No, you can’t just freely use any image you find on the Internet.
Google has a very helpful option to refine Internet searches for images only. Simply enter your search phrase and then click “Images” at the top, or go directly to their Google Images search tool. Unfortunately, just because they show up on Google (or anywhere else on the Internet) doesn’t necessarily mean that you can simply copy them for your own usage. They may be copyright protected.
Google does have a way to search for Images that have free usage rights – Google’s Advanced Image Search – but even that should be used cautiously, as not all images Google finds have necessarily been vetted for original ownership.
To be safe, instead simply restrict your image searches to public domain stock images, or stock image warehouses; many of which (like Dreamstime, for instance) offer a selection of free images you can use, as long as you credit ownership properly. Yes, you may have to pay a buck or two through a stock warehouse, but it’ll be a lot cheaper than getting hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit…
Better yet, hire a photographer or designer to create original photos or images for you!
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