About a year and a half ago I went back through my old posts to make sure I didn't have any pictures inserted in them ....that WERE NOT mine. I had a few. I deleted them quickly as I was learning about NOT using animations, pictures, cartoons that were not mine. Obviously, it's stealing and I did not get permission to use them.
Just as I do in my Real Estate business, I do everything by the book and advertising (blogging) also has to be within our state laws for the Real Estate Industry as well. Blogging is fun and can be very rewarding if done correctly. We use our professional attitudes online as we do offline, we follow all the guidelines and rules, and we carry ourselves in high esteem to give information to the public and our peers.
......And we only use our OWN written words and pictures. If you can't write your own content or take your own pictures (or buy them) then reconsider your reasons for blogging.
Following are wonderful reads for those who are just plain stubborn with using pictures, photos, animations and anything you didn't create yourself or have permission to use:
- TLW (The Lovely Wife) wrote about If You Think It Can't Happen To You...You'd Be Wrong About That...ROAR! and copyright laws when it comes to PICTURES IN YOUR POSTS on your blog. Read why she and BB are very careful about what pictures they insert into their posts.
- PLAGIARISM, COPYRIGHT AND GOOGLE JUICE is one article of Lenn Harley'sthat IS a must read. One of the points Lenn states is: "Destain for the law. The copyright law doesn't apply to them or it only applies of they get caught and then only if the owner of the intellectual property is willing or able to enforce their copyright." (And this is Lenn's statement :)
- "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words? How About a Thousand Dollars?" Community Guidelines Re-Visited Rich Jacobson explains that ‘this guideline is extremely important, and will help to keep your hard-earmed money where it belongs and your butt out of court. It reads as follows: Respect copyrights. Only upload content/images that you have the right to use (what you have paid for or own), and whose copyright rules allow for commercial use.'
- Blog Photos: How to use images from the Internet and not get sued Kathy McGraw opens a group in Flickr where they use the ‘Creative Commons License' for people who truly want to share and allow commercial use. Check it out here: Foto Share Shop for Bloggers
- How NOT to steal pictures... and Mike Mueller tells us all how to NOT steal pictures and the reasons why. It really can cost you readership and a big old GONG!
My own personal experience was having a non profit group steal my Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle pictures from my post The MURDER of "Honey Girl" . I am most likely more understanding than others may be adn even then I was upset. After I gave him a brief lecture the man profusely apologized and asked if he could just give me credit for the pictures. I obliged but warned him about the costs he would incur in court should another person not take this ‘offense' so lightly. You can see my pictures proudly displayed......WITH MY PERMISSION......HERE>>>>>>http://www.honeygirlrewardfund.com
The majority of my photos are from around my neighborhoods and island (have some from other islands too) and are MINE. Other pictures that I use that are from my Print Shop Program and are allowed to a certain extent and I read the disclaimer (as should you for any software you purchase)
You can find these license agreements and copyright information on the HELP button with the programs you buy with clipart, photos etc. READ CAREFULLY because any of these programs have restrictions too.
It says I can use or make properties for use in home entertainment and projects, educational purposes, in advertisement, public or private presentations, business communications, multimedia presentations, and other similar uses. In other words, I can create posters, stationery, greeting cards, signs, invitations, calendars, reports, catalogs, brochures and newsletters.
What I AM NOT able to do is:
- Use any of the graphics containing trademarks or logos (i.e. cartoons that have a tradename or logo)
- Use pictures of people including in the picture library
- Resell or sub-license or distribute clip art collections, photo collections etc.
- Sell any item which is copied from...
- Use anything for my own logo etc. for my business
- Use anything to create immoral, obscene or scandalous work
Use any Property in electronic format, including on-line use, and multimedia applications, unless all of the following conditions are met: a) For viewing purposes only. b) They do not comprise a significant portion of the content of the proposed use. c) A notice is included specifying that they may not be saved or downloaded and are only to be used for viewing purposes. d) They are embedded at no higher than a base resolution of 512x768.
