AI has transformed how bloggers and content creators operate, allowing them to seriously speed up content creation. 

But using AI in your business is not without its drawbacks. 

While copyright automatically applies to original works, the same cannot be said or AI generated content.

Which means someone can “steal” your AI content and there isn’t much you can do about it. 

Related Post: What to do when someone steals your blog content.

In this post, I’ll break down exactly how copyright law currently applies to AI-generated or AI-assisted content.

More importantly I’ll cover how you can blend AI assistance with your own (human) authorship to make sure your content is protected.

What Copyright Law Says About AI-Generated Content

At its core, copyright law is designed to protect original works of human authorship.

U.S. copyright law doesn’t recognize copyright ownership in works that are entirely created by a machine, even if that machine was prompted or guided by a human.

So what does that mean in the modern day of content creation?

If you use a tool like ChatGPT or another AI to write a blog post, and you hit publish without significantly altering it or adding your own input, voice, or creativity, that content likely isn’t going to be protected by copyright. 

That means someone else could copy and paste it, use it as their own, and you wouldn’t have a solid legal leg to stand on.

To be eligible for copyright protection, a work must:

• Be original (not copied)
• Show a minimal level of creativity
• Be created by a human author

Even if you came up with the prompt and reviewed the result, if you didn’t add meaningful human input into the final piece, the law doesn’t consider it “yours” in a copyright sense. Basically, you can’t copyright what a robot wrote. Even if you were the one telling the robot what to write.

Why This Matters for Bloggers and Digital Creators

For bloggers, content creators, and online business owners, this isn’t just a technical legal issue—it’s a business risk.

If you’re using AI to churn out content that doesn’t include enough of your own voice, perspective, or edits, that work may not be protected by copyright. That means:

• You can’t file a DMCA takedown if someone copies and pastes your AI-written blog post.
• You can’t stop others from using or republishing it, even if it ranks well or drives significant traffic.
• You could be in breach of platform policies, like for self-published books or online courses, that require you to own the rights to your content.

For online entrepreneurs who rely on content to grow their audience, build trust, and sell digital products, that’s a big problem.

So while AI can help speed up your content creation process, it shouldn’t take it over completely. 

How to Retain Copyright Protection When Using AI

Just because AI content can’t be copyrighted doesn’t mean you have to avoid using AI altogether. 

The key is to use AI tools as a support system or assistant—not a substitute or replacement—for your own creative input. Here’s how to do that effectively:

Use AI as a Starting Point, Not the Final Product

AI can be incredibly helpful for brainstorming, outlining, and even generating rough drafts. But what it gives you is just that—a starting point. Think of AI content like a lump of clay: it’s not art until you shape it.

Examples of AI-assisted tasks:

• Generating content outlines
• Rewriting blocks of text to overcome writer’s block
• Summarizing research or legal text in simpler terms

Infuse Human Creativity and Judgment

To create something that’s copyrightable, you need to contribute something original—your voice, your stories, your commentary. That means:

• Adding personal examples or experiences
• Rewriting and editing for tone, clarity, and style
• Providing analysis, opinions, or actionable advice that only you could give

This human touch not only makes your content legally yours—it also makes it more valuable to your audience. The more value you provide the better your content will do.

Keep Documentation

If you’re blending AI with your own work, consider keeping basic records of how you contributed:

• Save initial AI outputs and your revised versions
• Track which sections were entirely written by you
• Use version control tools or even comments in your drafts

This can help demonstrate your authorship if there’s ever a dispute and shows good faith in protecting your work. When in doubt if you’ve made the content “yours” run it through an AI detector like Originality.AI which will review and establish if content is likely AI or likely original. While it’s not perfect and I’ve seen it find sections it believed were AI in content that I wrote years before AI was a thing, it’s still a pretty solid indicator.

AI Disclosures and Transparency Best Practices

While AI-assisted content can be protected if it reflects your human authorship, being transparent about your use of AI can help further establish your claim to the work—and build trust with your audience.

When (and Why) to Disclose AI Use

There’s no legal requirement in the U.S. (though the AI act out of the EU does reference a need for disclosures) to disclose every time you use AI, but there are strategic reasons to do so:

• Build trust: Your audience appreciates honesty about how your content is created.
• Stake your claim: A clear disclosure helps set boundaries—“This is my work, and here’s how it was created.”

If you’re using AI tools in your content creation process—especially in public-facing content like blog posts, lead magnets, or sales pages—it’s worth having an AI disclosure policy in place.

