What Do Business Owners Need to Understand About Copyright Disputes?
"The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones . . ." (Luke 16:10)
A few recent discussions in the Catholic Women in Business Facebook group have highlighted various copyright concerns.
One entrepreneur received demands for payment over an image that had appeared in a years-old blog post. She had already removed the image but was unsure whether the notices were legitimate or a scam.
Another artist discovered work that looked strikingly similar to one of her signature designs and wondered whether artificial intelligence had copied her style. Should she send a cease-and-desist letter? Or let it go?
These situations may seem unrelated, but they point to the same necessity that every business owner should understand the basics of copyright law.
Copyright Protects Creative Expression
Copyright protects original creative works such as photographs, artwork, books, music, videos, and website content. Ideas, concepts, and general styles are usually not protected. Instead, copyright protects the particular way an idea is expressed.
The U.S. Copyright Office provides a helpful overview of what copyright does (and does not) protect: https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/
Copyright Isn't the Same as a Trademark
Business owners often use the term "copyright" to describe any kind of intellectual property, but there are differences.
Copyright protects original creative works like photographs, artwork, blog posts, and videos.
Trademarks protect names, logos, slogans, and other branding that identifies the source of goods or services.
Understanding which type of protection applies can help you better safeguard your own business and avoid misunderstandings when questions arise.
I Received a Copyright Demand. Is It Real?
Not every copyright notice is a scam, but demands should not be automatically accepted at face value either.
If you receive a notice that you have violated someone else’s copyright, don’t ignore it. Even if you believe the claim is weak, responding is usually better than simply hoping it disappears. Next, verify who sent it. Does it come from the copyright owner, a licensing agency, or a law firm? Research the sender independently instead of relying solely on the contact information in the correspondence. It is also beneficial to confirm whether the image or content was actually available to use. Lastly, consider speaking with an attorney before admitting liability, and especially before paying a settlement.
Many legitimate copyright claims involve stock photography. Photographers and image licensing companies routinely monitor the internet for unauthorized uses, sometimes years after an image was first posted.
What If Someone Copied My Work?
This question has become even more complicated with the rise of AI-generated content. You may have a valid copyright claim if someone copied your exact artwork, photograph, blog post, or other original creative work.
However, if they borrowed only the general concept, color palette, artistic style, or overall idea, copyright protection may be much less clear. U.S. copyright law generally protects the expression of an idea, not the idea itself.
Before sending a cease-and-desist letter, ask yourself:
Is my actual work being copied, or just the general concept?
Would an ordinary person consider the two works substantially similar?
Could I prove that I created my work first?
Could the similarities be explained by common industry trends or techniques?
If the answer is uncertain, consider consulting an intellectual property attorney before taking legal action. The AI legal landscape is still evolving. While AI can generate content that resembles an artist's style, style alone is generally not protected by copyright. Whether a particular work infringes on a copyright depends on the specific facts and how closely it copies protected expression.
How to Reduce Your Risk of Copyright Disputes
Most copyright problems can be avoided with a few good habits:
Use only licensed images, and don’t assume a photo found through a search engine is free to use.
Keep records of receipts, licenses, and screenshots showing where you obtained images, fonts, graphics, and other creative assets. Document your own work as well to establish when it was created.
Create original content whenever possible. This reduces legal risk but also helps your brand stand out.
Review older content occasionally. If your website has been around for years, a periodic audit of old blog posts and images can ensure everything is properly licensed.
Stewardship Includes Respecting Creativity
As Christian business owners, we're called to be faithful stewards of every aspect of our work, which includes the creative work of others and the gifts God has entrusted to us. As Jesus teaches, "The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones" (Luke 16:10). Integrity in business is built through small, day-to-day decisions, including how we create, share, and respect the work of others.
Understanding the basics of copyright won't eliminate every dispute, but it can help you respond with wisdom instead of fear, regardless of whether you're the one receiving the demand or the one sending it.
Alyssa Grasinski is a legal writer, editor, wife, and mother who is passionate about helping businesses communicate clearly. She earned her Juris Doctor in 2019 and now works with law firms and business owners through her writing business, Claritas Vox, providing blog writing, website copy, ghostwriting, and editing services. Alyssa and her husband, Michael, have five children on earth and one in heaven. She can be reached at alyssagrasinski@gmail.com or https://www.claritasvox.com/