As a web designer, here' s what to watch out for when it comes to copyright issues:
Check For Platform-Based Licenses
Some platforms would require a licensing agreement before using their services. Especially if the designer wishes to modify their templates. Whether one is a freelancer or working for a web design company, carefully go through the terms of use first before proceeding. This is a precautionary step as not all agreements apply for all platforms. Copyright violations are common mainly because the web designer did away with attribution lines not knowing that it wasn't allowed.
Copying HTML and CSS Stylesheets
Unknown to several web designers though, this small act can even be tricky because stylesheets these days enjoy copyright benefits. When in doubt, there are free online resources who provide license-free coding. If not, please ask permission from respective webmasters.
Copyrighted Images
This is one of the most common web copyright violations. While most web designers nowadays use original photos, plenty still rely on stock or random photos from the web. Images play a vital role in any web design. Whether as backgrounds or supporting elements; a good picture can portray so many things. Professional design firms usually have their own stock images, or they create new ones based on client preferences.
The best course of action is to create a new image. Either make one using the latest editing software; or hire a photographer to take specialized photos. Another options is to read license types, and obtain permission from the image owner. The web can be a tricky maze to those unfamiliar with it. But in the end, creativity and originality always wins.