Taken a photo today? Every year, more than one billion photos are taken, with 85% taken with smartphones. Nowadays, top-of-the-range phones can compete with compact cameras. But taking pictures is just the beginning – many photos end up online and make the rounds on social media.
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Your photos. Your copyright. Tips on the new copyright protection for photographs
It’s no April Fools – since 1 April, there are new rules for photographs in Switzerland. All photographs are protected by copyright, even your own casual snaps. Anyone who wants to use a photo has to ask the owner for permission. What else do you need to know? Our tips will put you in the picture.
From 1 April 2020, in Switzerland, all photos are protected by copyright. Photo: Unsplash
This raises legal questions about the use of photos. These are answered by the revised Copyright Act, which came into force on 1 April. The biggest change: No matter what you take a picture of, the photo is protected by copyright and belongs to the photographer. And it doesn’t matter if it’s a blurry picture of a doormat or an ambient night shot with a chance of winning a photography prize. The following tips and examples explain what is allowed and what you can do within the limits of the law.
Tips for using photos
- If you want to use someone else’s photos, you need to get written permission from them.
- Arrange with the photographer how and when you may use their photos. Some photographers charge a fee for this use.
- Indicate who took the photo every time you use it.
- If you use photos from online image databases, check the licences carefully. Licences regulate the usage rights.
- If you use photos that are not yours, remember that someone owns the rights to them. This is why it is best to use your own photos whenever possible.
- Be aware of moral rights – every person depicted in a photo must give consent for it to be made public.
