Using Google images commercially

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52
I want to use some images from Google for commercial purposes.

When I perform an advanced Google image search and I choose the "free to use or share, even commercially" option in the "usage rights" section, does this mean only the images that appear on the main view of the image search results or does it also include those that appear under the "related images" section?

In other words, can I also commercially reuse those in the "related images" section without attribution?

Thank you!
#main internet marketing discussion forum #commercially #google #images
  • It isn't safe to use images obtained via a Google search for commercial purposes. Here's what Google says: "Google can't tell if the license label is legitimate, so we don't know if the content is lawfully licensed."

    If the content is not legitimate, you are liable, not Google. Either obtain your images from a reputable image bank/stock photo site, or commission/create them yourself. It's the only way to be sure.
    • [ 3 ] Thanks
  • Hey I would stay far away from any of this.


    My friend did this and he got a huge fine, don't do it!


    Get images from photo dune, shutterstock etc
  • Leo

    there is a search function up the top of the page !!

    here is the last thread from last month when someone wanted the same info

    http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...rical-use.html

    Jason
    • [1] reply

    • Jason,

      That thread does not quite address my concern. Do you guys think it is OK for Google to provide the "free to use, share or modify, even commercially" option in the "usage rights" section when that is simply not true? Do you think it is OK for Google to mislead people? Why would they do that? I'm just trying to understand what is going on here.

      I would love to buy images from stock photo sites, but I am looking for memes and I don't think those sites are the right place to find them (that thread doesn't address this point either, that's why I started a new conversation). I searched in sites like Pixapay, Fotolia, Pexels and others and found nothing.
      • [1] reply
  • I think that it may broke the law of Google. You should make sure that the images are free to use, share or modify, even commercially.
  • Well stay away from all these , Even I am one of the victim . Few years back even I did the same but later I paid huge amout as fine to come out of it .
  • Iv'e been doing that exact same advance search feature for some time and I make good income and I have never had a problem but thans for the insight. Maybe I'll use a photo stock site or someplace
    • [1] reply
    • You're lucky. Hope you don't use a photo owned by someone who minds. Or, worse, one of those sites that look for people like you, to sue... for $7,000.

  • Leo,

    You can use Google images at your own risk. If you pick the right images, the ones that truly are free to use as you like, then you should be fine.

    If you don't pick the right images, you could be held personally responsible for infringement and forced to pay a very hefty fine.

    The problem is . . . as Google states . . . they don't know which images are copyright protected and which aren't. So neither do you.

    That risk is too high for me . . . maybe it's not for you. But you have been warned.

    Why can't you use the memes that you find at Google Images and either create similar graphics yourself with free tools (very easy to do) or have them made for you at Fiverr or similar?

    Steve
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • That is a great idea, Steve. I thought about using freelancers on Fiverr and elsewhere, but I think the cost would be high since I'd need them to make graphics for me on a daily basis.

      Creating the graphics myself sounds a better option I believe. You said there are free, easy to use tools out there. Could you please elaborate more on that?

      I have one concern though. Wouldn't it still be considered an infringement if I create "similar" images to someone else's? How similar can they be?
  • Pixabay.com is a good place to get free images
  • try Pexels or Pixabay for free pictures. Using Google is a huge risk, just think of any search you have done in the past, how many things not really related to your search have still come up? Only go for images from a site stating free, or where an image itself is confirmed by the owner as free to use.
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  • Banned
    TrickyRickyMedia not only wants you to get into monetary trouble by infringing...he wants you to pay the piper criminally as well. Might as well violate as many laws and statutes you can when you pirate... NOT

    17 U.S.C. § 501 : US Code - Section 501: Infringement of copyright

    17 U.S. Code § 506 - Criminal offenses

    U.S. Copyright Office - Copyright Law: Chapter 5





    https://www.google.com/permissions/faq.html

    Cheers

    -don

    TrickyRickyMedia's post has been deleted.
  • Skip this. Seriously, don't do it.

