Writing my first ebook. Can I scan books I currently own for images?

by razza
9 replies
I want to provide quality material in my ebook. Obviously I want some good photography involved.

I read a forum here that mentioned that iStockPhoto has 'prohibited license' so as long as my eBook has under .5million sales it's okay to use them. And then I heard good things about BigStockPhoto.

However, what about scanning books I have? I have some books with photos I'd like to use, can I scan those and credit them?

Thanks.
#books #ebook #images #scan #writing
  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    Probably not. Anything with a current copyright in force is off limits.
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  • Profile picture of the author LB
    In short, no. There are occasions where images can be used under "fair use" provisions, but from what you've described here it doesn't sound like that would apply.

    Your best bet are the stock photography sites.

    Originally Posted by razza View Post

    I want to provide quality material in my ebook. Obviously I want some good photography involved.

    I read a forum here that mentioned that iStockPhoto has 'prohibited license' so as long as my eBook has under .5million sales it's okay to use them. And then I heard good things about BigStockPhoto.

    However, what about scanning books I have? I have some books with photos I'd like to use, can I scan those and credit them?

    Thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author razza
    Great responses. Can anyone recommend a thread or a website that describes how to rewrite content from books/other sources without plagurising/legally?
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  • Profile picture of the author angiedc
    If you're looking for photos, try googling free stock photos. There are tons out there on the internet that can be utilized that are royalty free. Regarding your content, do a quick search on article spinning.

    My advice is to first identify a topic, do some quick research, write up an outline of what you'd like to cover and try to create your own based off of what you found in your research. Try it first to move past the fear of not being able to write your own content. This will most likely yield a much better result than trying to rewrite someone's book.
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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Scott
    Would you pay someone who didn't know what a golf club looked like to help you hit further?

    Hell no.

    Being an author is a career, and the selling of that book is a business. You need something interesting and different to stand out in the marketplace.

    Re-writing someone else's content (or even writing by "research") is pretty much the fast track to failure.

    The fact so many people ignore this is a little scary. This is a business... you gotta start treating it like one. And that means bringing value -REAL value, not just sort-of-okay-if-you-squint value - into their lives.

    -Daniel
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    • Profile picture of the author chumpschimps
      Originally Posted by razza View Post

      I want to provide quality material in my ebook. Obviously I want some good photography involved.
      Originally Posted by razza View Post

      Great responses. Can anyone recommend a thread or a website that describes how to rewrite content from books/other sources without plagurising/legally?
      The images part of your question, I can understand - it can be tough finding the right images sometimes but, as it's been said, there are free stock photos out there that you can use legally.

      But, if you have an idea for a book and want to provide quality material, then copying/spinning/rewriting someone else's work really isn't the way to go.

      Why would you want to write a book if you can't come up with your own, fresh ideas? Is it because you see it as an easy way to make money? Or because you see a gap in the market that your book would fill?

      If you see it as an easy way to make money, the chances are your book will end up being a pile of rehashed, plagiarised stuff and not the 'quality material' you say you want to produce - not something many people would recommend.

      If you want to write a book because you see a gap in the market and want to produce something to fill that gap and really can't write yourself, have a look at using plr, or get someone to write it for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Johnny12345
    Originally Posted by razza View Post

    I have some books with photos I'd like to use, can I scan those and credit them?
    That's a really bad idea.

    I know a lasik surgeon who hired a web designer. That designer used ONE image that he did not have the right to use. The doctor was sued and ended up paying $3,200 to settle it.

    So, again... bad idea.

    John
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  • Profile picture of the author Lloyd Buchinski
    Originally Posted by razza View Post

    However, what about scanning books I have? I have some books with photos I'd like to use, can I scan those and credit them?
    So if you bought the book you own all the copy rights to it and its content? There's a big difference. I expect that's clear to you already. There are days when my thinking gets foggy too. More communication is always a help with that and you've taken that step.

    Also the crediting thing doesn't work. In one case I read about, the prosecution used that against the defendant. "See Your Honor? He knew the image wasn't his and he used it!" (I dramatized it a bit.)
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  • Profile picture of the author mikemcmillan
    Just to echo what others have said, I'd advise against using any images from books you have. And, personally, I've never used images claimed to be "copyright-free" found online. Honestly, you never know where they came from.

    Also, different stock photo/image services have different licensing and TOS permissions. I would carefully read those before using images you buy (license) from them so you know exactly what your rights are. Many have standard, extended, and editorial licenses--all giving you different rights.

    A little research is really worth the time. --Mike
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