Bottom line....I don't use pics of people from this program and I don't sell anything I'm reprinting with their pictures...and all the pictures I'm using are for VIEWING ONLY! No one should be taking and downloading anything from anyone's blog or sites without permission!
So....does anyone have arguements about why it's okay to use other people's pictures, animations, cartoons and maps (that one was for Lenn :) without permission?
© 2009 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, All rights reserved! And that means my pictures too!
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
© 2007-2012 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
All rights reserved.
Celeste - Great post with some useful information about the picture copyright rules. I am going to check out that flicr group.
Sally - Terrific post. I am wondering now if all my pics are ok. Mostly I take my own and I always give credit to wherever I had gotten them from on some other posts. I kinda new at this as you know. What do you think? Bob H
Naoma: Great....this is how we learn :)
Robert: Even if you give credit....no sense unless they gave you permission....Many do not allow using them even if you say "credit to...." so be careful!
Hi Sally, This is always such an important topic. I use my pictures, or ones I have paid a royalty fee to after learning about BB and TLW's experiences last year. I think our own are best.
PS I love your photo of the Orchid, just breathtaking. :)
Hi Celeste
Great photo. . . . The photos that we take are a refection of the photographer and how they see the world.
Good luck and success
Lou Ludwig
Keep up the good work Sally. I still see a lot of copyright protected cartoons on ActiveRain posts.
There just doesn't seem to be anything to do but ignore them. I report them but they still stay.
Oh well.
Wait until one of those NY Times cartoonists finds out and slaps someone with a $90,000 damage claim.
TLW still thinks that was money well spent :)
You should have a great big red flag on this one, Sally, but at least I can flag it for a feature for you. When I found out about Flickr's ‘Creative Commons License', it was like a breath of fresh air! It's people taking the easy, assumptive route that can get VERY costly, as you've so well stated. Nice post!
Sally I have learned it is just best not to take anything from the web. I found something last year and went to use it and it was partially from Lenn?!?! Talk about surprised. I deleted them as soon as she told me and cleared them off my computer as well but, I had found them somewhere else on the internet not here on AR. Just goes to show you are better off taking your own pictures and creating you own cartoons or drawings.
Sally, it's so much fun to take photos, and I never leave the house without my camera. And your orchid is much more beautiful than any I've seen on any of the sites that people swipe from!
those who are just plain stubborn with using pictures, photos, animations and anything you didn't create yourself or have permission to use:
Do ya think?
I share this over and over again in my blogging seminars.
Hi Sally~ I remember reading TLW's post last year and checking all of my posts. It isn't something to take lightly.
Sally--I still see posts all of the time with pictures that I don't doubt have been "borrowed". Can't figure out why people don't know this...Newbie mistake but not all are newbies doing this. Good reminder!
Sally, this has always been a HUGE pet peeve of mine. I know someone who flagrantly uses other's photos in his posts and refuses to answer when asked if he took his own photos..I guess ignoring the asker is the same as refusing?? I've reported him and, like Lenn, nothing happens. I thought AR had copyright police?
Your photos have always been breathtaking!
Audrey: Yeah...and the blatant stealing continues...and so proudly displayed as if their own....sad.
Thanks Lou! WE took that this morning. I ordered my husband with the new camera and then I framed and put our initials with a little enhancing of the shadows and sharpening. Cool. I love my orchids :) This one bloomed two days ago and other buds getting ready.
OMG, Sally this is beautiful. This is totally professional. This is amazing. I like it. Could you tell that? Wow. It's beautiful. I've never been able to find a camera that could (or at least I couldn't) focus that well and that closely. You're awesome my friend. Wow...did I say that?
Deb
Lenn: It's hard to not comment on some knowing full well the pictures are not theirs... and I think reminder posts may come across better than questioning them. Now...where's that guy in the cape that was supposed to hound those?
BB: Yeah....right.
