03/16/2026
For the person that has been saving and using the images on this page for their own business please educate yourself on the laws. I am aware of who this person is and will be taking legal action if this continues. Please read the following;
Using another business's photos for your own advertising without permission is primarily illegal under the Federal Copyright Act of 1976 (17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.), which grants creators exclusive rights to their images. Such unauthorized commercial use constitutes copyright infringement, potential "false advertising" (Lanham Act § 43(a)), and violates the photographer's ownership rights.
Key Legal Protections:
Copyright Infringement: 17 U.S. Code § 106 grants the owner exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute photos. Using them without permission can lead to damages between $750 - $30,000 per image, or up to $150,000 for willful infringement.
False Advertising (Lanham Act): Using another's work to falsely imply you created it (misrepresentation) is illegal, often called "catfishing" or "intellectual property theft".
Right of Publicity: Unauthorized use of a person's photo for commercial gain also violates state-level, common-law, or statutory rights of privacy and publicity.
Important Considerations:
"Fair Use" Limitations: Simply editing or crediting the photo does not make it legal, as concluded in recent court decisions reversing the use of photos in commercial advertising.
Exceptions: Only a federal court can determine if a specific use is "fair use" (17 U.S. Code § 107).
