Recent Changes to Image Use Policy for Illumination Integrated Publications on Medium

2022 Guidelines

New contributors are urged to review and adhere to these guidelines.

Repercussions of Non-Compliance with Image Guidelines

Contributors who disregard these image rules after a story rejection may face removal from our publications.

2022 Updates

All images must be properly credited in every submission. We strongly encourage our writers to utilize the free image resources listed in this document.

Images sourced from other sites must include hyperlinks for verification. If a link is not available due to restrictions, the author must include the following statement under each image:

“The author takes responsibility for the copyright of this image.” Editors reserve the right to decline the publication of any story that does not comply.

Context

For the past two years, managing copyright-related issues with story images has been a challenging responsibility for our editors. Each day, they encounter these issues, given that over 15,000 writers contribute to our publications. We have invested countless hours resolving image-related problems. It’s important to note that our editors are volunteers who dedicate their time to support writers.

Moreover, over half of these contributors are relatively new to the platform, often from blogging backgrounds, and many are unaware of copyright regulations on commercial platforms, especially regarding monetization. Copyright rules pertaining to fair use can vary significantly between commercial and non-commercial contexts.

Despite providing information on photo handling in onboarding materials, many new writers, particularly those who are not paying members, may overlook these instructions, leading to repeated violations and frustration for our editors.

Aligned with our diversity and inclusion principles, we welcome writers of all experience levels, regardless of membership status, and are understanding of their mistakes as long as their submissions are free from harmful content and plagiarism.

Our primary aim at ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications is to foster an inclusive environment for writers to thrive on Medium. Each editor is tasked with ensuring submissions comply with applicable laws and Medium's regulations, protecting both our publications and Medium from harmful content.

This post serves to update writers on our stance regarding the use of copyrighted images under the “fair use” doctrine. To comply with U.S. laws and Medium's guidelines, we have implemented strict regulations concerning the use of any type of image (photos, graphics, GIFs, etc.) in submitted stories.

By March 2020, the difficulties surrounding image issues had escalated to a point where our chief editor, Dr. Mehmet Yildiz, issued a comprehensive policy document to address these challenges.

Publication Policy

As image-related issues remain a primary reason for story rejections, we felt it necessary to reiterate the importance of adhering to our policies.

Key Points for Contributors

This policy applies to writers of ILLUMINATION, ILLUMINATION-Curated, ILLUMINATION's MIRROR, ILLUMINATION Book Chapters, Technology Hits, SYNERGY, and Readers Hope.

1. All images included in stories must be copyright-free.
2. All images must include proper citations (captions) with source information.
3. All images must comply with the relevant laws and Medium's guidelines.

Accepted Types of Images

1. Copyright-free stock images.
2. Public domain images, such as those found on Wikimedia Commons.
3. Images owned by the contributor.
4. Images from subscription services with proof of ownership.
5. Images created or significantly modified using tools like Canva or Photoshop.

Prohibited Types of Images

1. Copyrighted images for which permission has not been secured. Arguments citing “fair use” will not be entertained, as this requires specialized legal knowledge.
2. Screen captures from commercial websites, videos, or films.
3. Images downloaded or captured from social media or online platforms (excluding text-based images).
4. GIFs and animated GIFs—only static images (.jpg or .png) of user-created GIFs are allowed.

Fair Use Addendum to Photo Policy

The policy clearly requests that writers refrain from asking for acceptance of stories that utilize copyright-protected images under the “fair use” exceptions, due to the potential legal implications.

Nonetheless, writers frequently argue for acceptance based on “fair use.” One of our editors with legal expertise has developed an informative supplement to address these inquiries.

Please refer to this addendum, authored by Marcus, one of our editors, with contributions from several senior editors.

Using Copyrighted Images Under Fair Use

This section discusses why the in-house legal advisor for ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications has not granted exceptions to copyright rules.

Thank you for reviewing our policy. We anticipate your contributions.

References from Writers and Editors

This article was published by Jennifer Geer, senior editor at Illumination Integrated Publications.

• As an Editor, This Is the Top Thing I See Writers Getting Wrong With Their Articles

  • Writers expose themselves to legal risks by violating image policies.

This was contributed by Susie Kearley, a prominent writer within Illumination.

• People are Being Sued for Using Creative Commons Images

  • And the financial repercussions can be severe.

This is an update on our policy from ILLUMINATION.

Useful References for New Writers

• Improving the Quality of Writing Using an Editorial Checklist
• Process and Procedures
• Conduct Guidelines for ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications
• Zero Tolerance for Defamation, Discrimination, and Hate Speech
• Copyright Matters: Strict Stance Against Plagiarism
• Guidelines on Using Affiliate Links on Medium
• Strategies for Success on Medium
• Five Questions to Boost Curation and Reader Engagement
• How to Become a Top Writer in Three Months
• Proven Tips to Expand Your Follower Base
• Methods to Build a Loyal Reading Audience
• Creative Use of YouTube for Writers
• 100-Day Challenge for New Writers
• 1,000 Short Posts in 100 Days
• Invitation to a Writing Challenge
• How to Write a 30,000-Word E-Book in a Month
• Comprehensive Guide for Writers

Invitation to Aspiring Writers

To join our dynamic publications, please submit a request via the provided link. We are dedicated to helping you gain visibility and succeed on Medium. Make sure to include the publication name along with your Medium account ID in your request. If you’re new to Medium, you can sign up using the same link, where you can access thousands of stories and monetize your content.

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