Copyright infringemet or not - placing image from other site as HTML..

[SpicyRobby]

Hi folks,

I'm setting up a new affiliate site and for example on this page here:

Horizontal Tongue Piercing | Tongue Rings Guide

I placed the image who's actual URL is http://www.bmezine.com/news/stepping...ickingout1.jpg

The reason - I just couldn't get an image of horizontal tongue piercing anywhere - bigstockphotos, istockphoto...

But I didn't save this image on my hosting account, what I did is - I just inserted the image as an HTML code pointing to the image on their site.

So technically I'm merely linking to them, but what are your thoughts on this, is it OK to do so?

Thanks in advance guys and gals!

Robby

[PhilG]

You should write the source and ask for their permission. The very least that you could do is give them credit for the photo and a link back.

What you are doing is often called "hot linking" and is definitely frowned upon on the internet. Not only are you using someone else's intellectual property, but you are pulling the file from their server which may increase their bandwidth and ultimately their cost of operation.

If you cannot find a picture of something, that may tell you how little interest there is in the topic. This should make you ask if its worth the risk.

I hope this helps
Phil G

[dsmpublishing]

I'd contact them and im sure theyd appreciate the link back. But its better to be safe than sorry. What would you do if they reported you and your site was taken down.

I used someones screenshots once for an ebook and i contacted them first and they were great about and even gave me some more to use obviously they would be getting traffic from it so it was very much a two way deal and both parties were very happy.

[Eric Lorence]

Originally Posted by SpicyRobby

Hi folks,

I'm setting up a new affiliate site and for example on this page here:

Horizontal Tongue Piercing | Tongue Rings Guide

I placed the image who's actual URL is http://www.bmezine.com/news/stepping...ickingout1.jpg

The reason - I just couldn't get an image of horizontal tongue piercing anywhere - bigstockphotos, istockphoto...

But I didn't save this image on my hosting account, what I did is - I just inserted the image as an HTML code pointing to the image on their site.

So technically I'm merely linking to them, but what are your thoughts on this, is it OK to do so?

Thanks in advance guys and gals!

Robby

You kind of threw me, you look a little like Lee Mcintyre!

Anyway, you should probably ask.

Whether hosted by you or not.

[bladerunner]

Dont know if this is any use to you Robby but its free, just sign up for a free account sxc.hu/photo/615011 there are lots of good royalty free photos on this site.
Sorry i cant post the full url as ive not posted enough posts yet.

Billy

[SpicyRobby]

Originally Posted by dsmpublishing

I used someones screenshots once for an ebook.

Thanks, well... you see it's not a screenshot, that's the thing. I've just linked to a file on their server through an image code on my site.

Sure, I wouldn't save an image and then just post it on my site!

Thnx,

Robby

[SpicyRobby]

Originally Posted by PhilG

You should write the source and ask for their permission. The very least that you could do is give them credit for the photo and a link back.

What you are doing is often called "hot linking" and is definitely frowned upon on the internet. Not only are you using someone else's intellectual property, but you are pulling the file from their server which may increase their bandwidth and ultimately their cost of operation.

If you cannot find a picture of something, that may tell you how little interest there is in the topic. This should make you ask if its worth the risk.

I hope this helps
Phil G

Hi Phil,

Yes, makes sense. I dint' know it was called 'hot linking' - thanks for info!

Best of luck,

Robby

[joblythe]

Robby

Sure, I wouldn't save an image and then just post it on my site!

What you are actually doing by having someone else's link to the image on their site is just as bad, unfortunately.

You are using their bandwidth and hosting (however small) without their permission.

You must have their permission - I would ask them very nicely!

[lklein]

Another thing is that if they find out they might replace their image with something else. You may be showing an image of who-knows-what on your site.

[write-stuff]

Yes, what PHilG and IKlein said.

[SpicyRobby]

Thanks guys, I already figured out a nice idea where to get the needed images I can't find on royalty photo sites.

You see, it's kind of silly, but I really didn't know about this hotlinking and using their bandwidth.

If I were asked I'd say that I'm actually doing them a favour by pointing to them with a link embedded into my HTML!

Yes, everyday you learn something new!:-)

Robby