How can a photographer protect their images with watermarks and copyrights online?

Protecting your creative work online requires a combination of proactive legal steps and technical safeguards. Here is how you can secure your photography:

Copyright Protection

• Formal Registration: While copyright exists the moment an image is fixed in a tangible medium (like your camera's memory card), registering your work with the U.S. Copyright Office gives you the legal backing required to sue for statutory damages and attorney's fees in federal court.
• Metadata Embedding: Embed your copyright information directly into the image file's EXIF/IPTC data using software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. This data stays with the file even when downloaded, proving ownership details.
• Terms of Service: Display a clear, visible copyright notice (\text{\textcopyright} Year [Your Name]) on your website footer and portfolio pages to deter casual theft.

Watermark Strategies

• Placement Strategy: Place your watermark across a key focal point or a transition of tones in the image rather than a transparent corner crop. Corner watermarks are easily cropped out or cloned over in seconds.
• Opacity and Blend Modes: Use a balanced opacity (around 30% to 50%) or blending modes (like overlay) so the watermark protects the subject without completely ruining the viewer's experience.
• Style Options: Choose between a subtle text signature, your logo, or a semi-transparent repeating pattern depending on how vulnerable the platform makes your work.

Technical Safeguards

• Low-Resolution Export: Never upload full-resolution, uncompressed files (4K+ pixels wide) to public platforms. Export web-optimized versions restricted to 1200 pixels on the long edge at 72--96 DPI.
• Right-Click Disable: Install a plugin or use website builder settings (like Squarespace or WordPress security plugins) to disable right-clicking or drag-and-drop saving on your portfolio. Note that this is a mild deterrent, as tech-savvy users can still screenshot.
• Reverse Image Search: Periodically run your best images through Google Images or TinEye to track down unauthorized usage across the web.

If you'd like, let me know:

• What platform you use to host your portfolio (WordPress, Squarespace, Pixieset, etc.)
• Whether you primarily share work on social media or a personal website

I can give you specific plugin recommendations or workflow tips tailored to your setup.

A photographer should use several layers of protection rather than relying on a watermark alone. Here’s a practical approach, with U.S. copyright law as the reference point:

1. Add a visible watermark

   • Put your name, studio name, or logo over the image.
   • For portfolio/social-media images, place it where cropping would be difficult.
   • A subtle watermark preserves the appearance of the photo; a more prominent watermark provides stronger deterrence.
   • Remember: a watermark can discourage casual theft, but it doesn't prevent someone from removing or cropping it.

2. Upload lower-resolution versions

   • Keep the original high-resolution files offline or in secure cloud storage.
   • Publish appropriately sized images for the web rather than full-resolution originals.
   • This limits the usefulness of a stolen image for large prints or commercial reproduction.

3. Keep your original files and documentation

   • Preserve RAW files, original exports, timestamps, contracts, invoices, and project records.
   • These can help establish authorship and the history of the work if a dispute occurs.

4. Include copyright information

   • You can include your name and copyright information in the image's metadata when your workflow/platform supports it.
   • A copyright notice such as © 2026 Your Name can also be displayed alongside the image.

5. Register important photographs with the U.S. Copyright Office

   • In the U.S., copyright protection generally exists without registration; publication isn't required for protection.
   • Registration is still valuable because it creates an official registration record and can be important when pursuing infringement claims. The Copyright Office allows photographers to register photographs electronically, including certain group-registration options.
   • For photographers with large collections, the group-registration rules can be particularly useful; for example, the Office permits qualifying groups of unpublished photographs, subject to specific requirements.

6. Use licensing terms

   • Clearly state how your images may be used: personal use, editorial use, commercial use, social media, etc.
   • For paid work, use a written license or contract specifying permitted uses, duration, territory, attribution requirements, and whether exclusivity is granted.

7. Monitor for unauthorized use

   • Periodically perform reverse-image searches and search for distinctive images or your name.
   • If you discover unauthorized use, document the URL, screenshots, dates, and the infringing image before contacting the site or user.

8. Don't assume "it's online, so it's free"

   • Posting a photograph publicly does not automatically give others permission to copy or commercially use it. Copyright protection can apply to original photographs even when their subjects themselves aren't copyrightable.

