[Copyright] Using photos on your blog

[agente808]

Actually, if a photo of such popular person is not claimed for copyright by any persons or institutions,you can freely use that...

nope, the photographer owns the rights to their photo, period.
Unless they specifically give you the right to use it (by using a license like CC or similar, or selling you the rights) then you can NOT freely use it.

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I am not moralizing to anyone - you all CAN do whatever you WANT...
but don't convince yourself that it's legal.

 

[Compaqq]

After looking at the plugin description, the potential problem that I see is that it looks at Getty images - and these are copyrighted. These are the guys that fined a colleague of mine several hundred pounds for using one of their images, even though the images was credited to them underneath.

May I ask, who fined your colleague?

Surely this would have to have gone through courts etc. You can't just fine someone on the spot for using a copyrighted image.

Because if you can, I've just discovered a method of becoming very rich very quick.

 

[BlackxHat]

When you guys mean "CC" you mean images like this guy is putting out right?

Just have to give him credit,right?

and what does sharealike mean?

 

[agente808]

When you guys mean "CC" you mean images like this guy is putting out right?

CC = "Creative Commons" - it's the name of the legal license in use.

The photo you linked to IS Creative Commons:
CC-Attribution-ShareAlike

The "Attribution" part is what says you have to give credit to the author (all CC licenses are "Attribution")

The "ShareAlike" means that you can't take that photo and change the license - you have to share it in the same way the original author did. So for example, you can't modify the photo and then copyright it, you have to allow others to use it as well, even if you have modified it.

Share Alike — If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one.

 

[Rsto95]

When I write, I usually just give them credit at the bottom of each post. I've seen some people put text right below the image even. You should be fine, I have used this method for years and haven't had anyone say anything to me.

 

[BlackxHat]

When I write, I usually just give them credit at the bottom of each post. I've seen some people put text right below the image even. You should be fine, I have used this method for years and haven't had anyone say anything to me.

How do you write it on the bottom of the post? i write it under the image but would much prefer to do it at the bottom of the pic. Also what size font do you use? You should make it smaller than the font in the rest of your post huh

 

[ookami007]

I'd look at Creative Commons or see if you can pick up a cheap image from Big Stock. You might think you're "getting away" with using a copyrighted image... or perhaps you think creditting an artist will save you.

It won't. People like Getty Images have algorithms that are probably second only to Google - and probably better at this particular thing - that will crawl the net and look for specific watermarks and checksums. They WILL catch you. It's not IF... it's WHEN.

Trust me... I know from VERY painful experience... to the tune of about $10000.

They will give you a choice of paying up... or getting sued. You can easily spend $10,000+ on lawyers and you won't win, regardless... and then you'll have a judgement of $100,000+ depending on how many images you used.

Use images you buy... or use images that have creative commons licenses... and make sure you follow their rules, whatever they are.

 

[BlackxHat]

I'd look at Creative Commons or see if you can pick up a cheap image from Big Stock. You might think you're "getting away" with using a copyrighted image... or perhaps you think creditting an artist will save you.

It won't. People like Getty Images have algorithms that are probably second only to Google - and probably better at this particular thing - that will crawl the net and look for specific watermarks and checksums. They WILL catch you. It's not IF... it's WHEN.

Trust me... I know from VERY painful experience... to the tune of about $10000.

They will give you a choice of paying up... or getting sued. You can easily spend $10,000+ on lawyers and you won't win, regardless... and then you'll have a judgement of $100,000+ depending on how many images you used.

Use images you buy... or use images that have creative commons licenses... and make sure you follow their rules, whatever they are.

You paid 10k to Getty?

 

[uniquecontent]

photolia and photodune are two great sources to get royalty free images and you can use them anywhere. Hope this information was helpful for you.

 

[dan777]

Hi,
here is the way I use the pictures for my site:
For example, if I want the picture of Bentley

- go and write down Bentley in Google Images search box
- at the right side open Options (icon with the wheel) and open Advanced search
- scroll down on the end and open usage rights

Here you can chose from:
- free to use or share, even commercially
or
- free to use, share or modify, even commercially

Click on the Advances Search button and voila.

