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

15 replies
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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
#blogs #pictures #practice
  • Profile picture of the author abangiz
    Usually, I don't use image from google image search for my blog. I usually use

    1. Public domain image
    2. Royalty free photos
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  • Profile picture of the author Buyseech
    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?
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    • Profile picture of the author seoposter
      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.
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      • Profile picture of the author paulgl
        If you use it in a "news" or editorial way, just a simple
        link and credit is enough. I would never upload the
        image to my own server. That's not good. You don't
        own the image. That's copyright infringement.

        This is just a few ways I get images to use:

        I am an amazon affiliate. They readily encourage
        you to use the images for links. So, link the images
        to the affiliate link. Good way to dress up any webpage,
        actually. Amazon does allow you to upload images, but
        they have worked out agreements so long as you
        use it the way you should.

        Look at wikipedia. Peruse the articles that are in the
        niche you need an image for. Chances are, they've got
        one. And they tell you why and how they are allowed
        to use it. I've snagged many celebrity photos this way.

        I use and abuse this site a lot:
        stock.xchng - the leading free stock photography site
        Just do an advanced search, choose
        Restricted OK: NO
        Literally thousands of images/photos for your
        use. Some do have site restrictions, so be sure
        and read the fine print. Most of the unrestricted
        photos are fair game for anything.

        However, that site above also has paid images at
        a very reasonable rate. I've bought some. Don't
        be afraid to spend money. After all, you are expecting
        others to spend. How much do you value your site?

        Of course I've taken many images myself and used those.
        The ultimate way to get photos.

        Paul
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        If you were disappointed in your results today, lower your standards tomorrow.

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    • Profile picture of the author abangiz
      Originally Posted by Buyseech View Post

      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?
      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, the copyright holder of this work, release this work into the public domain. This applies worldwide.
      In some countries this may not be legally possible; if so:
      I grant anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.
      I usually use this kind of image for my blog
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  • Profile picture of the author limekyln
    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.
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  • Profile picture of the author phoebetabitha
    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.
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  • Profile picture of the author awj888
    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!
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  • Profile picture of the author KirkMcD
    Originally Posted by Buyseech View Post

    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)?
    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.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
      Originally Posted by seoposter View Post

      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.
      Originally Posted by awj888 View Post

      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!
      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.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    If you don't own the image & that image isn't public domain, your just asking for trouble.
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  • Profile picture of the author Buyseech
    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
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    • Profile picture of the author Caleb12
      Originally Posted by Buyseech View Post

      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
      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.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ryan Biffle
    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".
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  • Profile picture of the author Buyseech
    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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