Need help crafting a legally sound AI disclosure? It’s included in my Website Legal Templates Bundle.

Bottom Line

AI can be an incredible tool for your business, especially if you’re a solopreneur—but like any tool, it needs to be used wisely.

If you’re publishing content generated entirely by AI without adding or inserting your own creativity, voice, and input, you’re leaving it unprotected. 

However, when you use AI as a collaborator or assistant and infuse your own voice, perspective, and creativity, that content becomes yours—and it can be eligible for copyright protection.

So go ahead and let AI help you brainstorm, outline, or beat blank page syndrome. Just don’t forget to bring your own input and ideas to the table to make the content unique and original.

The post Can You Copyright AI-Generated Content? Here’s How to Make Sure Your Work Is Protected appeared first on ELIZABETHSTAPLETON.COM.

Copyright Applies Automatically

One important thing to know about copyright is that it applies automatically. That means as soon as you create something, it’s protected by copyright law. You don’t have to register your work with the government to put a copyright notice on it.

However, there are some benefits to registering your work with the government. For example, if you register your work, then when suing someone for violating your copyright, you can win what is called statutory damages. Whereas if you don’t have your copyright registered you can only potentially recover actual damages and any money gained by the person who used your work.

DMCA Takedowns

DMCA stands for Digital Millenium Copyright Act it was established in the late 90s and it’s the Government’s attempt to catch up to the internet.

If you find that someone has stolen your content, you can send a DMCA takedown notice to the site owner or host the site is using (ex. BigScoots). This is a formal request to remove the infringing material. If you don’t see the results you want, you can also file a DMCA complaint with Google.

Related: What to Do If your Blog Content is Stolen

Copyright Licensing

If you want to allow others to use your work, you can do so by licensing your work. There are different types of copyright licenses, so be sure to choose the one that’s right for you.

For example, if you’re licensing a photo to be used on a website, you would want to choose a Creative Commons license. There are many different Creative Commons licenses, so be sure to read through them carefully before choosing one. Fortunately, they do a great job of explaining each type of license.

Ultimately you can choose how you do or do not want to license your work and there are lots of different tools out there to help you manage your licenses.

What you Cannot or Can Do with Copyright

You cannot copyright an idea, but you can copyright the expression of that idea. For example, you cannot copyright the idea of a blog post about dogs, but you can copyright the actual blog post itself.

You also cannot copyright facts or short phrases. So, if you’re blogging about your dog, you can’t copyright the fact that your dog is a labradoodle. However, you can copyright your original thoughts and opinions about your dog.

You also can’t copyright information that is commonly known. For example, you can’t copyright “the sky is blue” because everyone knows that the sky is blue. 

Generally speaking, you can only copyright original content that you create.

Social Media Terms & Copyright

When it comes to social media, there are a few things you should know about copyright. For example, if you’re posting someone else’s photo on Instagram, you need to get their permission first.

While reposting on an Instagram feed is a common practice, unless you have permission to do so you are violating their copyright as well as Instagram’s terms of use.

It’s important when you sign up for a social media account that you review their terms, especially around the topic of copyright. Do you retain copyright ownership if you share something on the site? Or does the site now own it?

Using Another Blogger’s Content

If you want to use another blogger’s content, the best thing to do is ask for their permission first. Most bloggers are happy to share their work, as long as they’re given credit.

Some go as far as to outline this type of permission in their site terms. They usually do this to avoid having to respond to tons of requests. So before you send a request, check their terms it could save you both time.

But unless you have permission, simply linking to the source or giving attribution does not resolve you of wrongdoing (aka copyright infringement).

Bottom Line

To sum up, as a blogger it’s important to be aware of copyright law. By understanding the basics of copyright, you can avoid any legal issues down the road. Just remember, if you’re ever unsure about something, it’s always best to consult with a lawyer.

The post What Bloggers Should Know About Copyright appeared first on ELIZABETHSTAPLETON.COM.

Canva offers a variety of tools to help designers create beautiful designs, from templates and fonts to illustrations and photos. In addition, Canva makes it easy to share these creations through social media.

All in all, Canva is a great platform for creating visuals for your blog, including blog posts, a social media post, and even digital products to sell. But can you use Canva for commercial use? In this article, we will explore the answer to that question and also discuss everything you need to know about using Canva for business purposes.

What Licensing is and How to Know if You Have the Right License?

