I just started my own site and just need someone to answer this question. Basically, am I allowed to use pics found on getty images or other websites on my own site. If I do, do I need to give credit to the original owner
No - any picture even if it is not watermarked, is copyrighted and may not be used without permission ! Only if the website explicitly says you can use them (or sells you the rights to do so, like stock sites like getty images do) you can use them..
Sure go ahead, just get ready for Getty's lawers getting in contact with you real quick, and from other threads on here they dont let you get away with taking the pictures down, they will try and charge you the full licencing fee which isnt cheap. So basically unless you took the picture or have approval in advance from the copyright owner its best not to touch the image with a barge pole or it can work out rather expensive. Jen
I had a florist friend who got some small images off the Getty site without buying them. Around 9 months later she got a letter from their lawyers asking for £2000 for the 3 images she had nicked. They still wanted it after she begged and took them down. Settled out of court in the end. They send out spiders across the net and they will track you down. Do yourself a favour and buy some off www.istockphoto.com - they only cost a couple of dollars each and there is a great range available.
why to bother in lawsuits when there are about 50-100 websites where you pay from 1-10$ for an image?...or even free ones
Stock photography is the thing you need! I will save time and money but you could run the risk to get pictures with a slightly different layout or quality than the one you need.