I am planning to make a few layouts for a client using images from a free image site. (These are really high quality images). However, the site says the following: "If you make use of the images on your own website, we require link or credit in return; online use requires either a simple text link or a button / banner link using the images below..." " You must not redistribute the images in anyway designed for reuse. You must not offer for sale or sub-license these images (or a collection of) without our express permission. " My client is a resource site for Myspace. According to terms he cannot store these images. Am I right? Is hotlinking to the free images site itself the solution for this? Prividing a link to the free images site is not a problem for us. Thanks for your help.
I sounds like the site provides images only for personal use. It's not just a matter of "storing" the images, it's a matter of USING. Using the photos in a way that leaches their bandwith is not the solution, and you might find yourself in the situation of having a layout with no graphic (or an obscene graphic) when the image site finds out. Why not ask for permission? If you tell them that there will be a linking button back to their site on every layout they might go for it. You could even offer them a small fee. You would need no clearly state what the images will be used for - whether the layouts are only for your client's personal use, or if they will be resold, for example.