TOTA Image and Copyright Guidelines
A brief guide to image usage and copyright guidelines on TOTA.
Photographs, art, and video all bring culture to life. But not every image on the web is free to use, and copyright violations may result in your content being removed from TOTA or more serious legal consequences. Before you find the perfect picture for your post, it’s important to understand which images are safe to use and permitted on TOTA.
Please note that this information is provided as a general guideline and should not be mistaken for legal advice. When in doubt, consult with a lawyer.
What Images Can Be Used on TOTA?
Images You Own
Photographs you have taken or artwork you’ve made usually belong to you and are safe to use. There are, however, a few things to avoid. These include photographs of another person’s copyrighted work, such as a modern painting or brand logo, and images that show a recognizable person or private residence without consent. Also note that images depicting gratuitous sexual imagery or violence are not permitted on TOTA.
Images in the Public Database
When you create an article on TOTA, you can search through our existing image database by clicking the ‘Insert an Image’ button from the text editor. Filters will help you narrow results by culture, topic, or keywords. Available images have been screened for use or released by other users and should already contain credit lines and links within their captions. You will have less control over these images than ones you upload yourself, but you may be able to find the right picture with no extra effort.
Images in the Public Domain
As a general rule in the United States, works published before 1924 are in the public domain and no longer protected by copyright. This means they can be published or modified without restriction. Note, however, that not all institutions, including many museums, acknowledge their works’ public domain status. When choosing images you believe to be in the public domain, always double check, consider your source carefully, and treat the digitizing institution with courtesy.
Images Under a Sharing License
Some websites offer images and video that would normally be protected by copyright under more relaxed licenses. They may use Creative Commons licenses, which typically request a specific credit line, or make their media free for use without restrictions. Before using such an image, be sure you understand the license in question, how it applies to you, and what sort of credit requirements you need to follow.
Adding a Credit Line to Images
When you upload an image to TOTA, you will be able to edit its information, including adding a caption and credit line. You can find a picture’s ‘Edit Media’ page in several ways: 1) by clicking ‘Media’ under ‘Your Account’ in the sidebar, 2) uploading an image from the same ‘Media’ page, or 3) clicking the ‘Edit Image Metadata’ button from the ‘Edit Article’ page.
Under the ‘Edit Media’ page, you can assign information to the image such as relevant cultures, topics, and keywords. You can also provide a caption and author info for the credit line, which will show up automatically in an article. Any link provided under ‘Owner's Website (Optional)’ will be attached to the ‘Owner of Image License.’ You may select the copyright status, including reserving all rights to your own images, under ‘License Type.’
Potential Image Sources for TOTA Content
If you choose to use images sourced from another website or book, it is ultimately up to you to determine its copyright status. However, there are many organizations on the web that offer photographs, art, and video with little or no restrictions. We recommend these websites as potential sources of safe cultural media but cannot guarantee an absolute lack of risk. Please remember to credit the original author or website, include a link where possible, and double check that the image is available for free use.
The NYPL Digital Collections (Public Domain filter)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Open Access)
The National Gallery of Art (Open Access)
The Library of Congress (No Known Copyright Restrictions)
About TOTA
TOTA.world provides cultural information and sharing across the world to help you explore your Family’s Cultural History and create deep connections with the lives and cultures of your ancestors.