Randy: With those it's a free for all ...but for me I love to just take my own or use the ones I bought that allow ...so there is no wondering if something is going to come back and bite me. :)
Take your own pictures!! This is our motto and the path to least resistance. As always Sally, you hit on a subject that is unfortunately repeated all too often here and elsewhere on the net. For anything else copyright, Lenn Harley is your gal :)
Continued Thanks for the quality posts you continue to produce Sally!! This is great information for both consumers and members alike
Sincerely, ACtive Castellum
Sally - I usually use my own pictures. If I don't have one I go to flickr and find one. I just ask the person who took it if I could use it. I tell them I will give them credit at the end of my post. They are usually very happy. I also send them a link to the post. I also usually save the e-mail that said that they alow me to use the picture.
Larry: Good point...just best to use our own.
Hey Pat....I have four orchids blooming right now...so cool!
Hey Missy....no kidding...sharing over and over and over...maybe it'll help.
Vickie: That's a fact! I sure didn't realize the consequences in the beginning and luckily I learned before something did happen!
Teri: I agree and know exactly what you mean. It's always nice to have pictures to enhance our appearance of our posts....but at what cost when not ones own>
Linda: Yup...same old story. They just act like if they don't answer it's okay to continue. Whatever....they need to realize that cutting corners means I look at that from a business perspective as well. Would I refer to people who do not care about following what's right?
ActiveCastellum: Yup....this subject can be brought up over and over for the sake of the new members who don't know better. Better to be safe...than sorry. :)
Robert: I love email....it's in black and white...time/date stamped :)
Sally - Good points. I use my pics, or those who belong to folks who have given their permission - even a few AR members who have given the OK!
Gary: As long as you got ok'd you have nothing to fear! I love it...walk without looking over the shoulder ...works for me!
Oops...forgot Deb...shame on me! That's cute....We finally bought a wonderful Canon Rebel with the lens and the works....we're doing great! Enough with the awesome, wonderful stuff...it's only a picture lol!
Another option if you're photographically-challenged is to subscribe to a stock photography service. There are a large number on the net with free photos for download or minimal subscriptions. Nice to have as a backup.
Sally, I don't know why people who use ANYTHING from the Internet that isn't their own don't consider it stealing....If I can't find my own pictures for a post or use my subscribtion to Iclipart, I'll leave them out. Better safe then sorry!
I have a friend who is kind of getting started in photography. He has posted quite a few pictures on-line and has told me I can use any of his pictures as long as I refer or link them to his site. I guess I should really get the permission in writing. I am with him regularly and he sees it as another outlet to get his work known out there. I actually love to take my own pictures and have only used on of his pictures on my blog. But here is another question. It may have been answered in one of your links that I still need to check out. I was emailed a picture that I just loved the other day. It has been floating around the internet in email from for quite a while and I can't figure out where it originated. I posted it on AR just the other night and then got to thinking, I really didn't have a right to post it because it wasn't mine. So I went back in and deleted it. I wish I could find out who took it and see if they would allow me to post it, I think it should be shared with all that can see it. Anyway in all of that was a question, if it was emailed to me and a group of others can I use it. I think the answer should probably be no.
All my local photos are absolutely my own. Like many others, I didn't learn about copyrighted photos until I started blogging. I went through my saved pictures and deleted everything I could identify that wasn't OK to use, but I'm not positive that I didn't miss some. I have bookmarked a bunch of web sites that are only copyright-free photos. So now when I save photos to my computer, I try to save them with the photographers' name beside them. That way I know they were from a copyright free site, and I just have to give credit or a link back to the photographer or the site.
Sally,
We're a nation that has disdain for the law. Think of the continual parade of men and women elected to the United State Congress whose actions teach our young people that it's only wrong if you get caught. The baseball players who lie through their teeth about steroids, only to find repentance when they're caught. Good blog! I'll bet you raise your kids right.
