Using pictures you dont own on your blogs? Whats your practice?

by 15 replies
18
Hi warriors,

this has been a long lasting debate on how people go about using other peoples pictures (google images etc.) on their blogs.

So I would like to ask you, what kind of pictures do you use in general?

How "wrong" is it to scrape images from lets say Google images? Does it make a difference is you ad a SOURCE underneath (prefferably with a link)?

Is there any difference between uploading a picture to your blog and just linking (showing a picture from another source) to a picture (the picture is shown not the link).

Any information regarding this issue would be in order.

Thank you very much in advance.

Sincerely, Buyseech
#search engine optimization #blogs #pictures #practice
  • Usually, I don't use image from google image search for my blog. I usually use

    1. Public domain image
    2. Royalty free photos
  • Royalty free photos doesnt mean free, as far as I get it. ITs just a one time payment right?

    I have never heard of "Public domain image" ... what would that be?
    • [2] replies
    • My way is to take the image from google images, host it by uploading the image to my server to avoid unwanted deletion (usually happens when hot linking an image) and use the image with proper credit of the source, i.e. sitename + link.

      I always choose this way when I am running out of time to create my own graphics.
      • [1] reply
    • As far as I know/understand...

      Public domain image is an image without copyright. Because the copyright holder of that image allow everyone to use the image for whatever purpose. Check out this image that I got from Wikicommons for example:

      Code:
      commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CoxaCreme.jpg
      Below the image, it's said :
      I usually use this kind of image for my blog
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • 1) I use some from Wikimedia commons and give appropriate credit.
    2) I use some from Flickr creative commons and give appropriate credit.
    3) I take my own pictures.
    4) I purchase stock photos fairly often.
    5) I draw my own simple diagrams sometimes.

    I always host my own images with just a little concern for naming them for image search seo purposes.
  • As mentioned by Paulgl, Amazon is a cool place to acquire stock product images when you are an Amazon Affiliate as they do encourage you to use them I've never had a problem when using images in this way. I'd also stay well clear of places like Getty Images if you are not actually purchasing an image from them. They've made a whole new business stream by tracing unauthorized images using image recognition software and sending the site owner a huge bill.
  • you shouldnt worry too much its the same with if you are talking about someones content - sure its great to add credit, though if you dont want to give a link with the credit you can always leave it, and if by chance someone notices dont worry you will get an email about it, maybe take it down or add credt etc.
    otherwise - I personally like to make my own images, learn a bit of photoshop take images already existing and edit them so that they are your own originals. much easier!
  • It's not "wrong". It's illegal. There is no grey area. You can be sued and it does happen.

    Just giving a link and and a credit, will not remove any liability you have for using an image without the proper permissions and unlike what someone else mentioned using it for a news site doesn't matter.
    • [1] reply
    • You both are playing with fire. Attribution does not make it all right when you don't have permission and editing an image does NOT make it original.

      No wonder IM has such a bad name. The lack of ethics is astounding.
      • [ 2 ] Thanks
  • Banned
    If you don't own the image & that image isn't public domain, your just asking for trouble.
  • Just a thought that swirled through my mind...

    You can embed a youtube video in your own site...no problems there. But what if (besides embeding the video - hence promoting it) you add SCREEN shots (aka images taken from the video itself) and use them in the same post? Who would be "up your ass" about that?

    Just a thought...

    Sincerely, Buyseech
    • [1] reply
    • Well don't ask me and it really doesn't make sense to me about the difference between a video/image. The law is the law though and unless you want to pay fines/deal with legal issues I would follow it. Just stick to creating your own images, buying them from Istock etc., and getting them from Flickr and those kind of sites when they allow them to be used.
  • I also use stock.xchng but if you use Google Advanced Image Search, a feature at the bottom allows you to search for "free to use or share", under "usage rights".
  • Hummm...I tried the Advanced search with the usage rights "free to use or share"...it does give quite a few nice pics..but once clicked they all state "May have copyright...."

    I wonder how google knows that they are free to use :/
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