In a nutshell, it is important to have permission to use anything that is not your own creation in your resource, whether your resources are free or paid. This includes everything from images and videos to fonts and texts. As a resource author you need to be well informed about the rules, as you are responsible for what you make and share on Tes.
To help you out, we’ve put together some starting dos and don’ts for obtaining content for your resources, and some of the best ways to safely source what you need, if you’re not creating it yourself.
Images and graphics
As a rule of thumb, if you want to use an image or graphics in your resource, they should be something that you have created yourself. We are aware though, that this isn’t always possible as we can’t all be graphic designers and photographers, in addition to the day job!
If you are sourcing images it can be very easy and quick to search online and find a whole host of great material to do just the right job in the resources you create. If you do find something useful and you plan to use it however, you must check what licence the image has been given to show you if/how you can use it.
In some cases, images can be in the public domain, which means that they are not currently protected by copyright, or they have been shared with a CC0 licence which is giving access to the material copyright free. In most cases, however, copyright owners restrict the use of images by assigning a licence to them.
Where can I find images to use in my resources?
To search for images you can use for free, within the stated licence’s terms, you can search for Creative Commons licenced images on Google but it may be easier to use creative commons search or creative commons wikimedia main page as it makes it easier to properly attribute the images you found from there. You can also filter search results, for example by file type, use or licence to narrow down your search.
Some images are labelled for non-commercial re-use, which means that they cannot be included as part of a resource that is available for purchase. Other images are shared under a specific licence, or provide the option of buying the appropriate licence that allows it to be used in a resource.
Sites you could try for sourcing free images:
flickr.com
openclipart.org
pexels.com
pixabay.com
unsplash.com
Some sites for subscription or paid images:
istockphoto.com
stock.adobe.com
It is also important that when using images or graphics in your resources, you attribute the creator’s work properly, with all the details required by the licence. More of that in the next section!
Video and music
When adding your own video to a resource, remember that permission needs to be obtained for all the elements of that video (e.g. images, audio, etc).
If you are using a video created by someone else, make sure you have permission. If you are using a publicly available video that is being freely shared, the best option is to link to that video - downloading it and uploading it again can breach its licence. You should check that the website has the right to host the content you’re hyperlinking to.
It is important to check the licence under which a video is shared if you want to use it in a resource, Some videos, such as some clips from films, prohibit sharing for commercial purposes, which means that they cannot be included in a paid resource. However, videos that are in the public domain, or are publicly available through a permitted website, can sometimes be shared through embedded codes that link to the source where the videos are originally found. As with images, it’s best to check the terms of the licence under each video and get permission before using it.
Similarly, music such as songs, soundtracks and song lyrics may have restrictions when it comes to commercial and non-commercial use. In most cases, music requires full attribution. More on attribution in the next section!
Some sites to get you started:
freepd.com
soundbible.com
Texts and fonts
You may want to use different types of fonts in your resources, and you can install and use fonts other than those that are pre-installed in your computer software. Font developers can protect their fonts by sharing them under different licences, and it is good practice to check the website where the fonts originate to see the licence under which they can be used. If there are no specifications on how you can use them for different purposes, it might be better to choose a font that is clearly licensed and labelled for reuse.
Sites to get you started with sourcing fonts:
fontlibrary.org
1001fonts.com
When sourcing texts to use in your resources remember that literary pieces such as books, poems and even blog posts, are often protected by copyright.
You should not include literary pieces, books or extracts in your resources if you have not obtained permission, especially when they are lengthy. It can be difficult to understand how much text can be included within a resource. For information on what is permitted with using texts for different purposes read: https://www.copyrightuser.org/understand/exceptions/quotation/
What content is not available for reuse?
As different restrictions are enforced by different copyright owners, permission for reuse can vary for content that is protected by copyright; for this reason, we can’t provide you with an extensive list of content that can’t be shared. However, to ensure you have a better understanding, we have gathered some examples. Please note that this list is intended for general guidance only, and it is good practice to check the terms and conditions where the content originates to see the permissions for reuse.
Some examples of types of content that cannot be reused:
Examination boards like AQA, Edexcel/ Pearson, OCR, WJEC, CCEA and CIE – exam papers, mark schemes and logos are protected by copyright (please check individual examination boards for allowances as some will allow sharing of certain materials)
Educational organisations like International Baccalaureate and ASDAN – exam papers, mark schemes and logos are protected by copyright
Websites like Twinkl, Kerboodle, Boardworks, Talk for Writing and Makaton – resources are protected by copyright
Physical sources and publishers like CGP, Hodder Education, Pie Corbett and Roald Dahl – books, poems and text are protected by copyright (please check with copyright owners for explicit permission for reuse)
Brands like Top Trumps and Coca-Cola – certain uses of concepts, names and images are trademarked as well as protected by copyright
Companies like Disney – images, sounds, video clips and text are protected by copyright
Franchises like Star Wars and Harry Potter – images, sounds, video clips, logos and text are protected by copyright or trademark