is using an image from Facebook copyright?

[Hassan mohammed]

I downloaded an image from a Facebook page then uploaded it to another website. Now I am being sued by the owner of the image. Is it copyright?

[tonalc2]

Yes; copyright of an image or photograph is owned by the creator.

[john]

Yes you are automatically assumed to have copyright over any image you create. You stole it, you gotta pay up.

[Yeti]

Yes, works are recognized as copyrighted as soon as they're created. Normally these days people submit removal requests and leave it at that. If you're outright getting sued, you must have done something beyond just posting it where it can be taken down.

Anyway, yes, the image would have been copyrighted and you didn't have permission to do whatever you did.

[Jay]

Yes.

If you were not the owner of that image then you have no legal rights to use it with the permission of the owner. That involves either their straight forward permission i.e. "go ahead" or if you pay a fee.

There are some exceptions - you might claim "fair use" if your intent was to use it in a news report, educationally etc.

If that's not the case then you are in the wrong and will need to take the image down and possibly agree some compensation.

[Sarky]

Yes off course it is a copyright infringement.
ONLY the copyright holder or those with a license to use the image can publicly display the picture.

If you do not have permission from the copyright holder then you stand to be sued for copyright infringement.

Well done to the copyright holder if they are suing you.