Obtaining Images for my Website

Discussion in 'Legal Issues' started by wd_2k6, Oct 24, 2008.

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  1. #1
    Hi,

    Is it legal to post any image to my website. For example can I search Google Images and copy a photo from there onto my site?

    How should I know if an image is copyrighted or not?

    For example, lets say I want a picture of a woman eating an apple, how do I obtain this.
     
    wd_2k6, Oct 24, 2008 IP
  2. mjewel

    mjewel Prominent Member

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    #2
    All images are automatically copyrighted (it doesn't have to say copyrighted or have the "c" symbol. You need permission to use any photos you didn't take, so no, you can't just take images from google.

    There are many places that sell stock photos (www.istockphoto.com) and free sites like (www.sxc.hu) - but make sure you read the conditions of usage. Even "free" photos have conditions to them.
     
    mjewel, Oct 24, 2008 IP
    Pranab likes this.
  3. msjudged_1

    msjudged_1 Peon

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    #3
    love istock, have used for 4yrs.
     
    msjudged_1, Oct 24, 2008 IP
  4. wd_2k6

    wd_2k6 Peon

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    #4
    OK thankyou for the help I will look into obtaining permission and stock photos.

    So what is the case when users upload photos to a website, say facebook do FB have rights to the photo?
     
    wd_2k6, Oct 24, 2008 IP
  5. Essociate

    Essociate Peon

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    #5
    assume all content is NOT in the public domain. even if FB does not have the rights, the photographer has the rights. just license photos and save yourself the grief later.
     
    Essociate, Oct 27, 2008 IP
  6. Business Attorney

    Business Attorney Active Member

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    #6
    Most sites where users upload photos have a form of license that specifically states that the users retain the copyright. Also as noted, almost all licenses reserve some rights to the copyright holder. Finally, even a copyright license may not give you certain rights to use the image if it is of a person. You would need to check the model release obtained by the photographer to find what rights the subject of the photo gave up and what rights he or she retained.
     
    Business Attorney, Oct 28, 2008 IP
  7. blestmrsmooth

    blestmrsmooth Active Member

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    #7
    The best thing to do is use open source images and give the right to the person next to the pic but read make sure you are allowed to use it for commercial use because some of the open source only allow non commercial sites.
     
    blestmrsmooth, Oct 28, 2008 IP
  8. Pranab

    Pranab Banned

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    #8
    Above, mjewel recommended sxc.hu This is a really good site for free images - just verify the terms of usage for each photo you like. I have been using this for a couple of years now.

    Also, don't get images off flickr.com or google search because they are most likely copyrighted. However Wikipedia.org is a good place to look for public domain images.
     
    Pranab, Oct 30, 2008 IP