Romanian university uses watermarked Getty Images pictures of Tennis player Simona Halep in slideshow presentation while honouring her with title of University ambassador photobg Follow Dec 5, 2018 · 2 min read

The world leader in WTA received the title of Ambassador of the Ovidius University in Constanta, Romania on November 5th for Promoting academic image and excellence in sports activities*. (Source: Simona Halep’s website gallery)

To honour her, the University staff prepared a slideshow presentation using various pictures (most certainly taken directly from the Google Images search engine) including watermarked and copyrighted material from Getty Images. Below are photos taken from Simona Halep’s new website.

Although a university should be very aware of not only citing content from different sources, but also asking permission or acquiring a license where it is the case. Getty Images charges for one photoabout $300 for the electronic/digital or printed material shown or distributed as part of a presentation (either digitally on devices such as an iPad or printed), in an event organised by the Ovidius University. (https://www.gettyimages.com/purchase/price-calculator/sb10069475ab-001)

The projected picture on the screen has the Getty Images watermark on it (gray semi-transparent box) (photo source: https://simonahalep.com/en/gallery/)

Yet another watermarked picture on the screen (photo source: https://simonahalep.com/en/gallery/)

If you use a watermarked image on any of your marketing materials, digital or print, without written permission from the rights holder then you are infringing the copyright of that watermarked image.

Source: Pixelsink

Thus, the Ovidius University from Romania has a copyright infringement issue to handle.