Content creation is growing to become a very lucrative career in this digital age. Alongside, are other opportunities like affiliate marketing and influencer work. At the same time, it’s also important for content creators to understand the implications of copyright infringement.

While it may be tempting to use someone else’s work without permission, doing so can lead to legal action, fines, and other consequences. A good example is a recent case involving legendary Kenyan musician Nonini and an influencer, Brian Mutinda. The legal battle highlights the importance of respecting copyright laws when creating content.

Last year, Mutinda used Nonini’s hit song “We Kamu” in a video advert promoting Syinix’s latest television sets. The Milimani commercial magistrate court ruled in favor of Nonini, awarding him Sh1m in damages for copyright infringement.

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As content creators, it is essential to be aware of a few do’s and don’ts to stay on the safe side of copyright conversation when it involves other people’s work.

Do’s:

1. Get permission: Always obtain permission from the copyright owner before using their work. You can do this through a license or by requesting written permission.
2. Use creative commons licenses: Look for content that is licensed under Creative Commons licenses. These licenses allow for the use and distribution of content under certain conditions, which are outlined in the license.
3. Give credit: When using someone else’s work, always give credit to the original creator. This includes providing a link to their work and clearly stating the source.
4. Create original content: The best way to avoid copyright infringement is to create original content. This way, you don’t need to worry about obtaining permission or violating someone else’s copyright.

Don’ts:

1. Copy content without permission: Never copy someone else’s work without permission. This includes text, images, videos, and music.
2. Use copyrighted material in your work: Avoid using copyrighted material in your work without permission. This includes using music in your videos, images in your blog posts, and other copyrighted content.
3. Claim someone else’s work as your own: Always give credit to the original creator when using their work. Do not claim someone else’s work as your own.
4. Modify someone else’s work without permission: Do not modify someone else’s work without permission. This includes changing the size or color of an image or editing a video.