 

[BlackxHat]

I'd like to credit to the images i use at the bottom of the page. Like "image by xxx" I can't do it directly under the image b/c it messes the layout of the page. But i was wondering, How do I credit the image if i have images from more than one photographer. Do i just say 'top image by xxx"?

 

[agente808]

As long as you are linking to the image's page on flicker, it doesn't actually have to indicate on your website which link is for which image.

So this would be fine:
images by: xxxx, yyyy, zzzz and uuuu

 

[SEOnetic]

I think giving a source link beneath the photo can save you from the copyright issue.

This is what I would do. A lot of legit bloggers use this method too.

 

[sdeezle]

I was wondering about product images on manufacturer's websites. The ones I'm looking at do not have a copyright watermark and there's no photographer credit. I see the same photos of the products being used for several different shops and various other information sites. I'm writing reviews and would like to include some of these images but I provide links to the products on Amazon so I'm concerned this would be considered commercial use. Such a massive pain finding photographs that clearly state they can be reused, in some cases such as very specific items I can't find any at all.

 

[agente808]

@sdeezle: product images from the manufacturer's website, if used for product reviews falls under the "fair use" law and you are probably ok. You technically are not required to credit the photo directly, but it still may be a good idea.
Also you should probably include something in your copyright to the effect of "product photos are property of their respective copyright owners and may not be reproduced or reused without permission"

A great explanation about how fair use works is here: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/copyright-fair-use-and-how-it-works-for-online-images/


@Everybody else~~~~~~~~~~~~~READ ME~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
from Stanford Law Online: http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/chapter9/9-b.html#5

[TABLE="align: center"]
[TR="bgcolor: #000000"]
[TD="bgcolor: #010155, align: center"]What If You Acknowledge the Source Material?[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #cccccc"]
[TD="bgcolor: #ffffcc"]Some people mistakenly believe it?s permissible to use a work (or portion of it) if an acknowledgment is provided. For example, they believe it?s okay to use a photograph in a magazine as long as the name of the photographer is included. This is not true. Acknowledgment of the source material (such as citing the photographer) may be a consideration in a fair use determination, but it will not protect against a claim of infringement. In some cases, such as advertisements, acknowledgments can backfire and create additional legal claims, such as a violation of the right of publicity. When in doubt as to the right to use or acknowledge a source, the most prudent course may be to seek the permission of the copyright owner.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[sdeezle]

That's good to know thanks, it's just linking to the products on Amazon with my affiliate links at the end of the reviews that concerns me.

 

[agente808]

@sdeezle:
the affiliate link does make the use of the image have indirect commercial intent (You aren't actually making money from the image itself, you are using the image in a commercial context, just as you would be with any kind of ads on the page), however - as long as you disclose that you "may receive compensation if the reader buys through your link, but do not take compensation into account when writing reviews" then you are once again, ok.

(there's a trickier way to handle this depending on your site's setup, PM me if interested).

The FTC Disclosure your website should probably have anyway:
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm

 

[ronegraT]

In reflection to the topic, is it much people that actually cares about copyrighted pictures? I mean i been contacted once for removal of a picture, i thought that was the only one that reacted

But is there a big bunch of people suing those who are using their pictures or are some people just unlucky to have used the wrong pictures?

 

[agente808]

@ronegraT:
using illegal photos is a lot like using illegal drugs. :canabis::canabis::canabis::canabis::canabis:
There are lots of people doing it, you probably even know some people who do... and most never get caught...
but if you DO get caught, you're screwed... maybe more, maybe less depending on what you are caught with, and how much of it (or like you, get lucky and get off with a warning ).

Your guess is right, there are big bunches of people (getty in particular) who go around looking for people using their photos so they can sue them... and they are pretty easy to find (try tineye.com).

Are some people just unlucky and get caught? yes

Worth the risk? obviously some people think so, others probably just don't realize they could get in trouble.

Personally, I'd rather not play roulette with my life over a photo unless it's a REALLY cool photo

 

[idimoe]

Have you been on Tumblr lately? That place is filled with potential lawsuits. Anywho, use this if you wanted images use Creative Commons search engine man. (google it, can't post links here)