Will there be copyright problems if I use online pictures as magazine illustrations? In addition, we use photos taken by our own photographers. Do we need to sign an agreement?

Explain the definition of copyright first:

Copyright refers to the right of a unit or individual to print, publish and sell a work according to law. Anyone who wants to copy, translate, adapt or perform needs permission from the copyright owner, otherwise it will infringe on the rights of others.

There are two ways to obtain copyright:

Automatic acquisition and registration acquisition. In China, according to the copyright law, works automatically enjoy copyright after completion. The so-called completion is relative, as long as the object of creation has met the statutory conditions for the composition of the work, it can be protected by copyright law as a work. Theoretically, according to different properties, copyright can be divided into copyright and neighboring rights. Simply put, copyright is aimed at people who create related spiritual products, while the concept of neighboring rights is aimed at participants in related industries who perform or help spread the carrier of works, such as performers, producers of audio-visual products, radio and television stations, publishing houses and so on.

So this can answer your first two questions. First of all, there must be copyright problems in using online pictures as illustrations. Secondly, the use of the photographer's work must also sign an agreement. However, if the photographer works for your magazine, it is a job work, and the magazine has the right to use it for two years. As for the baby being photographed, his guardian, that is, his parents, will exercise the right to portrait, which is also signed.