If you do something like google images, and you look at a picture from a website, and then save that picture to your computer and use it in a website, is it illegal? Or perhaps in some cases? Does copywright(all rights reserved) protect pictures on the website?
Yes it's illegal...it's no different than stealing text from a page and using it as your own, on your site. Images have copyright attached to them. There's a lot of abuse over images on the internet, most of the time the copyright owners just don't know that others are using their images.
Mainly because noone does anything about it. I have not heard one story about a copywright dispute over an image.
I'm not saying you can't get away with it...but you'd hate to use an image and be that 1-in-a-1000 to get nailed for using a copyrighted image. Chances are if you're not using the image for commercial purposes, the worst that might happen is a slap on the wrist. Be careful! Take care.
My advice would be to get more educated and informed on the subject. Every day of every year is filled with copyright issues, cases, complaints and so forth. I didn't watch the news yet this morning. Does that mean none of it happened?
Then apparently you don't read many webmaster boards. Getty images is hardcore, they go after people all the time for about thousands a pic.
Linking to the source is not a way around copyright law. If I take an entire article out of today's NY Times, but add a link to the paper, is this ok? How about if I form a group, start singing another group's songs, profit from it, and just mention the original group inside of my CD cover?
Even if it isn't illegal (it is), it's wrong to use other people's material without permission just because you can steal it without anyone noticing. That's a problem on the internet, people figure if it's posted out in public, it must be OK to take it. It isn't Ok. And just because not everyone prosecutes, doesn't mean it's "less wrong" to do it anyway. If you didn't create it yourself, it doesn't belong to you - whether text or image. If it doesn't belong to you, you need permission to use it. Just like your mama probably taught you That said, if you use it in a not-for-profit way, you are less likely to get yourself into a mess. For example, you find a photo on someone's site you like, so you "borrow" it - if you put it on your business site where you are trying to make money, that's a big exposure. If you put that same photo on your clearly-for-personal-use family reunion site, that is a small exposure. Your intent is important if you decide to steal other people's material. That could mean the difference between a thousands of dollars fine or a stern warning.
While your approach in this instance is almost right, I as a photographer would reject your request or send you a bill for an Internet licence. Lets say for example, that you took the same approach at an Art Gallery -> Mr Art Gallery, I took the picture off the wall last friday, 'cause I needed to put it on my wall to show it to my mates on the weekend, Was that ok? Theft is theft is theft! The correct way is to approach and ask for permission BEFORE using any image, and doing so in the manner you described will get a positive response 99% of the time. Image theft is a huge issue, and ignorance is no excuse, ever. Anyone using any image should have full details about the licence under which they can use it if they are not the original photographer/Artist/Designer who created the work, Including licences to make derivitave works. If you are not able to create what you need then the best approach is to of course, purchase rights to use the image. There are plenty of the Micro stock agencies that will provide Royalty free licences for Images for under $5/image. The $5 is certainly a lot better than dealing with the lawsuit that could pursue if you illegally use any old phoyo you found on the Internet.
I couldn't agree more. You definitely need to get permission BEFORE ever using the image on a site. Also keep in mind that if you have any form of advertising on the site (Adsense, Kontera, Valueclick etc.) the site is viewed as a commercial site, even if you don't sell any products. Those totally new to copyright should take a look at a brief, understandable introduction: Copyright 101 Also take a look at this discussion about copyright and Adsense use.
well how about all those car/celebrity/fashion/pics that people post on sites and in forums? are they legal? if not, there must a bejillion sites. like superiorpics.com?
The truth is, they're illegal, but those celebrities can't go around chasing them because they will end paying more for legal fees than they can get by bringing the sites down.
If on one of my forums people post pictures which are copyrighted am I still liable for damadges? although I am not selling anything one any of my sites?
Yes, you're liable for damage, because you are not allowed to post copyright content without permission from the author.