    So a blogger can download an image and you then find it, looks fine, approved for reuse etc.

    But, if the image belongs to Getty they WILL sue you when they find it on your site. Doesn't matter where you found it.

    If you need some basic images at times, use: https://pixabay.com/ or better yet, take images yourself for your niche.

    I've found some of my wine images floating around online on different sites and been able to get links from sites because they were using them without permission.
  • Actually Google show the Image link location only. So you need to see the terms & conditions of the Hosting site of the picture. It would better for you.
  • Not a good idea, I learned the hard way. It was years ago, I used an image from Google search for my blog, shortly after that my blog was banned along with my adwords account after the owner reported it to Google, I didn't have to pay a fine but I lost a blog and more than $1000 from my adwords account. Lesson learned, I would never ever do that again, not worth the risk.
    • [1] reply
    • you're very generous to these guys

      one day, when you get older, you played the game long enough

      you say to these guys, take a hike, nobody really needs you

      well, your shares are a.ok. but your service sucks

      so basically these guys beg for their replacement

      DONE!
  • [DELETED]
    • [1] reply
    • Please don't listen to this advice to apply "tricks" to images so they are edited to look a little different than the original. Such images are still covered by the copyright of the owner.

      Can you steal someone's iPhone, put a new cover on it, and then claim you're not stealing? Ridiculous.

      Steve
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
  • I wouldn't put too much stock on the 'rights' you get through a simple Google Image search.

    Remember, it is YOU who stands to POSSIBLY lose THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS if you use the wrong image... NOT Google Images.

    Instead, I would use Flickr's Creative Commons system.

    See the graphic below. It is pretty self-explanatory.

    • [1] reply

    • Writeaway,

      Flickr's ability to control what others upload is no different than Google's.

      As you know, Flickr is owned by Yahoo.

      Their Terms of Service, if you read the fine print, offers the end user no protection. This is right from their web site:


      "Yahoo does not control the Content posted via the Yahoo Services and, as such, does not guarantee the accuracy, integrity or quality of such Content ... Under no circumstances will Yahoo be liable in any way for any Content, including, but not limited to, any errors or omissions in any Content, or any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any Content posted, emailed, transmitted or otherwise made available via the Yahoo Services.

      You agree to not use the Yahoo Services to:

      f. upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other proprietary rights ("Rights") of any party;

      You agree that you must evaluate, and bear all risks associated with, the use of any Content, including any reliance on the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of such Content. In this regard, you acknowledge that you may not rely on any Content created by Yahoo or submitted to Yahoo, including without limitation information in Yahoo Message Boards and in all other parts of the Yahoo Services." (emphasis is my own)


      Just as Google does, Flickr relies on end users to upload images that they own and have rights to. Flickr has no way of knowing what rights their users have and they are saying that they will not be held liable for content posted that shouldn't be. As they state: "You agree that you must evaluate, and bear all risks associated with, the use of any Content ..."

      Flickr is no different than Google in this regard.

      Steve
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [2] replies
  • man dont do it!!

    i used to say the same thing, "hit the gear and filter for images that allow commercial use..."

    but even google says "better you ask the image owner.."

    who wants to mess around with that, right?

    I get my images here, now: https://pixabay.com/
  • It would better to read the terms & condition to use of the page. The google works only as search engine. The google will show you the Images hosting site. Though you choose the "free to use or share, even commercially" option in the "usage rights" section, then you must read the terms & Policy of the Images hosting site. Thanks for your advance.
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  • To add to the discussion...

    I found two interesting articles about Creative Commons licenses, and risks associated with their use. They are written by a lawyer specializing in copyright (he is the author of this bookThe Permission Seeker's Guide Through the Legal Jungle - Book Description):

    1) Guide Through the Legal Jungle: Proof that Using Creative Commons Material Is Not Risk-Free


    2) Guide Through the Legal Jungle: Using Creative Commons Materials

    But the lawyer, however, said:

    "Creative Commons Materials Are Not Risk-Free. While I view being sued by a Creative License licensor as a rarity..."

