Grosjean Matthieu

Copyright and Image Use

Copyright and Image Use

What is copyright and what does it cover?

Copyright is a set of legal rules designed to protect original creations.

These creations may be written, visual or audio:

• Texts include books, articles and various publications.
• Images include photographs, drawings and videos.
• Audio works range from musical compositions to sound recordings.

Copyright protection allows the creator to control how their work is used.
It also enables them to receive payment when their work is used by others.
Finally, it allows them to oppose any unauthorised use.

There are different forms of copyright, and the duration of protection varies from country to country.
A work considered copyright-free in the United States is not necessarily so in France.

These legal differences highlight the importance of remaining vigilant and systematically checking the conditions of use before publishing any image.

What are the limitations on using images available online?

As part of our work, we have sometimes identified photographs or illustrations that we would have liked to use to illustrate certain historical techniques.
However, many of these visuals are subject to paid usage rights.

• Costs may vary depending on factors such as annual licensing fees.
• They may also depend on the number of views or online distribution rights.

For a small workshop, these costs can quickly become prohibitive, reaching several thousand euros per year.

Faced with these financial constraints, we have chosen to prioritise accessible and legal sources:

• We primarily use our own images, taken directly in our workshop.
These document our tools, materials and gestures, and allow us to share original content that reflects our practice.

• We also use visuals from recognised institutions, such as museums or heritage libraries, when their use is explicitly authorised.
This approach ensures compliance with the law while offering rich and relevant content.

What alternative methods can be used to illustrate our work?

There is no universal method for sourcing genuinely copyright-free images.
Many images circulating online are incorrectly presented as free, while still being protected.

As professionals, we remain legally responsible for everything we publish.
Any unauthorised use could result in civil and criminal liability.

To avoid these risks, we rely on reliable and well-documented sources:

• Museums, heritage institutions, archives and specialised libraries often provide images that are either freely usable or covered by clear licences.
This approach allows us to illustrate our work while respecting the rights of original creators.

How can miniature reproduction provide a solution?

To illustrate certain techniques without infringing copyright, we have developed an original approach: miniature reproduction.

We recreate various historical tools at a 1:12 scale and produce our own images based on these reconstructions.

These images are presented in the Creations / Specialities section, allowing us to showcase our work in an authentic and original way while fully respecting copyright.