Mike in Tucson
Sally,
Thanks so much for gathering the information into one very informative post. My personal blog (not my AR blog) has a very high content of images, mostly my own, but there are a few that are others' and I am going to check immediately to see that I've either linked back to their site or given them proper credit. But most important to check on the copyright information.
Dana
Aloha Sally—As you and many others on AR, I enjoy taking my own photos. If I use any others I pay for them outright and/or use copyright free images. It isn't worth it to grab someone else's work. I've had people on AR ask me straight-out if the photos in my blog were my work or not... and I've asked a few people the same question. I do that essentially to know whether a person is truly talented or can provide another legal outlet for images to use. Mahalo for another great post! I sent you an email earlier this morning :-)
Jeff: Still...read TLW's post....and just know that there are always sites that say yeah....only to change and say no.
Carole: Good deal Carole! When in doubt...leave it out :)
Lisa: Yeah...I still get leary of anything on the net that says okay. Other than that...I kind of like the excitement of taking pictures of anything and everything and making a post out of it :)
Mike: The unarrestable crimes..... look in the rearview mirror for cops while speeding. Yeah, I know what you mean. And that doesn't fly with me. I do say I have law abiding kids. :)
Dana: Better safe than sorry....and just because you give credit doesn't make it right. Check on it. Make sure they say so.
Hey Linda: Nope...just not worth it. Got the email!
Hi Sally,
Great post! As a professional photographer here in Hawaii I go through this often where people seem to think it's fine to use my work as they wish on websites and other materials. Their logic is if it's on the web it's free. I always say do you think products on a store shelf are free because you can easily grab them? First off, getting volcano shots like I capture aren't easily obtained and this is my lively hood. Also, if some of my photos are being used illegally it devalues it in the market and it's not fair to my paying clients. I try to keep usage semi exclusive when possible. One thing to remember is someone can remove my watermark and re-post the image allowing others to download them not knowing it's copyrighted work. But, it's still the responsibility of the person using it to find out who the rightful owner is. If in doubt, don't use the image. There are services available that can track images on the web. They work very well.
Thanks again,
Bryan
Wonderful input Bryan! Thanks for coming to 'tell it like it is'! Just because it's on the internet DOES NOT MEAN IT'S FREE. Some people just think it's okay.....they'll realize soon enough when they get slapped with a lawsuit.
Thanks again for stopping by to give this community added input.
P.S. Bryan...I just checked out your art.....BEAUTIFUL!
If anyone wants to see Bryan's art...here's a link http://www.hawaiiart.com/artist/bryan_lowry.php
Thanks Sally. Best to view my work directly at my website lavapix.com. My posting wasn't for advertising but, since you added a link. One thing more. Most photogs don't wish to take legal action. Many times a simple cease and desist order is sent along with an invoice. Unless it's a very blatant theft that involves monetary rewards by the user. Then a lawyer may be needed. Lawyers don't just file lawsuits as we all know. They also act as mediators. Usually they are only needed to take on large companies that have a whole team of lawyers that will rob you blind if you take them on by yourself. Also, it's very time consuming to the photographer if they take it on themselves.
Just thought you might want to know how I came to your blog. I have a google alert set for volcano photo postings to monitor possible use of my images and to see what is out there besides my work. Your blog came up on today's alert because somewhere the word volcano must be used. It's interesting what I get alerted to at times. Helps me find good sites like yours.
Sally, this is really making me wonder about the photos I used in a recent blog. I assumed that they are public domain, because they have been around forever and I've seen them in history books, on television, and reproduced everywhere. Since I don't think I could find a single source for them, am I wrong to assume they are not copyrighted?
I have always been careful about that. Fortunately I had a printing and publishing background.
Thanks Bryan...one of our members (who pays to have maps made for her website/blogs etc. kept having them stolen. She has an attorney :) I love your work...I try to take nice ones...just for my blog. :)
Michael: Yes. :)
Randy: I agree...I am careful.
Great post Sally,
I always carry a camera, but good article.
