Images, fonts and music: how to use media legally on your website

⚖️ Legal disclaimer This article provides general information and is not legal advice. If you have a specific question, consult a lawyer specialising in German media or copyright law. Do not rely on this article alone when making a legal decision.

Cease-and-desist letters: an underestimated risk

Every year, website owners in Germany receive cease-and-desist letters over unlicensed images, remotely loaded fonts or music use. Claims can reach four or even five figures. Large companies are not the only targets: small businesses, freelancers and bloggers are frequently affected because they did not understand the rules.

It is an uncomfortable subject, but a manageable one. A clear licensing process can reduce the risk substantially. Ignoring the basics can become expensive.

This guide explains what to check before using images, fonts and music, which sources offer dependable licensing information, and how to respond if a law firm contacts you.

Copyright basics in five minutes

Before looking at the details, start with an uncomfortable truth: assume that online content is protected. That includes photographs, graphics, music and fonts. The useful question is not whether a work is protected, but which licence or exception allows you to use it.

German copyright law often protects a work until 70 years after the author’s death, although the exact rule and term can depend on the type of work. Mozart’s compositions may be in the public domain; a current Taylor Swift recording is not.

A common misconception is: ‘I found it on Google, so I can use it.’ You cannot. Google is a search engine, not a licensing agency. Nor does the absence of a © symbol place an image in the public domain. In Germany, copyright protection generally arises automatically when a qualifying work is created; registration and a copyright notice are not required.

Another important distinction: a licence is not ownership. Buying a stock image gives you defined usage rights; the photographer normally remains the author. You may use the image within the licence terms, but you do not automatically gain the right to resell it or claim it as your own.

Image rights: a common source of costly claims

Copying an image takes seconds, while the resulting legal dispute can be expensive. High claim values and specialist law firms make image licensing a genuine financial risk for website operators in Germany.

What can copyright infringements cost?

The original article cites 2025 examples in which an image-rights claim comprised two main elements: the claimant’s legal costs and compensation for the unlicensed use.

Legal fees may be calculated from the value in dispute. The article cites values of €3,000–€6,000 per image and resulting fees of roughly €350–€650. Actual amounts depend on the case and should be checked by a lawyer.

A claimant may also seek damages based on a hypothetical licence fee: broadly, what the user would have paid for a proper licence. In Germany, the MFM image-fee guidance is often referenced. The article cites typical amounts of €100–€400 per image, but the applicable figure depends on the use and evidence.

Some demands are much higher. The article refers to 2025 claims sent by KSP Rechtsanwälte for DPA Picture-Alliance, including demands of up to €2,000 per image and reported totals above €11,000 for three images and €13,750 for four. A demand is not automatically the amount ultimately owed; obtain legal advice before responding.

The practical lesson is simple: one incorrectly licensed image can trigger a four-figure demand, and multiple images can multiply the exposure.

Safer ways to source images

There are three practical routes:

Option 1: free stock libraries Unsplash, Pexels and Pixabay provide images under their own licences. Read the current terms carefully: permissions, attribution requirements and restrictions differ, and platforms can change their conditions over time.

Option 2: paid stock agencies Adobe Stock, Shutterstock and iStock sell documented usage rights. The advantages are professional selection and clearer licensing records; the cost is a per-image fee or subscription.

Option 3: original production Take the photographs yourself or commission a photographer. If you commission the work, agree in writing which usage rights are transferred, for which media, territories and period.

Image sources compared

Rule of thumb: CC0, CC BY and CC BY-SA can permit commercial use if all licence conditions are met. Content marked NC is not licensed for commercial use and is generally unsuitable for a business website.

Fonts: the overlooked licensing and privacy risk

Images receive most of the attention, but fonts create two separate risks: the font licence itself and, for remotely loaded web fonts, the transfer of visitor data to an external provider.

The Google Fonts controversy

In 2022, the Regional Court of Munich awarded damages in a case involving Google Fonts loaded from Google’s servers without consent. The external request transmitted the visitor’s IP address to Google. The decision prompted a wave of demand letters, although later cases have also examined whether mass, automated claims can be abusive.

The court awarded the claimant €100. That modest amount encouraged large-scale demands against website operators, many of whom received letters generated after automated scans.

The legal position continued to develop in 2025. The Federal Court of Justice referred questions to the Court of Justice of the European Union, while some German courts treated particular mass-claim campaigns based on automated crawling as abusive. The volume of letters fell, but avoiding unnecessary third-party font requests remains sensible.

The practical solution: host fonts locally

Google Fonts itself is not the core issue. The issue is loading the font from a third-party server, which causes the visitor’s browser to contact Google and disclose technical connection data, including the IP address.

Download the permitted font files and serve them from your own web server. Local hosting avoids the browser request to Google. You must still follow the font licence and assess the rest of your website’s data flows.

To check your site, open the browser’s developer tools, select the Network tab and reload the page. Look for requests to fonts.googleapis.com or fonts.gstatic.com. A request indicates that the font is still being loaded from Google.

You can also use a reputable Google Fonts checker. Treat the result as a diagnostic clue and verify it in the browser’s network log.

Other fonts: check the licence

Free does not mean free of conditions. Some fonts are free for personal use but require a paid licence for commercial projects. A desktop licence may not include web embedding, so permission to install a font on your computer does not automatically cover your website.

Check and retain the licence terms for every font. Google Fonts are generally offered under open licences that permit commercial use, but other providers may impose different conditions.

