A Cautionary Tale for Artists and Bloggers: What I Learned About Copyright the Hard Way

By Sean M. Ryan
Artist, writer, and the human behind CarbonatedThoughts.store

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I Thought I Was Doing the Right Thing

Recently, I published a blog post discussing racism in American media. As part of that post, I embedded small thumbnail images of news outlet logos — including one of the New York Times, which linked to a cited article.

I believed this was okay. My intend was to drive readers the article and off my website.

I wasn’t profiting off it. I wasn’t stealing anyone’s work. I gave proper credit.
And the image was tiny, low-res, and contextual — used to support the article, not substitute for it.

But that didn’t matter.

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The Knock on My Inbox: A Copyright Complaint

Weeks later, I received a formal legal notice: I was being accused of copyright infringement by Agence France-Presse (AFP). Apparently, one of the thumbnail images I used was not just a generic logo — it was a copyrighted photo of the logo, owned by AFP.

Even though the image was small…
Even though I linked to the source…
Even though I made no money…
Even though I removed it immediately…

I was still facing a potential settlement demand.

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What I Learned: The Reality of Online Copyright

Let me say this as clearly as possible:

Even a well-meaning, non-commercial use of an image can trigger a lawsuit.

Here's what I learned — the hard way:

• Logos are often photographed or stylized, and those photos are copyrighted.

• Fair use is not guaranteed — especially when images are involved.

• Thumbnail size does not protect you if the image itself is licensed.

• Even if you're just a tiny blog with no traffic or income, big agencies can still come after you.

• Attribution doesn't make it legal. Giving credit doesn't replace the need for a license.

• Some agencies use third-party firms (like PicRights) to scan the web and automatically enforce claims — even against small artists.

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If You’re a Creator, Please Learn From Me

Here’s what I wish someone had told me before this happened:

✅ Only use images you created, licensed, or that are clearly in the public domain or Creative Commons.

• Sites like Unsplash, Pixabay, or Wikimedia Commons are good starts — but read the licenses carefully.

• Never assume Google Images or a social media post is “free” to use.

✅ Don’t rely on “fair use” unless you really understand it.

• Even when you are giving credit and linking to the source, you are still in danger.

• If you must include an image for commentary, consider linking to it instead of displaying it.

✅ Keep your content minimal-risk.

• Write your own words.

• Make your own art.

• Link to things, don’t embed them unless you have rights.

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Why I Still Create

This experience was scary. It shook me. But I’m still here.

Carbonated Thoughts is my attempt to wrestle with hard questions — not to profit, but to provoke insight, wonder, and conscience.

If you’ve made it this far, I ask: Be careful. Be kind. And keep creating.

Just do it with eyes wide open.

— Sean M. Ryan
🌀 CarbonatedThoughts.store