Before we get into how you can use Canva for commercial purposes, let’s take a quick look at licensing.

Copyright refers to an exclusive right granted to authors to control their work. This means that once someone creates something (a painting, a book, a song), they have the right to decide whether others are allowed to copy, distribute, display, perform, adapt or translate their work.

If you don’t own the copyright to any content, such as a photograph, illustration, video clip or written text, then you need to have the proper licensing to use it in your work.

There are different types of licenses available depending on what you’re using and how you’re using it. Canva offers two different types of licenses:

• Free Content License
• Pro Content License (aka One Design Use License)

You get the applicable license automatically when you “export a Canva Design, for each piece of Content contained in your Design.”(Canva’s Content License Agreement)

Each of these licenses allows for certain uses of the Content, and you need to make sure you are only using Canva Content under those terms.

Related: What Bloggers Should Know About Cease and Desist Letters: What to Do If You Receive One

Canva Content vs Your Content

If you’ve used Canva, then you know you can upload your own photos, graphics, and even fonts to use in your designs. You retain ownership of this content (or the rights you have pertaining to the content). If you upload content under a brand, enterprise, or team, then the owner of the brand, enterprise, or team will retain the ownership/rights.

The content you upload and maintain ownership over is called “User Content”.

Content made available on Canva for you to use is referred to as “Stock Media” and can include “stock photographs, illustrations, fonts, templates and other media, along with any associated text” (Contributor Agreement).

You are not allowed to upload User Content that you don’t have the right to make available. So if you’ve grabbed a photo from Google Images, that you don’t have the proper licensing for, you cannot upload it to Canva. 

Also, if you upload a template that contains images, videos, or other files, you must have permission to do so. For example, if you want to use a font, you need to ensure you have the appropriate permissions to use that font.

What is Allowed? How You Can Use Your Canva Designs Commercially

With the exception of “Pro Music”, you can create the following for “promotion and/or resale, without any reproduction limit” meaning you can sell the following types of things you create that includes “Stock Media”.

• Invitations
• advertising and promotional projects (including printed materials)
• product packaging
• presentations
• fil and video presentations
• commercials
• catalogs
• brochures
• greeting cards
• postcards
• Entertainment applications (aka book or magazine covers, newsletters, broadcasts or theater presentations)

You can also use stock media to create:

• social media posts or profile image
• design templates solely for use on Canva
• Online or electronic publications (like websites, blogs, ebooks, videos etc) – though restrictions apply if you’re using “pro content”

As I mentioned earlier there are different licenses that apply to the different kinds of Stock Media available on Canva. Pro Content is content only available via one-time use purchase or as part of a Canva Pro account. Free content is the Stock Media that is available to all users for free. 

Using Free content allows you to download any design that uses the free content or download it on its own and then use it in templates for “websites, social networking websites, documents, projects or otherwise for distribution and or/sale to third parties”.

Meaning you can sell any templates for websites, social media, business cards etc. so long as the templates are only using Free Content. That being said, you CANNOT download a piece of Free Content by itself and then sell that download. 

So you can use them as part of a template, but you can’t make them the only thing in the template – make sense? If you’re Canva Design contains any Pro Content, you can’t use it for the purposes of selling templates.

What is Not Allowed? What You Can’t Do with Canva

While there are some restrictions regarding Pro Content, there are things you can’t do with either Free Content or Pro Content. The first, I’ve already mentioned, you can’t download a piece “Stock Media” from Canva and then turn around and sell it.

You also can’t use any of the Content as part of a design you intend to “Trademark, Design-mark, Trade-name, Business Name or service Mark (excludes fonts)”(Content License Agreement). Meaning, for example, you will not be able to trademark a logo you created using Stock Media from Canva. 

Additionally, any Stock Media that is labeled as “Editorial Use Only” cannot be used for any commercial purposes. 

The rest of “no-no” list is pretty common sense, don’t:

• steal content by removing copyright or trade-mark notices,
• make it so others can (steal) do so. 
• use it as a standalone basis for “on-demand” distribution (ex. a site like Redbubble or Merch by Amazon).
• Use Stock Media in any way that is defamatory or libelous in nature, or would put any person “depicted in the content in a bad light or in a way that they may find offense” (Content License Agreement). 

It’s important to note, that when it comes to using a stock photo, that is included as “Stock Media”, the photos coming from Pixabay, Pexels, or CC0 may allow some of these activities – but you’ll have to check the licensing from those sites. 

