Figures are protected by copyright which means you have to make sure you are allowed to use them before adding them to your thesis or other material that will be published. If the illustration you want to use does not have a license that lets you know it is free to use you have to ask the copyright holder for permission before using it. One exception to this rule is if the creator has been dead for 70 years or more, this would place the illustration in the public domain which means it is free to use.

What counts as a figure?

Figure = photographs, drawings, plot, charts and other images (not including tables).

The word figure is often used interchangeably with image.

Creative commons and how to find free to use images

To save time and to make sure you are not violating copyright laws you can use material that is openly available and free to use. This is usually indicated by a Creative Commons license. A creative commons license tells you how you are allowed to use the material, and the license should be included in your reference. Note that you still need references. Even if the illustration is free to use, the copyright holder should always receive attribution.

View this video with transcript in KTH Play

AI generated images and copyright

To receive copyright for your created work you must be human, therefore AI programs do not hold the copyright to an image that it created by using your prompts. However, there might be restrictions in the terms and conditions agreement provided by the company behind the AI that limits your ability to use the image.

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