using images from google images

31 replies
Hey everyone,i was wondering if anyone has ever gotten in trouble for using images frm google images on their website/ads/landing pages?
#google #images
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    By default, Google Image Search shows you images without regard to copyright or licensing, but you can filter your search for images that are either licensed for reuse through Creative Commons or are in the public domain by using Advanced Image Search.
    Google is your friend
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    • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      By default, Google Image Search shows you images without regard to copyright or licensing, but you can filter your search for images that are either licensed for reuse through Creative Commons or are in the public domain by using Advanced Image Search.
      I've posted about this before. This can not be relied on. I've personally seen images listed as public domain or similar but in fact they were commercial images from sites like Shutterstock.

      Google doesn't know in and of itself what an image is licensed as. There's no way it could know.

      Let's say I have a subscription to a stock photo site or I take pictures myself. I put an image in one of my membership sites that Google cannot crawl. Someone downloads the image and puts it in on their open site with a "free to use" license. Google would pick up on that and list accordingly.

      So, don't rely on this without checking further.

      Mark
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    • Profile picture of the author loicstdenis
      I have done a reverse search on a couple images that i have found on google images, they are actively being used in many diffrent places across the web, does this mean that it is safe to use these images?
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  • Profile picture of the author 55sadhikar
    You can use the image; do some cropping add text to it. Now it's not original as is....
    So you should be fine. Don't just use them as is...
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Originally Posted by 55sadhikar View Post

      You can use the image; do some cropping add text to it. Now it's not original as is....
      So you should be fine. Don't just use them as is...
      That's just wrong - I'm surprised we're still having to make this point.

      Cropping and adding text to a copyrighted image doesn't make it yours. The existing image owner or licensee still holds the copyright. If you're doing this for any kind of commercial intent, you leave yourself open to potential legal action.
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      • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
        Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

        Cropping and adding text to a copyrighted image doesn't make it yours. The existing image owner or licensee still holds the copyright. If you're doing this for any kind of commercial intent, you leave yourself open to potential legal action.
        There is one possible exemption from that - if the image is used for satire, and the image is altered in such a way that satire is the obvious intention.

        Having said that I'd hate to test that in a court of law where the original copyright owner probably has better access to a legal team than you do.

        The only way around that is to buy the copyright from the original holder. That will undoubtedly be a damn sight cheaper than going through a legal battle, even if you win the case.
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        • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
          Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

          There is one possible exemption from that - if the image is used for satire, and the image is altered in such a way that satire is the obvious intention.
          Those images are usually of people - and of public figures - in which case other issues come into play, such as the PR storm any attempted legal action might generate. There's always a chance the photographer could object, but I take your point.
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  • Profile picture of the author electricworm
    The Unsplash website says their images are free to use, so I think you will be pretty safe there. Pixabay is another one.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ajmain Akil Abid
    You can use google images to your webebsite content. But you have to be careful about that. In general, google shows all the images as " Image may subject to copyright". But I recommend you to make your own images through free tools like Canva. I always create my own images for my content.
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  • you can use pexels.com or pixabay.com
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  • Profile picture of the author Ajmain Akil Abid
    Yes, there are plenty of free stock images sites that we can use for our web content. I don't think using the google images directly to our blog is a wise choice. Who knows if the image we take leads to us into a copyright claim!
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  • Profile picture of the author Rifatmahmud
    It's better not to use google pictures. I would recommend you to use your own images.
    If you want to use google image, filter them out to see if those images are copyright free. If you don't know how to filter them " Tools ( right downside of the search bar)>usages right > labeled for reuse/labeled for reuse with modification " .
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  • Profile picture of the author DABK
    pexels.com has free (though a bit limited) and you can use them more freely than with other free places.


    The answer to your question, OP: Yes, many people have gotten in trouble for using images they grabbed from the internet. Some ended paying tens of thousands of dollars.
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  • I generally use Pexels to download free copyright-free images in high resolution.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Originally Posted by loicstdenis View Post

    Hey everyone,i was wondering if anyone has ever gotten in trouble for using images frm google images on their website/ads/landing pages?
    Don't.

    Why bother risking it?

