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Practical legal guide

Commercial Use of Photographs and Videos by a Company

Your company has used a photograph or video on its website or in advertising, and someone has challenged that use. You may be facing a request to remove material, a payment demand or a dispute with the person shown. The source of the image alone does not settle every permission question.

Describe your case

Short answer

The relevant rights and the wording of any licence need individual assessment. A dispute about the creator’s rights can differ from a complaint by a person shown in the image. A lawyer working with Czech law can examine the demand and your documents. LawBridge helps you find that lawyer; it does not decide whether an infringement occurred.

Quick answers

Does appearing online mean an image is free for business use?
The fact that a file is online does not establish what rights your company has. The relevant source, agreements and circumstances need review.
Does the photographer’s permission settle a privacy complaint?
Not necessarily. Rights concerning an identifiable person require separate consideration in context.

When this situation arises

  • A photographer challenges a business advertisement.
  • A person shown in promotional material objects to publication.
  • The scope of an agency or stock-image agreement is disputed.

What options do you have

Licence review

A lawyer can examine what the agreement covers and whether it matches the disputed use.

Privacy assessment

The circumstances of recording and publishing an identifiable person may require a separate assessment.

Recommended step-by-step process

  1. 1.

    Describe the dispute

    The enquiry can explain where the material appeared and what the other party is demanding.

  2. 2.

    Choose a lawyer

    The selected partner can review the documents and discuss possible responses with you.

What documents to prepare

  • The complaint and any stated response date.
  • The available licence or agency agreement.
  • A record of how the photograph or video was used.

Common mistakes

  • Treating possession of a file as proof that every use is authorised.
  • Assuming the rights of the photographer and the person photographed are the same issue.

Risks and important deadlines

Disputed publication

A complaint can affect an ongoing campaign; the appropriate response depends on the claim and evidence.

Timing

A deadline in correspondence needs individual assessment rather than a generic timetable.

When it's worth contacting a lawyer

If your business has received a complaint or the permitted use is unclear, an intellectual-property lawyer can review the specific situation.

Describe your case

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