Danger! Copyright on the Internet: How to protect your content!

Danger! Copyright on the Internet: How to protect your content!

What could be nicer than the contemplative time of the year? On December 23, 2025, many in Vienna will look forward to the upcoming holidays and reflect on the essentials: friendship, family and sharing beautiful moments. This year we would like to wish all readers and editorial teams a merry and peaceful Christmas. A small greeting that comes from the heart often makes the biggest light shine in the dark.

In these digital times, it's not only important how you celebrate, but also how you share what you read and see. Social media has long since become an integral part of our everyday lives. But no matter whether on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube, there are a few things to keep in mind to avoid legal traps. According to the experts at Xovi, it is important to be aware of copyrights. Your own texts and photos can be published without further ado, while sharing third-party content requires the permission of the rights holder - otherwise there is a risk of copyright infringement and expensive warnings.

The legal basis

So a little caution is required. There are clear rules, especially when it comes to images or videos that you upload. According to art copyright law, the consent of the person depicted is required to publish a photo. You should also pay close attention to the use of music in videos, as the legal framework is often even more confusing. Many users give little thought to copyright when, for example, they take photos of their food on Instagram or share a vacation photo on Facebook. But as a rule: the more people are integrated into your own network, the less “private” the upload is. What is often overlooked is that this also involves the personal rights of third parties that deserve protection.

Another important point is obtaining permissions. Lawyers have noticed, particularly on social networks, that many users bear responsibility for their own content. Facebook points out that the responsibility lies with the user. If copyrighted materials have been uploaded, this can have dire consequences. In the worst case, the user will be confronted with an injunction and will have to pay for any damage caused.

Connection and networking

But even though the legal aspects may seem a little daunting, social media is a great way to network. Sharing your activities in a safe way can bring a lot of joy. For example, linking to other content is usually not a problem as long as it is freely accessible and no illegal content is displayed. Sharing content under Creative Commons licenses is often possible if the specific conditions are adhered to.

In these last days of the year, we would like to encourage all readers to be contemplative. Together we can then use the zeitgeist of the season to create connecting moments. Remember to be creative while sharing content responsibly to avoid legal issues. Let us enjoy the Christmas season, inspire each other and be considerate of our fellow human beings and their rights. With this in mind, we wish you many beautiful, legal and inspiring moments during the holidays.

Merry Christmas!