Hi, I would like to know whether using images from .gov sites would imfringe on the copyright of that image. I mean one can use any content from government sites (such as cdc or nih etc) without any issues so can we also use the images? Second can anyone suggest a free image service from where i can use pics? I am willing to pay but not what other image services charge
Try google: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=copyright+free+images&btnG=Google+Search&meta= All images are copyrighted unless they say otherwise.
Last I heard images created by members of the US government (or something to that effect) are in the public domain.
I think they're probably copyrighted BUT you'll be allowed to use them. Here in the UK official government documentation is 'Crown Copyright', but it's usually acceptable to use it (fair use) if you acknowledge the source. Note that this does not apply to pictures/plans of new nuclear weapon systems!
My understanding is that images and text created by US Federal employees in the course of their work for the US government are in the public domain. However, .gov sites often use images and text from non-government employees, so you just can't assume that any image you see can be used. The good news is that there is almost always a clear statement on which images are which. Here are some examples of image use policy: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/policy/ http://media.nih.gov/imagebank/copyright.aspx http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/aboutimages.html http://phil.cdc.gov/Phil/faq.asp#question6 While most of the images on science-related sites are in the public domain, it is more complicated on sites like the Library of Congress, since they collect images from many sources.