What Legal Stuff Do I Need to Know About Using Canva as a Blogger

First, pay attention to the Stock Media you are using – is it Free or Pro? Pro comes with more restrictions. You want to make sure that what your using has the right license agreements for how you want to use it.

Second, what are you planning to use your design for? Are you creating Canva Template Designs to sell? Then you can only use Free Content in those designs.

(Pro Tip: You Can Filter Out Pro Design Elements)

Third, when it comes to stock images, make sure you know where the image comes from and what the licensing of that image allows you to do.

Finally, you must remember that you retain ownership of anything you upload to Canva but so do the Stock Media Creators. A design that you create will be yours to own (because of how you laid it out, changed things, added, etc.), but the individual elements used in your design will be owned by the original copyright owner/Contributor.

It can be a bit confusing, however, Canva has worked with the Contributors to ensure its users have the proper licensing agreement to use the “Stock Media” in designs under the rules in Canva’s Terms of Use, which were covered above.

Other Questions You Might Be Wondering

Here are some other questions that you might be wondering when it comes to using Canva:

Can I use Canva for client work?

 Yes, but you must ensure that the Client also complies with the licenses granted when creating your client work.

Can I use logos from Canva for my business?

 Yes, but you likely won’t’ be able to trademark that logo because trademarks are meant to be unique symbols, and elements in Canva can be used by everyone.

Can you sell Canva designs on Etsy?

 Yes, so long as it is your design in Canva, and not standalone use of Stock Media (including templates provided by Canva).

Can I use Canva elements in my logo?

Yes, but keep in mind you probably won’t be able to trademark a logo created in Canva. 

Disclaimer: This is my interpretation of the Terms of Use provided by Canva as of March 23, 2022. The Terms are subject to change, Canva may also explain them further with a different interpretation than what I’ve included.

The post Can You Use Canva for Commercial Use? What Online Business Owners Need to Know appeared first on ELIZABETHSTAPLETON.COM.

If you receive one of these letters, it’s important to take action right away. In this blog post, we will discuss what you should do if you receive a cease and desist letter. We will also provide some tips on how to protect yourself from future legal action.

Difference Between a Cease and Desist Letter and an Order

Before we discuss what you should do if you receive a cease and desist letter, let’s first clarify the difference between a cease and desist letter and an order.

A cease and desist letter is a request for someone to stop doing something that is allegedly infringing upon another person’s intellectual property rights.

An order, on the other hand, is a legal document that requires someone to take a specific action.

What to Do if You Receive a Cease and Desist Letter as a Blogger

If you receive a cease and desist letter as a blogger, it’s important to take action right away, you either accept or defend. In most cases, it’s best to stop using the infringing material immediately. You may also need to remove any content that is associated with the infringing material from your blog.

It’s important to keep in mind that you could be sued if you don’t comply with the cease and desist letter. In some cases, you may be able to negotiate with the person or company who sent the letter. However, this is not always possible.

So if you receive a cease and desist letter you should:

1. Not panic. The letter is demanding you stop doing something and respond by a set deadline

2. Read the letter carefully and make sure you understand what is being asked of you.

3. Consider contacting an attorney to help you assess the situation and determine your next steps.

4. If you have misused the material, stop using the copyrighted material immediately and remove any infringing content from your blog or social media pages.

5. Respond by the deadline in the letter

6. Consider filing a counterclaim if you believe your rights have been infringed upon.

How to Respond to a Cease and Desist Letter

If you receive a cease and desist letter, it’s important to respond quickly. In most cases, it is best to stop using the infringing material immediately and remove any content that is associated with the infringing material from your blog or social media pages

If however, you don’t think you misused the intellectual property there are some defenses you can use.

Defenses to a Cease and Desist Letter

There are a few defenses that you may be able to use if you receive a cease and desist letter. These include:

Fair Use – This is a legal doctrine that allows people to use copyrighted material for certain purposes, such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.

First Amendment Rights – You may be able to argue that the use of copyrighted material is protected under the First Amendment.

Lack of Standing – The person or company who sent the cease and desist letter may not have standing to sue you. This means they may not be able to prove that they suffered any damage as a result of your actions.

If you believe one of these defenses applies to your situation, you should contact an attorney right away.

What happens if you ignore a cease and desist letter?

If you ignore a cease and desist letter, you could be sued by the person or company who sent it. In some cases, you may also be subject to a court order that requires you to stop using the copyrighted material.

