11/06/2024

Image Permission Policies for Member-Generated Content

Determine if your association needs such policies

Many associations rely on member-generated content for a wide range of projects, including social media, journals and websites. For consistency and efficiency, associations often establish policies on desired writing style and formatting; however, these policies often do not effectively cover photo usage. Establishing image permission policies can be a powerful tool to ensure that authors use images correctly, and it helps reduce liability for the association.

Without guidance from the association, members may not understand how to determine if a photo is copyrighted or may incorrectly assume that nonprofit status automatically grants fair use. Often, authors inadvertently attribute a photo to a secondary source or do not ensure that a license covers the intended use. The expanded use of generative AI complicates the issue even further. Mistakes, if uncorrected, may result in copyright infringement claims against the association.

Many organizations monitor closely for unauthorized use of their photos, especially online, where new technology can quickly scan websites for perceived violations. Regardless of the outcome, addressing claims can cost significant time and money. It is vital that associations proactively review content to avoid this scenario. Depending on the content and staffing levels, implementing this level of scrutiny into your association’s workflow could pose a challenge. Luckily, staff time and effort can be significantly reduced by establishing policies and providing authors with the proper tools and guidance.

Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE’s Center for Association Leadership.