A good photographer's workflow

Original RAW → master archival copy → high-quality licensed delivery → smaller web copy → watermark/copyright information → monitoring → registration for important collections.

For professional photographers, I'd consider registration + good contracts + controlled-resolution web images + watermarking the strongest combination. A watermark is primarily a deterrent and attribution tool, whereas copyright ownership and registration provide the legal foundation.

This is general information, not legal advice; copyright remedies and registration rules can differ outside the U.S.

A photographer should use several layers of protection rather than relying on a watermark alone. A watermark discourages casual copying, while copyright registration and good documentation provide much stronger legal protection.

1. Add a visible watermark

For images displayed publicly online:

• Put your name, studio name, or website URL on the image.
• Use moderate transparency so it doesn't overwhelm the photograph.
• For valuable work, place the watermark over an important part of the image rather than only in a corner—corner watermarks are easy to crop out.
• Consider a subtle repeating watermark for preview galleries.
• Keep the original, unwatermarked high-resolution file private.

A watermark doesn't create copyright protection; it mainly identifies the photographer and makes unauthorized use less convenient.

2. Put a copyright notice on the website

For example:

© 2026 Jane Smith Photography. All rights reserved.

You can also include language explaining that images may not be reproduced, downloaded, or used commercially without permission.

In the U.S., copyright protection generally exists automatically when an original photograph is created and fixed; registration isn't required for copyright to exist.

3. Register important photographs

This is one of the most important steps if you're serious about protecting commercially valuable work.

The U.S. Copyright Office allows photographers to register photographs, including certain groups of photographs. Registration can provide significant legal advantages if infringement occurs. For U.S. works, registration (or refusal) is generally required before bringing an infringement lawsuit, and timely registration can affect eligibility for statutory damages and attorney's fees.

You can register online through the Copyright Office.

4. Preserve the originals and metadata

Keep:

• RAW/original camera files
• Original high-resolution exports
• Editing/project files
• Original capture dates
• EXIF/IPTC metadata
• Invoices and licensing agreements
• Records showing when and where you published the photograph

Metadata can identify the photographer and provide useful evidence, although it shouldn't be treated as an unbreakable security mechanism—online platforms or users can sometimes strip it.

5. Don't upload unnecessarily large files

For portfolio and social-media use, you usually don't need to publish the full-resolution original.

A practical approach is to upload a web-sized JPEG that looks good on screen but isn't an ideal source for high-quality printing. Keep the full-resolution version offline or in secure cloud storage.

Don't assume that disabling right-click or preventing downloads makes an image secure. Someone can still take a screenshot, access cached content, or photograph the screen.

6. Monitor for unauthorized use

Periodically search for copies of your work using reverse-image-search services and ordinary web searches. For professional portfolios, you can also use image-monitoring services.

If you find unauthorized use, document it before contacting the person:

1. Save screenshots.
2. Record the URL and date.
3. Save a copy of the infringing page if possible.
4. Compare the unauthorized image with your original.
5. Determine whether the use might actually be licensed or otherwise authorized.

Then decide whether to request removal, seek a license/payment, or pursue a formal copyright claim.

7. License rather than simply "give permission"

When someone wants to use an image, put the terms in writing:

• Where it can be used
• How long it can be used
• Geographic territory
• Print vs. digital use
• Commercial vs. editorial use
• Whether modification is allowed
• Whether the license is exclusive
• The fee

That makes it much easier to distinguish authorized use from infringement later.

A good overall strategy

RAW original → secure archive → registered copyright → web-sized copy → visible watermark + copyright notice → monitoring → documented licensing

The key point is that watermarking is deterrence; copyright registration and documentation are the legal foundation. For U.S. photographers, the Copyright Office specifically notes that photographs are protected by copyright when they contain sufficient creative expression and strongly encourages registration before publication.

This is general information, not legal advice; copyright rules differ by country.

A good overall strategy

RAW original → secure archive → registered copyright → web-sized copy → visible watermark + copyright notice → monitoring → documented licensing

The key point is that watermarking is deterrence; copyright registration and documentation are the legal foundation. For U.S. photographers, the Copyright Office specifically notes that photographs are protected by copyright when they contain sufficient creative expression and strongly encourages registration before publication.

Protecting your photography online requires a two-pronged approach: legal ownership (copyright) and visual deterrence (watermarking).

