Final answer:
Eugene should verify if the photo is protected by copyright law before using it in his research project, and seek permission or use it under fair use if necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
Eugene wants to use a photo he found online in one of his research projects. Before he does, he should check whether the photo is protected by copyright law. Copyright is a form of intellectual property protection granted to the creators of original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works.
If the photo is copyrighted, Eugene needs to obtain permission from the copyright holder or ensure the use falls under fair use exceptions which may allow for use in educational contexts or for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.