8 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
8 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Is this still copyright infringement? Please advise.

by LuisEAvila
6 replies
Hi guys,

I have a quick question, I know most of you are probably not lawyers but I just want your personal opinion.

So i know that copying an image from Google is infringing on copyright. But what if the image is iFramed? like your not really hosting it on your sight.


I found this really cool tutorial (Free Theme Demo Bar Plugin for Web Designers - Daily Design Notes) on installing a theme demo bar using iframes, I think this is a lot better than linking to the theme so that my customer can still stay on my site. However, since the images on the themes will be shows on my website, but technically not hosted, is this still copyright infringement?

One of the theme companies said I could just link to their themes, but this defeats the purpose of having the client stay on my site while browsing the themes I use.

I've also thought of just using snapshots but I would have to host those and it would probably still be copyright infringement.

Would Like to hear your opinions.

Thank You-
LUIS AVILA
#advise #copyright #infringement
  • Profile picture of the author CyberAlien
    If you're using an image from another website, you would hotlink to it, not put it in an iframe.

    hotlinking copyright - Google Search

    And I definitely wouldn't suggest doing it without permission.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8194645].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author AJMontoya
    I'm not a lawyer, but I think if you include something along the lines of "Images Courtesy of Google" somewhere under the image you should be okay. It's similar to adding a works cited page to a paper. You have to credit the source you got the information from.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8194658].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author rosetrees
      Originally Posted by xismfofx22 View Post

      I'm not a lawyer,
      I can tell. iframing = too lazy to copy and paste. It also = pinching someone else's bandwidth without contributing to their hosting fees.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8194674].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    Personally, I think you're over thinking this.

    For copyright infringement, if there was ever going to be a legit case against you beyond a DMCA, they would have to prove financial loss. Nobody is going to go after you for something like this, when you're buying the themes on the behalf of your clients. They wouldn't be able to prove financial loss, and probably wouldn't be able to afford the time, and money to pursue anything. Also, since the themes are likely open source anyway, I don't see how putting them in an iframe would open you up to any kind of liability. Even hosting the screen shot yourself, I can't see how you would have any issue. If this were really an issue, then resellers would be hit all the time.

    When you get big enough, you'll already have your own client sites to showcase... don't think you should really worry about this.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8194676].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    What you are suggesting is called hotlinking and some people have some very creative ways to counter hotlinking images ... like changing the image to something really disgusting, but not changing the image name so your site will now be showing a really disgusting image.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8194751].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author LuisEAvila
      Thank you all for your responses. Now, with that said, is there a site that TRULY has royalty free images? even if I have to point a link back to them, i don't mind.

      I wouldn't mind installing the wordpress themes on my servers and just changing out the images.

      and yes, i know I can just do a good search, But I know that there are some sites that say they're "royalty Free" but really aren't.

      but in your experience, what sites are truly royalty free.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8194861].message }}

Trending Topics