Who Owns the Stuff on the Internet?
Since it is on the Internet, can you use it for your own purposes? Sorry, but that’s not true.
Text, videos, GIFs, music, photos, and artwork are web content and belong to the people who created them. In the USA, ownership is established the moment the content starts to exist. Copyright laws protect the ownership rights of authors, musicians, artists, photographers, and anyone else who creates something. A work does not need to be signed or registered, and does not enter the public domain until 70 years after the creator’s death. (Canada and the UK appear to have similar laws. If you want to use someone else’s work, check the copyright laws in your country.)
Example: This is a photo of my dog. I took the photo. Although I shared it on WordPress and Instagram, it still belongs to me. No one has the right to use my photo for another purpose, such as screen printing the image on T-shirts to sell without my permission.
Also, web sites are not public; each one has an owner . The content on any web site belongs to the owner, even if log-in (sign-in) is not required to view the content. Some generous owners of content make it freely available for use by others. With the exception of government web sites, there are very few sites with free content.
Bottom Line
Don’t assume that everything that is shared online can be used for other purposes. If you want to use someone’s creation (story, photo, music, etc.,) it’s best to ask permission.
Alice Dusenberry 