Social Media don’t make them free: Photographer wins $1.2 million from companies that grabbed his pictures off Twitter.

Media giants Getty Images and the Agence France-Press should know better than to grab photos from Twitter for their own commercial ends.  Now it’s time to pay the piper, or – in this case – the photographer.  

Remember: handle intellectual property carefully whether you come across it on social media or not.  If big companies can be made to feel the consequences of not taking copyright seriously, imagine what could happen to you.  You may not have millions to pay out, but your project may never see the light of day.  Always consult an attorney before acquiring third-party media for your own use – or at the least ask for permission.