All images on thetoastykitchen.com are automatically covered by copyright protection and are additionally registered with the US Copyright Office. If myself or Pixsy (an image theft protection company I work with) find my photographs used to promote someone else's business, they will take legal action on my behalf.
How Copyright Works
Did you know that copyright protection is automatic in the US (and another 180 countries around the world)? This means that all photographs are automatically copyrighted by whoever took them. You don't have to register a copyright for it.
If you don't have explicit permission to use a photograph you've found, you don't have the right to use it. Unless you're specifically searching a database of public domain images, assume that all images you see online are copyrighted.
Google shows copyrighted images in their image search. Google is not a database of public domain images.
Additional Information
Here are a few articles with more information on copyright protection and how it works:
- Copyright Laws: How To Protect Photos You Post Online
- Copyright Laws: 6 Best Practices For Legally Using Google Images
Featuring my work
All photographs on my website (unless expressly labeled with permission and credit to the creator) are taken by me and I own the copyright. This means that you cannot use my image without my permission.
What is allowed
Recipe roundups: Are you a food blogger, newspaper, or magazine creating a Recipe Roundup? A recipe roundup is a collection links based around a general theme (ex: 20 ground beef recipes, 15 easy pasta recipes). In these cases, I allow the use of a single image along with a 'dofollow' link back to the recipe on my website. These types of articles do not include the full written recipe or any written content from my website.
Examples of proper usage and credit:
- Boston Magazine: Eight No-Churn Ice Cream Recipes to Try This Summer
- Oprah Daily: 35 Easy Cookout Side Dishes to Serve at Your Summer BBQ
- The Pioneer Woman: 15 German Christmas Cookies for a Traditional Dessert Plate
What is not allowed
I do not allow the use of my image to promote your business, website, organization, menu, or your own recipe in any way.
I do not allow my written content, recipe, or directions to be copied and pasted on another website.