If you are sued, you will likely have to pay legal fees even if you are innocent. So it’s always best to try and resolve the situation amicably if you can.

Negotiate with the sender of the cease and desist letter if

You should first try to contact the person or company who sent the letter to see if they are willing to negotiate. If negotiations are unsuccessful, you may need to take legal action.

If you’re not sure what to do after receiving a cease and desist letter, it’s always best to contact an attorney. They will be able to help you assess the situation and determine your next steps.

Remember that if you don’t comply with a cease and desist letter, you could be sued. So it’s important to take action right away.

Tips for Avoiding Cease and Desist Letters as a Blogger

There are a few things that you can do to help avoid cease and desist letters as a blogger. These include:

Registering Your Domain Name and Trademarks – You can help protect yourself by registering your domain name and trademarks.

Using Appropriate Licensing – If you use someone else’s copyrighted material, make sure you have the appropriate licensing in place.

Acknowledging Copyright Ownership – Always credit the owner of any copyrighted material that you use.

Developing a Clear Intellectual Property Policy – Having a clear intellectual property policy can help avoid any confusion about what is and isn’t allowed on your blog.

Following these tips can help you avoid cease and desist letters as a blogger. However, it’s always important to be aware of the intellectual property rights of others and to use copyrighted material only when you have permission.

Bottom Line

If you receive a cease and desist letter, it’s important to take action right away and not ignore the letter. In most cases, it is best to stop using the infringing material immediately and remove any content that is associated with the infringing material from your blog or social media pages. If you believe one of the defenses listed above applies to your situation, you should contact an attorney right away to help you craft a response.

The post What Bloggers Should Know About Cease and Desist Letters: What to Do If You Receive One appeared first on ELIZABETHSTAPLETON.COM.

At first, you might be shocked it happened to you, but likely your next response is going to be how do I take those jerks down and get their copycat content off the web?

In this post, I’m going to break down what you should do if someone steals your blog content.

1. Take Screenshots of the Site

Before alerting anyone, in particular the site owner, make sure you take screenshots of the site as evidence.

Extensions like Full Page Screen Capture will help you take a screenshot of the entire page so you don’t have to scroll and take tons of photos.

2. Don’t Reach Out Directly Unless It Is Through An Attorney

If someone has blatantly copied your site or content, do not engage. I know it might be tempting, especially since you are likely to be angry, but don’t contact them unless it is through an attorney.

3. Find Out Who Is Hosting The Site

The next step is to determine who is hosting the site. There are various websites you can use to do this.

Hosting companies don’t want legal issues and will often take the site down quickly. Here are a few sites to help you determine who is hosting your site:

• https://www.whoishostingthis.com
• https://hostingchecker.com/

4. File a DCMA Takedown Notice

DMCA stands for Digital Millennium Copyright Act and helps to protect the copyright of digital works, like blogs. Filing a DMCA takedown notice is simply the act of notifying a hosting provider, search engine, or other site owner that content they are hosting is infringing on your copyright. 

If you’re looking for a template letter, Sara F. Hawkins, an attorney has an example on her site.

5. Follow Up

If you don’t hear anything right away and the offending content remains, follow up. Keep following up consistently until the content is removed. I’ve seen people mention that it can sometimes take months. So keep following up and don’t drop it.

6. Pursue All Avenues

Ashley from Budgets Made Easy had her entire site copied and had trouble getting the offending site taken down, but she was able to ensure it wasn’t showing up in Google. Here is what she had to say:

I had my entire site copied and it was a huge hassle to get it taken down. I don’t think that it even was taken down but it is no longer found in Google. I kept contacting their host but then the contact info was through another layer of info. I finally contacted Google and filed a DCMA takedown with them and now that site isn’t found in Google.

Ashley Patrick – Budgets Made Easy

Additional Resources:

Reporting DMCA to Google: https://support.google.com/legal/troubleshooter/

Similarly if someone has stolen your Pin on Pinterest, Lena Gott of What Mommy Does has a great article on how to get the stolen pin taken down.

Bottom Line

It absolutely sucks to have the content you worked hard on stolen, but you aren’t helpless. While it may be a pain, there are steps you can take to have the content taken down and removed from Google. 

Before lashing out at the site owner, be sure to collect evidence in the form of screenshots. Then find out who is hosting the site and file a DMCA take down notice and be sure to follow up.

The post What to Do When Your Blog Content is Stolen appeared first on ELIZABETHSTAPLETON.COM.