Steve
I too have a lawyer for illegal usage of multiple photos on multiple products for over 1 year without my knowledge. Multiple companies involved. Would you like to be on my photo update newsletter list? It goes out maybe once a month. Unless the volcano is just going off, then more often. Email if you wish to be added.
Keep up the good work!
Bryan
Michael. Best to assume their copyright protected. I have images published all over the world in every type of media. All licensed either through me directly or via a stock agency. Many college text books. People might think the same of mine. Always air on the side of caution. Usage is becoming very easy to trace.
Bryan - Thank You!
Sally- I am removing the photos immediately.
Steve: You have some wonderful local area pics too!
Bryan: You think mine are worthy? :) When you title your pics do you put your name?
Mike: Good job...better safe than sorry!
"Bryan: You think mine are worthy? :) "
Not sure you meant by this.
My image titles are the date unless it's a Fine Art photo that screams some type of name. Say, "Fire and Ice". All are embedded with my copyright and caption info via photoshop. Often I need to send non watermarked high rez files to publishers for their mock ups. The embedded info still declares and identifies the image as mine. When I send such files they are titled similar to this; "lavapix.com-302093233" 3=month 02=day 09=year 3233=camera file #. I use this system so, I can easily catalog my images. Folders are like this; 2-02-09 lava
Here's a new co that traces images. TinEye.com. Their relatively new so, they have a ways to go to catalog all images.
In the case of common place subjects it's safest to take your own images. ie flowers etc... The digital age has made this possible and forever changed stock photography. I have a distinct niche. The volcano. If I'm the only one out there when something happens, then I'm the only one in the world with those photos. (Which is the usual) Sure there are plenty of royalty free images of the common sights at the volcano but, you get what you pay for.
Thanks, Sally. This is vital information for a newbie like me.
I've been searching for legal sources of photos to use in future posts. I've come across istockphoto.com, and it looks pretty good. I would love some other suggestions.
I've seen some posts with really eyecatching photos and artwork that illustrate the point of the blog. I wonder where they came from. . .
Your photos are just plain gorgeous. But then, you live in Hawaii! (I'm so jealous. We have 8-10 inches of snow here in Monmouth County, NJ today).
Sally - indeed, we have to be careful not to infringe on the rights of others! So often people use photos that don't belong to them and don't realize that this does have legal implications. great post!
Sally - this is an excellent post. I take all of my own photos and the only other art is use is iclipart which I pay for. Thanks for adding all the links as well. Very well laid out post.
I was really surprised to see a post Featured recently that had a video piece in it that has been all over the Net and Utube. Obviously not the property or original work of the AR member who posted it. Isn't that the wrong message for AR to send?
Hi Sally - This is a great reminder for everyone. I have seen photos on Active Rain that I have also seen on other sites, and I often wonder who got it from whom. I use my own photos, or news photos that have no atrribution, or free clip art that specifically says that it is for downloading on blogs, etc. without attribution. If I use a YouTube video, it is one that has been posted by an individual and reposted dozens of times, and even been on TV, so we can assume that it is fair game by then.
What I wonder about too is those ARers who post interesting but clearly professional photos on their Speechless Sunday posts. The rules say you have to post your own photos only. I'm not the AR police so I don't complain about it, but I wouldn't do that - feels like cheating somehow.
Aloha, great post Sally...someone may have already covered this but; this is just as much a concern with our MLS photos and text as with the more publickly presented material. I have found my materials on other agents listings and called them on it, it is against the code of ethics (covered in the newest revision) and most MLS rules as well. And while it is wonderful to finally be seeing some support from the PTB, isn't it a shame to have to write a rule, revise an article or otherwise tell people to not do what they already know is wrong!? One agent snarkily asked me if I really thought my words where so special as to make any difference in the sale of my listings? My response was that if HE didn't think so, then why did he try to steal them?...no answer... and we need to be very blunt with describing this action; it is theft... not borrowing, lifting, using, sharing, etc... it is theft, plain & simple. Thanks for the great post!