Here is how you can effectively safeguard your work:

1. Establishing Copyright Protection

• Copyright Registration: In the United States, copyright is automatic the moment an image is fixed in a tangible medium (captured by your camera). However, registering your images with the U.S. Copyright Office provides crucial legal leverage, allowing you to sue for statutory damages and attorney's fees in case of infringement.
• Copyright Notice: Always include a visible copyright notice in your website's footer and image metadata (e.g., © 2026 Your Name. All rights reserved.). While not legally required for protection in many places, it deters casual thieves by making ownership explicit.
• Metadata and EXIF Data: Embed your copyright, contact info, and licensing details directly into the file's EXIF/IPTC data using software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. If someone strips your visual watermark, the embedded metadata often remains, proving ownership.

2. Implementing Effective Watermarks

• Visual Placement: Place your watermark over a neutral or detailed part of the image rather than a flat background, making it much harder to remove using basic cropping or content-aware healing tools.
• Opacity and Size: Keep the watermark subtle yet legible—semi-transparent (around 20% - 40% opacity) works best. Avoid massive, opaque stamps that ruin the viewing experience, but make sure it isn't easily clipped out.
• Branding vs. Discretion: Use a clean signature or a simple logo combined with your website URL. Your goal is deterrence and attribution, not turning the photo into an advertisement.

3. Technical and Platform Safeguards

• Low-Resolution Display: Never upload full-resolution, high-DPI images to your public portfolio or social media. Limit files to 1000 - 2000 pixels on the long edge at 72 DPI, which is sufficient for screen viewing but useless for unauthorized printing.
• Right-Click Disabling: Use website plugins or platform settings (common on platforms like Pixieset, Squarespace, or WordPress) to disable right-clicking, dragging, or saving images directly from your site. (Note: Tech-savvy users can still screenshot, but it stops casual downloading).
• Reverse Image Search: Routinely use tools like Google Images or TinEye to upload your image files and track where else they appear across the web.

If you'd like, I can:

• Recommend specific WordPress plugins or portfolio platforms with built-in right-click protection.
• Explain the step-by-step process of batch-watermarking in Adobe Lightroom.

Let me know which area you'd like to explore further.

Photographers should use several layers of protection rather than relying on a watermark alone.

1. Add a visible watermark

A watermark discourages casual copying and makes it harder for someone to present your image as their own.

• Put your name, studio name, or logo over the image.
• For images intended mainly for social media, use a semi-transparent watermark that is difficult to crop out.
• Consider placing a subtle watermark across the important part of the image rather than only in a corner.
• Keep a clean, unwatermarked master file offline.

A watermark is primarily a deterrent—it doesn't create copyright protection or prevent determined users from copying an image.

2. Put a copyright notice alongside your images

For example:

© 2026 Jane Smith. All rights reserved.

You can also include your name and licensing/contact information in the website page containing the photograph. Copyright notice isn't required for protection in the U.S., but it can clearly communicate that you claim ownership. www.copyright.gov

3. Remember that copyright is automatic

In the U.S., an original photograph is generally protected by copyright as soon as you create and fix it—you don't have to put a watermark on it or register it first. Photographs are explicitly covered by copyright. www.copyright.govwww.copyright.gov

4. Register important photographs

For professional photographers, this is one of the strongest steps.

You can register photographs with the U.S. Copyright Office's registration system. The Copyright Office has specific options for groups of published and unpublished photographs.

Registration is especially valuable because, for U.S. works, registration (or refusal) is generally required before bringing a federal infringement lawsuit. Timely registration can also preserve eligibility for statutory damages and attorney's fees. www.copyright.gov

5. Upload smaller, lower-resolution versions

If people only need to view your portfolio online, there's usually little reason to publish your full-resolution original.

For example:

• Keep the original RAW/TIFF/high-resolution JPEG private.
• Publish a web-sized JPEG.
• Use reasonable compression.
• Avoid making files unnecessarily large.

This won't stop screenshots or determined copying, but it reduces the usefulness of an unauthorized download.

6. Preserve your evidence

Keep:

• Original RAW files
• Original exports
• Metadata and creation dates
• Project files
• Contracts and licenses
• Copies/screenshots of where you've published the image

This can help establish authorship and the history of the work if a dispute arises.

