From Edie: Confused about copyright? Learn what writers can legally use online—including images, lyrics, blog content, and AI—so you can avoid common mistakes and protect your work.
%20Legally%20Use%20Online%20in%202026.jpg)
Copyright Myths for Writers: What You Can (and Can’t) Legally Use Online in 2026
By Edie Melson @EdieMelson
Lately, I’ve seen a lot of discussion about copyright issues. Specifically, what is legal to use on a blog, social media, or in a book.
First, I want to state right up front that I am NOT a lawyer and none of what I’ve said constitutes legal advice. My goal is simply to share what I’ve learned about being responsible online.
A True/False Quiz: Copyright Myths—How Familiar Are You with the Law?
1. I can legally post any picture on my blog if I link back to the source.
This isn’t even remotely true.
Photos, sketches, graphics—any kind of visual content—are covered by the same copyright law as our written words. Giving credit does not make it legal. Unfortunately, there is lots of sharing going on over the Internet and it’s not legal. When we borrow photos (and quote songs) without permission, even when we acknowledge where we got it, we are stealing. I truly believe that’s not the intent, but we need to educate ourselves on what’s right and what’s not and then lead by example.
Even if an image is easy to download or widely shared, that does not mean it’s free to use.
2. I cannot legally use a song’s title in a post, article, or book.
Song titles are the ONLY part of a song you may use legally.
Lyrics are protected. Titles are not.
There is something in the copyright law called fair use. Without boring you by quoting the law, it means that you can refer to part of a work without being sued. Contrary to what some think, there is no set number of words or percentage that makes up fair use. Instead, there are four factors used to define it.
- The purpose and character of your use.
- The nature of the copyrighted work.
- What amount and proportion of the whole work was taken.
- the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.
- Because of the small size of a song, say compared to a book, the courts have decided that quoting ANY portion of a song, except the title is a copyright infringement. The reason you can quote a title? Titles cannot be copyrighted.
Because songs are short, quoting even a small portion of lyrics is typically considered infringement.
3. I can legally use someone’s blog post as long as I give them credit.
You cannot legally repost someone’s blog content without permission—even if you give credit.
You may quote small portions under fair use, but copying full posts requires permission from the original creator.
4. I can legally use music in a video if I credit the source.
Nope.
This is one of the most enforced areas of copyright today. Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok automatically detect copyrighted music.
Giving credit does not make it legal.
5. I can’t legally post YouTube videos on my blog or website.
This one trips people up.
You CAN embed YouTube videos because you are linking to the original content—not copying it.
6. If I don’t make money from it, it’s legal for me to use.
Whether you profit has no bearing on legality.
Nonprofit, ministry, or personal use does NOT automatically qualify as fair use.
7. I can legally quote a small part of a song.
Nope.
Unlike books, songs are tightly protected. The only part of a song we can safely use is the title. If you’ve seen songs quoted in published books either someone paid a use fee or the author wrote the song himself. I’ve known of two authors who self-published books and had to pull the books because of songs quoted without permission.
8. If there’s no copyright symbol, it’s not protected.
Wrong.
If someone created it, it’s copyrighted—whether or not there’s a symbol. This includes blog posts, social media captions, images, and more.
SPECIAL NOTE (Updated for Today)
You automatically own the copyright to anything you create the moment it is written.
However, registering your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office provides additional legal protection. In many cases, you cannot pursue damages for infringement without registration.
Registration isn’t required—but for books and major works, it’s often a wise step.
9. Fair use means I can quote 200 words without getting into trouble.
Not true.
There is no magic number. The law is written vaguely on purpose, because the infringement depends on so many things, including but not limited to, the length of the original work and the portion of the passage quoted.
Fair use depends on context, purpose, and impact—not word count.
10. I can legally pin anything to Pinterest.
Pinterest is wonderful—but it’s also tricky.
You are still responsible for what you pin. The safest approach is to pin directly from original sources and avoid downloading and re-uploading images. Even if a site has a Pinterest button, that suggests permission—but it’s not a blanket guarantee.
11. I can legally post a picture of a book cover I’m reviewing.
Yes—this is generally considered fair use.
As long as you are using the cover for commentary, review, or recommendation, you’re fine. For example, if you’re doing a movie or book review of the Princess Bride, you can use a picture from that work. If you’re writing a blog post about marriage, you CANNOT use a picture from that work to illustrate the post.
12. Copyright expires 70 years after publication.
Sometimes—but not always.
In many cases, copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. But there are exceptions depending on when and how the work was created.
13. What About AI and Copyright?
This is where things are changing quickly.
Here are a few basics:
- You own what you write—even if you use AI as a tool
- AI-generated content may not always qualify for full copyright protection
- You cannot use AI to copy or imitate copyrighted works
- You are responsible for anything you publish—even if AI helped create it
As with everything else, we are called to be wise and ethical stewards of our words.
Bottom Line
Just because something is easy to copy doesn’t mean it’s legal to use.
As writers, we understand the value of words. Let’s lead by example—honoring both the law and the people behind the work.
Now it's your turn. How many of these did you get right and what questions do you still have about copyright? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie
Resources
Copyright Law
Fair Use
Public Domain
YouTube Copyright
Edie uses the truths God has taught her as an author, photographer, and blogger to encourage others. She’s learned to embrace the ultimate contradiction of being an organized creative. As a sought-after speaker, she’s empowered and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others call on God’s strength during challenging times, often using creativity to empower this connection. Edie is also the executive director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and board member of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.
She and husband Kirk have been married 44+ years with three grown sons and four grandchildren. They live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and can often be found with their big black dog hiking the mountains.
Connect with her at www.EdieMelson.com and through social media.
No comments:
Post a Comment