright.eu is a partnership between parties from the creative industry, researchers, education professionals and legal specialists. The service is intended to provide fair recognition for creators without making the free exchange of images impossible. For implementation and the payment platform we use "Skill to Play". Payments will therefore also be processed through the account of "Skill to Play".
Usually the fee for publishing an image can run into hundreds and sometimes even thousands of euros. We charge a fixed low fee of €24.20 per used publication. We also request a fee for images that have already been published. Usually a penalty clause is then added, causing costs to rise significantly. We assume good intentions and adjust the contribution accordingly.
Yes, legally you may only publish images for which you have purchased the rights. Claiming a fee after publication for infringement of the Copyright Act is common. We request the fee on behalf of the creator in exchange for refraining from legal proceedings. By paying, you easily arrange the use of the publication and the creator receives the recognition they deserve. If the fee is not paid, there is also the option to remove the publication within 20 working days of the notification. If the fee is not paid within that period and the publication is not removed, we advise the creator to start legal proceedings.
Yes, after payment you will receive an receipt to add to your administration. Payments are taken on the account of "Skill to Play" with the reference number and LegalCopyright.eu in the additional information provided. You can use our payment option that will automatically add the reference number with your payment.
You are obligated to have the Copyright sorthed for all publications. No matter what the function or objectives are. It is common that commercial organisation will get fined a lot more in court compared to individuals that broke the copyright law. In all cases it is much cheaper to accept the payment request from LegalCopyright.eu.
If the payment request remains unanswered and the publication is not (timely) removed, the rights holder has the option to take further legal steps regarding the copyright infringement. We always advise our clients to do so. Some clients immediately pursue this route, partly because it often yields high fees. Others are more restrained.
Half of the fee benefits the creator of the image. This is how creative work is valued fairly. The other half is the fee of LegalCopyright.eu. This is used, among other things, to improve and keep our systems running. In addition, we research the viability of copyright in AI trained on works by our clients.
No. For identification, work on which copyright is claimed is sometimes marked with a circle containing a 'C'. This marking is entirely optional. The moment an image is fixed on a medium, the creator automatically holds the copyright. This symbol is therefore purely optional.
No, for the publication of copyrighted material it is mandatory to arrange the rights, possibly through a buyout. When arranging the rights, it can be agreed to mention the creator's name. We often see such attribution as disruptive to the publication and it is therefore explicitly not part of the service we offer. Some creators allow work they hold copyright on to be published freely provided their name is included. This does not fit within the service of LegalCopyright.eu.
The message explains how you can pay the fee. For both technical and legal reasons, it is unfortunately not possible to include the exact image in the notification. At this time, several actions are still required to extract the direct link to the published image from the system. Therefore, a direct link can be requested for a fee of €9.85. This fee is separate from the €24.20 buyout fee. If you prefer not to pay (in time) for the publication, removing the publication within 20 working days is also an option.
Yes, that is possible. Per client, only one fee will be requested per domain, unless there is an exceptional situation (for example, if a very large number of images by the same creator are used). It may also happen that different publications by different creators have been found. In that case, a fee will be requested for each creator. It can also happen that new images are used after payment, for which a new fee may be requested. Finally, there is the possibility that images on a site are from a creator who only registered with us at a later time. A payment request for that creator may therefore arrive later. However, a payment request will never be sent more than once for the same publication.
It may happen that our systems recognise work by our clients in AI-generated images. To train AI, it learns from images that are (whether publicly or not) available, regardless of whether rights apply. Images generated by AI currently have a limited status regarding copyright. Images made with AI do not give the maker the copyright you get with 'handmade' images. Increasingly, images produced with AI are so close to the original that the copyright of the original continues to apply.
It happens that images are used online 'as inspiration' and then modified. The degree of modification determines whether this constitutes a copyright infringement or a new image. Legally this is a grey area where usually a court determines where the boundary lies. It may also be that (consciously or unconsciously) images look very similar. If that is the case, please reply so our staff can verify whether the payment request is justified or not.
There are rare situations where a payment proposal is sent incorrectly. For example, a client may have incorrectly claimed copyright for certain images, or images may appear very similar to work we manage. If you suspect a request was sent incorrectly, please reply with your reasoning. Our staff will then investigate the specific registration. It is important that the registration number is included in your reply.
By paying the fee, you have met the requirements to continue using the image exclusively on the stated domain. For another domain, you will need to pay again to use the image. If your site gets a new domain name but remains the same and the old domain name expires, please send an email so a staff member can assess whether an administrative adjustment is possible.
We often hear that an image came from a database with 'royalty-free images'. This can have various causes. For example, a client may have previously made images freely available and later still wish to claim copyright. It also happens that we add copyright for large quantities of images to our portfolio if the rights holder chooses to do so. Users of these images have then often published images for which no copyright was previously claimed. It also sometimes turns out that images by our clients have been offered on such sites without their involvement.
As an intermediary, we act on all fronts as a buffer between creators and users of copyright. This is also contractually agreed. If there is a very specific request for a creator of a specific copyright, it is possible to email us. Make sure the reference number of the publication is included in the email.
If the client wishes to respond, this will also go through us as an intermediary.
Frequently asked questions from creators
Our systems continuously search the internet for images managed by us on behalf of our clients. When images are found in publications, we contact the site owner to arrange recognition and payment.
Send an email to beheer@legalcopyright.eu with your details and an indication of your work. We will then contact you to arrange the registration. Registration costs €29.04 per year (including VAT). With this €2 per month we can keep our systems running and improve them. Even if your images are not being used unlawfully, you still help make and keep society a little fairer.
Yes, you can send the report to melding@legalcopyright.eu with the subject "REPORT". Clearly state the web address in the message and, if possible, an explanation of your suspicion.
No, we only facilitate creators with regard to copyright. The creators retain their copyright. LegalCopyright.eu acts solely as an intermediary and advisory service provider. Portrait rights, trademarks and all other forms of rights are (not yet) within our specialism.
Get started
Would you like recognition for your work?
Are you a creator and would you like your images to be used fairly? Or do you have a publication for which you would like to use an image? Please feel free to contact us.