7. Control licensing clearly

On your website, state what visitors may and may not do with your images. If you license photographs, use written agreements specifying things such as:

• Where the image can be used
• Duration
• Geographic territory
• Whether commercial use is allowed
• Whether editing/cropping is permitted
• Whether attribution is required

8. Monitor for unauthorized use

Periodically search for your images using reverse-image-search services and monitor major social platforms and marketplaces. When you find unauthorized use, document it before contacting the user—save the URL, screenshots, date, and the original image.

Depending on the circumstances, you can then request removal, contact the infringer about licensing/payment, or pursue a formal legal remedy.

Best practical combination:
Visible watermark + copyright notice + low-resolution web copies + preserved originals/metadata + written licensing terms + timely Copyright Office registration for valuable work.

If you're a working photographer, the most important distinction is that watermarks help deter copying, while copyright registration gives you substantially stronger legal leverage after infringement occurs. www.copyright.govwww.copyright.gov

Protecting your photography online requires a two-pronged approach: legal ownership (copyright) and visual deterrence (watermarking).

1. Establishing and Protecting Your Copyright

• Automatic Copyright: In most places (including the US under the Berne Convention), copyright is automatic the moment you press the shutter and fix the image in a tangible medium. You own the copyright immediately.
• Formal Registration: While automatic, registering your images with the U.S. Copyright Office (or your country's equivalent) gives you the legal teeth needed to sue for statutory damages and attorney's fees in federal court. You can batch-register published or unpublished photos.
• Copyright Notice: Embed copyright metadata directly into your digital files (EXIF/IPTC data) using editing software like Lightroom or Photoshop. Include your name, year, and a notice like © 2026 Your Name. All rights reserved.
• Disable Right-Clicks: If you host your own website, use plugins or basic JavaScript to disable right-clicking and drag-and-drop saving. Note: Tech-savvy users can still bypass this via screenshots, but it deters casual theft.
• Low-Resolution Display: Never upload full-resolution, print-ready files (300 DPI) to your portfolio or social media. Keep web displays around 72--150 DPI and under 2000 pixels on the long edge so the image is useless for unauthorized printing.

2. Using Watermarks Effectively

• Strategic Placement: Place your logo or signature near the focal point or across an important texture/detail of the image rather than completely out of the way in a blank corner. If it's in a blank corner, a thief can easily crop it out.
• Opacity and Blend Modes: Lower the opacity of your watermark (e.g., 30--50%) or use blend modes like Overlay or Soft Light . This keeps the watermark legible without completely ruining the viewer's experience of the photograph.
• Subtlety Over Aggression: A massive, blinding white stamp across the entire photo deters theft, but it also deters legitimate clients and buyers. Aim for a clean, professional signature or logo that marks ownership without acting as an eyesore.
• Reverse Image Searches: Periodically use tools like Google Images or TinEye to upload your popular photos and see if they are being used elsewhere without your permission.

Would you like recommendations on software tools for batch-watermarking or guidance on how to draft a digital DMCA takedown notice if you find your work stolen?

A photographer should use layers of protection rather than relying on a watermark alone. In the U.S., copyright protection for an original photograph generally exists automatically when the photo is created and fixed in a file—you don't have to register it for copyright to exist.

1. Use a smart watermark

For images displayed publicly:

• Put your name, studio name, or website on the image.
• Use a watermark that's visible enough to discourage casual theft but doesn't ruin the photograph.
• For portfolio images, consider placing it across part of the image, rather than only in a corner, because corner watermarks are easier to crop out.
• Use a smaller, lower-resolution web copy rather than uploading the original-resolution file.
• Keep an unwatermarked, full-resolution master safely stored.

A watermark is primarily a deterrent and attribution tool. It doesn't create copyright protection and cannot prevent someone from removing it.

2. Keep your originals and metadata

Maintain the original RAW files and edited masters, along with:

• Original capture date
• RAW/EXIF metadata
• Editing history
• Client contracts and licenses
• Copies of the files as originally delivered

These can help establish authorship and ownership if there's a dispute.

3. Register important photographs

Registration isn't required for copyright, but it can provide significant enforcement advantages. The Copyright Office specifically allows photographers to register groups of published or unpublished photographs.

For U.S. photographers, timing matters: registering before infringement—or within three months after first publication—can be important for eligibility for statutory damages and attorney's fees.

