Content marketing legal issues can derail an otherwise well-executed content marketing plan. That’s why anybody planning to engage in content marketing as part of their business should learn how to steer clear of easily-avoidable but potentially-painful legal hazards. None of these are extremely difficult things to do, but paying attention can lead to peace of mind and more stable growth of your business.
Content marketing can be a wonderful way to grow your business provided that you consider the legal issues.
Understanding Content Marketing Legal Issues
Content marketing has become a key part of many businesses. Whether it’s done through podcasting, blog posts, social media or ebooks, companies have found that by producing timely and useful content, they can better engage with their current and potential customers. But, as with any business activity, content marketing has it’s own legal issues. Let’s break down a few key content marketing legal issues that you will want to avoid in your own efforts.
Five Key Content Marketing Legal Issues
- Watch what pictures you use: It’s easy to search the Internet for images to use in your content. And that is often an easy way to get sued. Professional photographers have become increasingly protective of their rights and hire companies that search the Internet to find unauthorized uses of their images. If they find those images on your blog or website, it is likely that they will send you a demand letter asking for payment that is far in excess of what you would have paid had you gotten permission. Don’t fall into the trap. Make sure that you have the right to use any images that you use in your content – there are a number of sites that offer high-quality images
- Follow Creative Commons license requirements: Creative Commons licensed content can be a great source of material for your content marketing plans. But only if you follow the license requirements properly. Creative Commons licenses are granted provided that you follow the terms of that license. If you don’t follow the terms
- Get rights from contractors or freelancers: Many businesses engage freelancers as an easy way to get help with a variety of tasks. This includes content marketing. But be aware that freelancers can create content marketing legal issues if things are not done the right way. By default, contractors and freelancers will own the rights to the work that they produce for you. That’s why it is crucial to get an assignment of rights or a proper license to the work that they produce. And while work for hire agreements may make sense in some scenarios, they are not always the solution.
- Follow FTC guidelines on endorsements: Content marketing can often involve thing like sponsored content or other endorsements. While this type of influencer marketing can help everyone involved, it can easily cause problems. The Federal Trade Commission has set forth guidelines on influencer marketing and other types of sponsored content that any content marketer should read.
- Don’t forget your brand. Content marketing supports brand-building. Brand-building relies upon trademark law as its foundation. That means that every content marketer should consider how their brand will be represented in the content that they are creating. Additionally, any content marketer needs to make sure that their brand is adequately cleared, registered and enforced. This is easy to do at the beginning, more difficult to do later on.
Proactively Address Content Marketing Legal Issues
Hopefully this article helps you understand various content marketing legal issues. But be aware that depending upon what you are doing, you might have different issues. Obviously, it is a smart idea to talk to an attorney early on to make sure that nothing you do as part of your content marketing efforts generates legal liability and headaches.
If you don’t know where to start, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
