Real risks of using copyrighted images?

99lives · May 7, 2021

We manage a lot of pbn sites and freepic and other ultra-cheap image banks just don't cut it, they make the content look generic.

I've found some "all you can eat buffet" BH services that get you high res, no watermark pictures from almost every image bank, pretty cheap.

How risky is to use them? I was thinking that, as long as I avoid Getty (they have lawyers all around the world), we should be fine. No?

Any advice from people with experience on this?

tazarbm · May 7, 2021

I've got no experience, but I would not bother with this. Been using images on my websites that I've taken from google for years, and not even once have I run into trouble with anyone. And if they'll ever going to contact me to take the image down or give them credit for it I will either give them the bloody credit, or just replace the image with another one. And if neither works, I'll just create my own image. But like I said, I've never been into trouble with copyrighted content before, so I wouldn't worry about it

Mister Digital · May 7, 2021

There are tons of free image sites unsplash etc - I'd always recommend using these with credits if possible (but not essential)

99lives · May 7, 2021

tazarbm said:
I've got no experience, but I would not bother with this. Been using images on my websites that I've taken from google for years, and not even once have I run into trouble with anyone. And if they'll ever going to contact me to take the image down or give them credit for it I will either give them the bloody credit, or just replace the image with another one. And if neither works, I'll just create my own image. But like I said, I've never been into trouble with copyrighted content before, so I wouldn't worry about it

Like 15 years ago (yeah, I'm that old) I was contacted by a Getty Images' lawyer. He was from my country and didn't accept me taking the images down, he was demanding for me to buy them. Of course me being a young entrepreneur didn't have enough money to pay (and wasn't willing to do so), so I just take them all down from my client's websites.
Maybe that's why I'm kinda worried.

marccs7 said:
There are tons of free image sites unsplash etc - I'd always recommend using these with credits if possible (but not essential)

Yeah, but they look horrible, specially if you need non-caucasian people for the posts.

tazarbm · May 7, 2021

99lives said:
Like 15 years ago (yeah, I'm that old) I was contacted by a Getty Images' lawyer. He was from my country and didn't accept me taking the images down, he was demanding for me to buy them. Of course me being a young entrepreneur didn't have enough money to pay (and wasn't willing to do so), so I just take them all down from my client's websites.
Maybe that's why I'm kinda worried.

Wow, that sucked!... And I can understand now why you're cautious...

TheGreyMatter · May 7, 2021

As long as you're small and don't get much attention, you should be okay.

But once you get big, it might cause you some trouble.

Krystal Growth LTD · May 7, 2021

Never got any bad experiences since I just pull them from google images like 85% of people

MisterF · May 7, 2021

99lives said:
We manage a lot of pbn sites and freepic and other ultra-cheap image banks just don't cut it, they make the content look generic.

I've found some "all you can eat buffet" BH services that get you high res, no watermark pictures from almost every image bank, pretty cheap.

How risky is to use them? I was thinking that, as long as I avoid Getty (they have lawyers all around the world), we should be fine. No?

Any advice from people with experience on this?

If you use images ripped from Shutterstock, Depositphotos, Getty etc, when they email you asking for the details of your licence....

What are you going to reply to them?

p0is0nd4rt · May 7, 2021

Been pulling from Google for the last 10 years; I wouldn't bother with anything else, although there are times it takes a while to find what you're looking for.

Only once was I contacted by some utter prick saying I had used his image and I either had to take it down or pay him $100 / day to use it haha

WorkingNow · May 7, 2021

stick to free image sources and use some creativity to make them look better. Normally some basic photoshop tinkering goes a long way.

jeff1985 · May 7, 2021

It's better to stick with free sources if you can. Some companies will threaten legal action most will not take it in reality. The thought of going to court over a photo is not real especially if you have your domain register info LOCKED so they cant access your legal name. If you not even in the US u can get away with anything. If you are i still wouldnt jacked the photos and just used free photos or properly source them

Songhort · May 7, 2021

99lives said:
We manage a lot of pbn sites and freepic and other ultra-cheap image banks just don't cut it, they make the content look generic.

I've found some "all you can eat buffet" BH services that get you high res, no watermark pictures from almost every image bank, pretty cheap.

How risky is to use them? I was thinking that, as long as I avoid Getty (they have lawyers all around the world), we should be fine. No?

Any advice from people with experience on this?

Depending on where you live, don't do it. Especially if you're from Western Europe. The risks are real here, even for small fishes.

Priince1337 · May 7, 2021

99lives said:
How risky is to use them? I was thinking that, as long as I avoid Getty (they have lawyers all around the world), we should be fine. No?

Getty and Shutterstock can be a pain in the ass. It's easy to just reverse image search. I know they do this as part of their business. So try not to get caught..

LinkJar · May 7, 2021

If you used someone else's copyrighted material and commercially profited from that use, you may have to pay him monetary damages, and court may prohibit you from further using his material without his consent. A federal judge may also impound your material and order you to immediately destroy it.

If you want to use an image that's copyright protected, first get a license or permission to use it from the creator..... If you commit copyright infringement, you could be liable to pay damages to the copyright owner. Technically, all Creative Commons images are protected by copyright and require appropriate attribution.

Lisarobo · May 15, 2021

Stick with the legals

Nyx004 · May 15, 2021

I think better to use services like Unsplash as it's free and just need to give them credits, nothng to lost.
why risk with this idk...

scottypummill · May 28, 2021

just get credits

LazyTomato · May 28, 2021

I've got some experience with image copyright. Some photographers scour the internet for their work and demand ridiculous amounts like $700 for your use

They send you a screenshot and archive the page right away. I would not risk jt

GNews · May 29, 2021

Yup. A solid photographer will search the internet and ask for proof / licensing. And affter that, bombs away if you have no license. You'll then find out why you should have paid.

I've heard of sites being sued up to $10k and now they are REPULSED by the idea of using images not on the stock sites.

Riz Ahmed · Jun 2, 2021

If where you have placed the images isn't getting much attention, then it is fine. But it is still risky if you get caught, it can be a needless headache.

Real risks of using copyrighted images?

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