Hello, sir. I'm assuming from your handle that you are a licensed attorney. I'm also assuming that my previous post in this thread was included in your ABSOLUTELY WRONG condemnation and I would like you to please explain to me exactly why my post is so absolutely wrong. Here is what I posted: "Generally, copying photos from websites and publishing those same photos on another website does not involve a legal copyright issue unless the copied photos were copyrighted either separately or as part of a copyrighted website, or if the copied photos represent the unique work of an artist who may have failed to obtain a copyright. I see no problem with copying a photo from a wiki page, publishing it on another website and putting a link back to the wiki source. I don't even think Wikipedia would notice it and if they did, they'd probably think you did the right thing by linking back to them. Giving credit where credit is due..." I do have some background in the legal field as an expert witness in Superior Courts but I am not an attorney so I would appreciate an opportunity to learn from your explanation about why I am so absolutely wrong in what I stated above. Thanks.
No, most images are not freely available for use. In most countries, images have copyright the second they are created. It doesn't matter if it is a picture taken for profit or by a family on vacation. Nor does it matter if official copyright status is sought, copyright is automatic. Official copyright only expands the amount of money the copyright owner can sue you for. The copyright status can only be changed to public domain one of two ways. One, the photo is so old that copyright no longer applies (these would be very old photos as the copyright lasts for 70 years after the death of the original copyright holder). Two, the copyright owner specifically puts the image in the public domain by legally signifying he or she did so. Just because something is visible in public does not mean it is in the public domain.
Public domain is tricky...U.S. Copyright laws protect most images. I've found a great article that pretty much sums up what to be aware of: http://www.bradycommunications.com/think_further/articles/10-2008/public_domain.aspx Also, this page from Cornell really gives you an "in the face" look at expirations of work (Updated Last month): http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/public_domain/ You have to be careful, otherwise you may have lawyers knocking on your door.