    Then I feel that the risk exists...

    but may not be so great? (At least this seems to be the opinion of this lawyer )
    • [1] reply
    • This is good, the guy lost his case on all grounds:

      All three of his arguments were smacked down by the court, not sure why that title of the article is worded the way that it is, it's misleading. The map company won and the guy who took them to court lost.

      Peace,
      EJ
      • [1] reply
  • Well in my opinion, it is not a good idea to use images from google that says free to use because Google can't tell if these images are truly free to use. You can try sites like shutterstock or pixabay.

    Thanks
  • [DELETED]
    • [1] reply
    • It doesn't matter whether Google Image can link it to the original...

      because Google isn't the one who will be suing you. They have NO skin in this game.

      Instead, if/when the copyright holder finds your use of their image (flipped, or not), they can bring suit against you for copyright infringement. Modifying an image (i.e. flipping, modifying hue/saturation, clipping, etc) doesn't negate the copyright. Derivative (that means modified) works are protected under copyright law, to the same extent as the original.

      Where you got the image (i.e. Google search) is immaterial. It's the creator's image and if you use it without proper license to do so... you are liable for copyright infringement. That license cannot be conveyed to you by anyone other than the copyright holder.
  • Yes, the ways and strategies to "trick" Google and to infringe upon copyrights are many and varied.

    If people would spend just half the time they do on hacking, cheating, and trying to circumvent the rules . . . on building a solid business . . . they could enjoy having a profitable business online much faster.

    Steve
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  • You will need to read the terms & condition of the Images host site. If there is any restriction to use that images, you will not be able to use where it is restricted. Though the google will show the link of the site, which you will choose from the Advance features. When you are taking one image from any site, that mean you much agree the terms & conditions of the Image Host site. beside this you are not use google site to download the image. The google show the site location only. Thanks for your advance.
  • been doing same exact advance search feature for some time and I make good income and I have never had a problem,

    It may depend on what you are using the image for as image or property release may also be required.
    • [3] replies
    • I think the likelihood of prosecution is quite low. Much less so than if someone uses images on the Internet without worrying about copyright.

      But as shown by several posts in this forum, the risk is still very real.

      I just read an article on this topic that interested me and which I think will interest many of the participants in this thread: The Problem with False Creative Commons Licenses

      https://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2013...mons-licenses/

      Then my conclusion after reading this thread is that...

      1) using our own creative material or that we ordered + a model release is better than

      2) using a stock site such as Shutterstock, Fotolia, Adobe Stock or PhotoSpin, wich is better than

      3) using a public domain photos site such as Pixabay or Pexel (CC0 1.0 licence or PDM 1.0). wich is better than

      4) using a website that offers (mostly) Creative Commons CC BY 2.0 /3.0 /4.0 licences like Flickr, wich is better than

      5) stealing images without worrying about copyright.

      In fact, option 5 should be completely excluded from the repertoire of a serious webmaster. I'll try to limit myself to options one, two and three.

      Thank you to all (in this thread) who made the effort to make insightful contributions.
    • The US Marines have a saying (or used to):

      Kill'em all and let God sort them out.

      Many lawyers (especially those who work on contingency) seem to have a variant:

      Sue 'em all and let the judge sort them out.
      • [ 1 ] Thanks

    • Really, that's not the point, is it?

      The fact that you haven't had a problem in the past does not relieve you from the current risk that you are under. But there are ways to avoid the risk, and that is what some of us are trying to get across in this thread.

      The "good income" that you are making is at risk. Of course, you have made that decision and you have no one to blame if it proves to be foolish.

      Steve
      • [ 3 ] Thanks
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    Using Google images commercially

    I want to use some images from Google for commercial purposes. When I perform an advanced Google image search and I choose the "free to use or share, even commercially" option in the "usage rights" section, does this mean only the images that appear on the main view of the image search results or does it also include those that appear under the "related images" section?