    Go to pexels.com or pixabay.com and you'll find tons of royalty free images for you to use.
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  • Profile picture of the author tkhassan
    I get images from pexels and pixabay. They have great collection of free to use images.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ian Jackson
    When I use them, I just credit the owner/URL, the text doesn't have to be too large
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Originally Posted by Ian Jackson View Post

      When I use them, I just credit the owner/URL, the text doesn't have to be too large
      And if your website only gets a handful of visitors or doesn't earn much revenue, you might continue to get away with it. But the idea that simply crediting the owner absolves you from copyright infringement is a myth.
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  • Profile picture of the author JBS786
    Hey Loicstdenis, Personally No to your question I haven't as I always make sure they are free to use for commercial purposes and that the pictures can be edited.
    As a tip if you can take a copy of the screen where it states free from whatever before you download anything at least you have some proof that this is what was stated. Hope that helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author JPs copy
    What are you using the images for? If it's anything for print, definitely purchase from a real stock photo size, if anything else to get the right resolution.

    If it's for a blog, what's wrong giving credit where the image came from? All you have to do is link back.

    If something might be copyrighted, I don't think there's any harm in asking for permission to use someone's work and give them credit.

    My point is better to be safe than sorry. The worst you might get is a cease and desist, but things can always get worse.
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Originally Posted by JPs copy View Post

      If it's for a blog, what's wrong giving credit where the image came from? All you have to do is link back.
      Again, just giving credit doesn't make it OK to use an image.

      The worst you might get is a cease and desist, but things can always get worse.
      That sentence doesn't make sense. "The worst you might get is a C&D, but it could get worse?" So a C&D isn't the worst outcome then?
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  • Profile picture of the author SiteNameSales
    Looks like Google has changed their image search criterion. Now when you click on tools you have 2 choices: Creative Commons Licenses and Commercial and Other Licences...
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  • Profile picture of the author agmccall
    Personally I always pay for images
    Sites like rf123 or deposit photos, you can buy credits and images end up costing 1 or 2 dollars each.

    But that is just how I do it

    al
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    I mean, someone can always sue for copyright infringement. However, the likelihood of that actually happening is probably slim. Still, better to be safe than sorry

    They can't sue and win if they don't hold the copyright....you can't be sued and lose if you don't use an image in violation of copyright law.


    The concept of 'probably won't get caught' is not a good business practice.
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    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    My ducks are absolutely not in a row. I don't even know where some of them are...
    ...and I'm pretty sure one of them is a pigeon.
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  • Profile picture of the author aaq870069
    I worked for a gaming company that got in trouble for using google images on their blog posts.

    Some game developers weren't happy. They contacted the company with a copywrite infringement notice. The result: we had to remove months of relevant content from the blog, and social media accounts, which impacted the company's website traffic.

    In a nutshell, it's months of hard work gone down the drain because people went the easy route of saving Google images (and they didn't know the consequences) rather than using stock photos for commercial use from sites like Shutterstock, iStock, or Pixabay.
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    • Profile picture of the author JPs copy
      I worked for a company with a boss that just wanted me to grab google images.

      I didn't and I ended up using stock photos whenever I could.

      I knew if a lawyer came knocking it would be my ass, so I did everything to cover myself.
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  • Profile picture of the author Naheed
    1. Simply download an image from Google.
    2. If it has any kind of watermark on it then you can use free online tools to remove watermarks.
    3. Make changes in it with the help of any easily useable photo editing application.
    4. Add text to it and make it customized.
    5. You may also place your business logo on it.
    Now, you have created a new picture that is different from the original one and free of any copyright issues.
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Originally Posted by Naheed View Post

      1. Simply download an image from Google.
      2. If it has any kind of watermark on it then you can use free online tools to remove watermarks.
      3. Make changes in it with the help of any easily useable photo editing application.
      4. Add text to it and make it customized.
      5. You may also place your business logo on it.
      Now, you have created a new picture that is different from the original one and free of any copyright issues.
      Total BS. But at least other members now know how to regard any future "advice" you might offer.
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      Ever lie awake worrying that you might be the only person who doesn't know what FOMO means?

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  • Profile picture of the author Medon
    Even though the images may seem free to use, it would never hurt if you purchase the copyright license from the owner. I mean, compared to what may follow if the owner wishes to pursue a legal suite you will have saved both your time and money.
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