Music: GEMA, licences and lawful use

Background music, podcast jingles and a soundtrack for a promotional film can make content more engaging. They can also create substantial licensing costs if the rights are not cleared first.

What is GEMA?

GEMA is a German collecting society, not a public authority. It represents composers, lyricists and music publishers and collects licence fees for uses covered by the rights it administers.

Whether a GEMA licence is required depends on the work, the rights involved and the intended use. Public or commercial uses of repertoire represented by GEMA can require a licence — including some uses on websites, in videos, on telephone hold systems or in business premises.

GEMA monitors music use in settings such as events, hospitality venues and online media. Unlicensed use can lead to retrospective fees and surcharges.

Music outside the GEMA repertoire

‘GEMA-free’ usually means that the relevant composer or rightsholder is not represented by GEMA for the use in question. It does not eliminate copyright or other collecting-society rights automatically.

Important: GEMA-free does not mean free of charge. You still need a licence from the relevant rightsholder or provider. The commercial model may involve a one-off payment rather than recurring GEMA fees, but the exact scope of use must be documented.

Keep evidence that the music is licensed for your intended use and, where applicable, outside GEMA’s repertoire. Reputable providers supply licence documents or certificates for this purpose.

Providers cited in the original article include Audiohub, TerraSound, Frametraxx, Musicfox and Proud Music Library. Prices vary by provider, track and licence scope; verify current terms before purchase.

Comparison: music subject to GEMA licensing vs. GEMA-free music

YouTube, podcast, website

YouTube adds another layer: Content ID. It can identify protected music automatically and monetise, block or mute a video. Even properly licensed production music can trigger a claim if the track is registered with Content ID. Choose a provider with a clear process for releasing legitimate claims and keep your licence evidence.

For podcasts and websites, retain the licence confirmation and a copy of the terms that applied when you obtained it.

Creative Commons: a flexible family of licences

Creative Commons licences sit between conventional ‘all rights reserved’ copyright and broad permission to reuse. The creator selects the conditions, and those conditions vary significantly. Read the exact licence rather than relying on the CC label alone.

The licence elements

BY — Attribution: You must credit the creator in the manner required by the licence. BY appears in most CC licences.

SA — ShareAlike: If you adapt and distribute the work, you must license the adaptation under the same or a compatible licence.

NC — NonCommercial: Commercial use is not permitted. That generally rules it out for a business website.

ND — NoDerivatives: You may redistribute the work only in unadapted form, subject to the other licence conditions.

CC0 — public-domain dedication: CC0 is designed to waive rights to the fullest extent permitted by law and allow reuse, adaptation and commercial use without an attribution requirement. Third-party rights, such as personality or trademark rights, may still apply.

The six CC licences at a glance

Rule of thumb: CC0, CC BY and CC BY-SA can permit commercial use if all licence conditions are met. Content marked NC is not licensed for commercial use and is generally unsuitable for a business website.

Worst-case scenario: receiving a cease-and-desist letter

A registered letter has arrived. Do not panic, but do not ignore it. Work through the following steps systematically.

Step 1: record the deadline Many letters set a response period of only one or two weeks. Put the date in your calendar immediately.

Step 2: do not sign the enclosed undertaking immediately A pre-drafted cease-and-desist undertaking may be broader than necessary and can create long-term contractual penalties. Have a specialist lawyer review whether and how to respond.

Step 3: stop the disputed use Remove or disable the disputed image, music or font promptly and preserve evidence of what was used, when and under which licence. Do not destroy relevant records.

Step 4: consult a specialist lawyer A copyright lawyer can assess the claim, challenge unsupported amounts and prepare an appropriate response. Ask about the likely cost of an initial consultation before instructing the firm.

Step 5: check whether the letter is genuine Warning signs include a generic email account, no verifiable law-firm address or no specific description of the alleged infringement. Do not assume that a suspicious letter is harmless; verify it independently and obtain legal advice if uncertain.

Five-step media licensing checklist

A repeatable process prevents most avoidable mistakes:

1. 1. Check the licence Before using an image, font or track, confirm whether commercial use and adaptation are permitted and whether attribution is required.
2. 2. Document the licence Keep the purchase receipt, licence certificate and a dated copy or screenshot of the applicable terms in one central folder.
3. 3. Provide attribution correctly If the licence requires a credit, display it in the specified form and location — for example below the image, in the legal notice or in the end credits.
4. 4. Host web fonts locally where appropriate Check for third-party font requests and move permitted font files to local hosting.
5. 5. Audit media regularly Review the media used on your site at least once a year. Confirm that you can still locate the licence evidence and check whether any terms have changed.

Conclusion: media compliance is manageable

Cease-and-desist claims can be frightening and, in some cases, financially serious. A consistent licensing and documentation process makes the risk far easier to control.

Use sources with documented image licences. Host permitted fonts locally. Choose music with a licence that clearly covers your use. Understand the conditions attached to Creative Commons material. If a letter arrives, stay calm, preserve the evidence and seek specialist advice.

The process is not complicated; it requires care and good records. Once those habits are established, checking the post can become reassuringly uneventful again.

Your next step: open the browser’s developer tools and check whether your website still loads fonts from Google’s servers. It takes two minutes and is a useful first audit.

—

This article was prepared with care and last updated in December 2025. The law and platform terms can change. Consult a specialist lawyer about any specific legal issue.