Which image for which purpose?
Göttingen University attaches great importance to conveying an authentic visual language that best reflects the true spirit and atmosphere characterising our University. After all, pictures speak a thousand words and have a decisive influence on any design by virtue of their style and motifs. For precisely these reasons, the Public Relations Department has defined a visual brand language tailored to the general image the University desires to portray. To the same end, we have many of our photos taken by local photographers and updated regularly. Nevertheless, there will continue to be many motifs that have to be re-photographed to match their respective purpose. On request, we can arrange contact with photographers with whom we work regularly.
Legal matters
Legal guidelines must generally be observed when using photos. The German Copyright Act (UrhG) and image rights are of particular importance in this context.The UrhG governs the rights of creative professionals such as photographers, designers, musicians or painters. It protects originators, called authors under the German law, in their intellectual and personal relationships to their work and regulates the handling of creative works such as texts, video films or photographs. At the same time, the UrhG ensures that the authors receive equitable remuneration in the event that their works are used by others.
In addition to photographers’ copyrights, however, the personal rights of the person(s) portrayed must be upheld as well. The rights of persons portrayed in pictures are regulated by the German Art Copyright Act (KunstUrhG). The KunstUrhG plays an important role in the enforcement of the rights of individuals to pictures taken of them, because images may not be distributed or publicly displayed without the consent of the person(s) portrayed.
We strongly recommend that you observe the prevailing legal framework in this respect; otherwise, you run the risk of being fined or subject to additional legal action.