Generally speaking when somebody creates something they own it. This is referred to as their interlectual property.

All property is protected by various laws and its use by someone else who did not make it requires the owners permission. When money is not involved these laws are not often enforced but it is still morally wrong to steal someone elses work . If an owner loses out because someone has profited from their work they can recover the money from the thief. This happens more often than you might think!

Digital products such as images, text, sound or software is governed by the copyright designs and patents act of Parlement.

At school with our students e - portfolios it is a requirement to add this statement on all of their pieces of coursework.

FOR STUDENT FILES ( Must be added to all e-portfolio’s)

The images and graphics used within this e-portfolio have been used solely with this examination context and will not be published outside of this. I have copied NO text from any source, but I have used text to help my research. I have acknowledged these sources in my assets/sources table

Within my assets/sources table I have indicated whether

1)I have produced the material myself. (Primary)

2)Copyright free. (Secondary)

3)I have tried to obtain permission to use material that belongs to someone else in all cases. See 4 below where no reply was received* (Secondary) (The owner of the material is made fully aware of the intended context and purpose of the product/publication in which their material will be used)

4)I have used material from other sources. (Secondary)
(I realise that all images marked in this category would need to be substituted if any of the products/ publications were to be published outside the educational context, in order for it to comply with copyright law and to make it fit for its intended purpose. See below

5) Where I have used images from Google images or other web sites I understand that these are in the public domain and their use for personal/ educational purposes will not infringe copyright as long as they are not published for gain and that the source is clearly acknowledged.