4. Put clear copyright information on your website

For example:

© 2026 Your Name. All rights reserved.

Also have a Terms of Use/licensing page explaining that downloading, reproducing, modifying, or commercially using images requires permission.

5. Control what you upload

For a portfolio, social media, or online gallery, consider:

Original: RAW/full-resolution → kept offline/cloud backup
Client delivery: high-resolution → delivered through a controlled gallery
Website: resized JPEG → watermark + metadata
Social media: smaller JPEG → watermark/branding

Don't assume that disabling right-click will protect your images. Someone can still screenshot or otherwise capture an image displayed in a browser.

6. Monitor for unauthorized use

Periodically run reverse-image searches and search for distinctive images or your name. If you discover unauthorized use, document it before contacting the user: save screenshots, URLs, dates, and the infringing copy.

Depending on the circumstances, you can then request removal, negotiate a license/payment, send a formal infringement notice, or pursue another legal remedy.

For U.S. photographers, the Copyright Office also provides resources specifically addressing photography and copyright.

Best practical combination: watermark your public web copies + upload reduced-resolution files + preserve originals/metadata + use strong licensing terms + register commercially valuable work with the Copyright Office.

Protecting your work online involves a mix of legal ownership and technical prevention. Here is how you can safeguard your photography:

• Copyright Registration , which establishes legal ownership. In the United States, your work is copyrighted the moment it is fixed in a tangible medium (like pressing the shutter), but officially registering your images with the U.S. Copyright Office is required if you want to sue for statutory damages and attorney's fees in federal court.
• Metadata and EXIF Data , which embeds ownership inside the file. You can use software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop to inject your copyright status, contact info, and creator name directly into the file's metadata, making it harder for someone to claim they didn't know it belonged to you.
• Visible Watermarks , which act as a visual deterrent. Place a subtle, semi-transparent logo or text containing your name/website across a focal point of the image or along an edge. Avoid making it so intrusive that it ruins the viewing experience, but ensure it cannot be easily cropped out.
• Digital Watermarking / Steganography , which hides data inside the pixel values. Technologies like Digimarc embed an invisible digital signature into the image pixels that survives compression, cropping, and editing, allowing you to track your images across the web.
• Low-Resolution Exporting , which discourages print theft. Never upload full-resolution (4K+ or high-DPI) images to social media or your public portfolio. Export images sized down to around 1200 to 2000 pixels on the long edge at a moderate quality, which is fine for web viewing but useless for making high-quality unauthorized prints.
• Disable Right-Click and Drag , which stops casual scraping. If you use a website builder like WordPress, Squarespace, or Pixieset, you can install plugins or enable settings that disable right-clicking, image dragging, and easy mobile saving. Note that tech-savvy users can still screenshot, but it stops the casual thief.
• Reverse Image Searches , which helps you monitor theft. Regularly use tools like Google Images or TinEye to upload your photo files or URLs and see where else they are popping up across the internet.

Would you like me to help you set up a step-by-step copyright registration strategy or recommend the best plugins for your specific website platform?

Protecting your photography online requires a two-pronged approach: legal ownership (copyright) and visual deterrence (watermarking and technical safeguards).

Here is how you can effectively safeguard your work on the internet:

1. Establishing Legal Copyright

• Automatic Copyright: In the United States and most Berne Convention countries, copyright is automatic the moment you press the shutter and fix the image in a tangible medium. You technically own the rights immediately.
• Registered Copyright: To sue for statutory damages and attorney's fees in US federal court, you must register your images with the U.S. Copyright Office . You can batch-register published or unpublished photographs online, making it cost-effective for large portfolios.
• Copyright Notice: Always include a visible notice on your website or portfolio (e.g., \textcopyright 2026 Your Name. All Rights Reserved.). While not legally required for protection anymore, it deters casual infringers by signaling that you take your rights seriously.
• Metadata & EXIF Data: Embed your copyright ownership, contact info, and licensing terms directly into the file's EXIF/IPTC metadata using software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. If someone strips your visual watermark, the metadata often remains, proving ownership.

2. Using Watermarks Effectively

• Strategic Placement: Place your watermark or signature in a semi-transparent layer over a crucial part of the subject (not just a blank corner where it can be easily cropped out). However, keep it subtle enough that it doesn't completely ruin the viewing experience.
• Branding vs. Protection: A small, elegant logo in the corner builds brand awareness but offers little protection. If you want true deterrence against theft, use a diagonal, semi-opaque text or logo watermark across the center of the image.
• Low-Resolution Display: Never upload high-resolution, full-quality (e.g., 4000px+ wide, uncompressed) files to public galleries or social media. Scale your web exports down to a lower resolution (e.g., 1000px to 1200px wide at 72 DPI), which is fine for screens but useless for unauthorized printing.

3. Technical Safeguards & Best Practices

• Disable Right-Click: Many portfolio platforms allow you to turn off right-clicking or image dragging. While tech-savvy users can still screenshot or inspect code, this stops casual downloading.
• Right-Click Detection Scripts: Use website plugins that trigger a notice or block simple saving methods on your gallery pages.
• Reverse Image Search: Periodically use tools like Google Images or TinEye to upload your photo files or URLs and see where else they appear online. This helps you catch unauthorized usage early.
• Digital Fingerprinting: Consider enterprise-grade forensic watermarking or tracking services (like Digimarc) that embed an invisible digital code into the pixel data, tracking your images across the web even if they are heavily edited or cropped.

If you'd like, let me know:

• Where you primarily share or sell your photos (social media, a personal self-hosted website, or a client gallery)
• What type of photography you do (landscape, portrait, commercial)

I can recommend the best tools and plugins for your specific workflow.

A photographer should think of online protection as layers rather than relying on a watermark alone.

1. Use a visible watermark strategically

A watermark can discourage casual theft and make it obvious who owns an image.

• Put your name, studio name, or logo over part of the image.
• For portfolio images, use a semi-transparent watermark that crosses important visual areas, rather than putting it only in a corner where it can easily be cropped out.
• Don't make it so large that it ruins the portfolio experience.
• Export online versions at a reasonable web resolution rather than uploading the full-resolution original.

A watermark is a deterrent, not a technical lock—someone can potentially crop, clone, or otherwise remove it.

2. Add copyright and creator metadata

When exporting JPEGs, consider including IPTC/EXIF information such as:

• Copyright notice: © Your Name 2026
• Creator/photographer name
• Website/contact information
• Usage or licensing information

Metadata can be stripped by websites, so don't treat it as your only protection.

3. Know that copyright already exists

In the U.S., an original photograph is generally protected by copyright as soon as you create/fix it; you don't have to put a © symbol on it or register it for copyright to exist.

A useful notice is:

© 2026 Your Name. All rights reserved.

It communicates ownership and makes your licensing expectations clear, but the notice itself doesn't create the copyright.

4. Register important work with the Copyright Office

This is one of the strongest steps a professional photographer can take.

The U.S. Copyright Office allows photographers to register individual photographs and provides group-registration options for qualifying published or unpublished photographs.

Registration is particularly important if you anticipate needing to enforce your rights: for U.S. works, registration is generally required before bringing an infringement lawsuit, and the timing of registration can affect remedies available for infringement.

5. Keep the originals and evidence

Maintain your:

• RAW files
• Original high-resolution exports
• Editing/project files
• Original metadata
• Dates the photographs were created
• Dates and places they were published
• Licensing agreements and invoices
• Screenshots/URLs showing unauthorized use

This gives you much stronger evidence of authorship and the history of the work if a dispute arises.

6. Monitor for unauthorized use

Periodically search for your images using reverse-image-search services. For photographers with a large commercial portfolio, automated image-monitoring services can also be worthwhile.

When you find unauthorized use, document it before contacting the infringer—save screenshots, URLs, dates, and the exact image being used.

7. Use DMCA takedowns when appropriate

If someone posts your copyrighted photograph without authorization, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act provides a notice-and-takedown process for qualifying online service providers.

Depending on the situation, you can submit a properly prepared takedown notice to the site's designated copyright agent or platform.

A practical workflow

For most photographers, I'd use:

RAW original → high-resolution master → web-size JPEG → metadata → subtle/strategic watermark → copyright notice → periodic monitoring → registration of valuable batches

The key distinction is that watermarking helps deter and identify theft, while copyright registration gives you significantly stronger legal enforcement options.

This is general U.S. information; copyright procedures differ in other countries.