posting photos
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Hello masters of the wordpress universe,
I have a small (or potentially big) question about posting photos that I find online. I’ve read a little bit into copyright stuff, but I’m still uncertain about the rules regarding what images I can post on my blog and what ones I could get in trouble for. For example, If I find a photo from like the AP, or Getty, can I put that up if I allude to the fact that I got it from them? I’ve been trying to cover myself by captioning each picture as “photo from” or “image from,” but I certainly don’t want to get some email saying that I’ve been taking things that I’m not supposed to be.
Also, my blog’s header image is a smörgåsbord of images of athletes/film characters, but I haven’t posted where I’ve gotten any of them anywhere on the site. Should I have a separate page linking to each of the photos’ original destinations? Should I take the header down altogether and create something on my own?
As always, any help is appreciated. I know this is kind of a blogging 101 type of question, but I’ve only been at this thing for three weeks and I want to make sure I cover all of my bases.
My blog is http://www.6nblog.com
Thanks!
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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Image copyright is a tricky subject, especially online. Even if an image doesn’t explicitly state that it’s copyrighted, it quite possibly could be. Attributing the source may not always prevent you from being accused of copyright violation. Your best bet is to use services that provide photos for public use.
We just rolled out a new feature that will help solve this problem :) It’s called PicApp, and it lets you use and access tons of premium photos for your blog.
There are tons of other great resources for using copyright-free photos, like the Creative Commons search and The Commons on Flickr. Check ’em out :)
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Thank you very much!
I do have a question about the Creative Commons search, though. I was looking at it last night, and it seems if I type in a subject in their search bar for say Google images, it gives me just about anything I could want. But when I go to Google itself, and put the Usage Restrictions on, it comes up with a very small portion of the results I found with CC. I guess I just have to watch my step.
Thanks again!
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So the answers to my questions have only have created more questions unfortunately. I made my site private for the day just so I can figure all of this stuff out. Would making a Copyright Notice help me stay out of deep water? I’ve seen it on a lot of other popular websites (Not that mine’s popular, hah). I guess I just don’t understand how more commercial sites get away with posting images all over the place without any repercussions? An example of a site that I’m sure most you hate but is a good example nonetheless is Perez Hilton. He’s got a copyright notice up on his sidebar, does that clear him from any liability issues?
Believe me, I’m not trying to emulate his site in any way, it’s just an example of someone using images the way I would like to. Is he just shelling out cash left and right for permission?
What a headache. I’m not trying to steal anybody’s stuff (at least not intentionally), I’m just trying to put a picture with a story and my commentary, that’s all. Am I just completely in the dark with all of this stuff?
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So I’ve been studying all of this copyright stuff and think I am prepared to re-enter the blogosphere (I made my blog private for the last few days so I could learn a thing or two). Let me just say that this PicApp thing is amazing!
All of this “fair use” stuff is kind of tricky though, so I’ll try and tread lightly when posting images from now on. Another question for anyone to answer, since Wikipedia uses images via fair use, is it okay for anybody to use those images on their pages? What about the Wiki Commons? Are those all legit?
Thanks for all of your help.
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You need to review the terms on each of those sites, and also for each individual photo. Some are public domain, some are CC. With CC, there can be different requirements depending on which CC license the image is under.
Wikipedia will show that information on the image page. Just follow and comply with their restrictions and you will be OK.
Wiki Commons I have no idea.
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There’s no need to tread so lightly, if they e-mail you asking to take an image off then it’s fair do’s take that image off. That’s the worst it will get unless you claim the images as your own, (like making an art site claiming it’s all your work when it’s not).
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I figured the worst it could get would be like a cease & desist letter or something, but I use a lot of images from sports and movies and I’ve read stories of sports franchises/movie studios getting very antsy regarding their content. Not that I have some enormous following and get thousands of hits a day or anything, I’m just trying to make my friends laugh.
It’s frustrating, but it is the law I guess.
Thanks for your help.
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how do i post a photo onto my blog page? i would like to see it on the page itself.
– scott
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Use the “Image Upload” feature in the visual editor, and upload it from your hard drive, or a web URL.
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jimmyleec is rather new and that should be taken with a grain of salt, to say the least.
And to post an image, follow these instructions:
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Hah, I hear you raincoaster. But he seems enthusiastic, so there’s always that. What are your thoughts on something like this? I’ve checked out your blog a few times, you seem to pick and choose your pictures carefully.
What about stuff from youtube? Can somebody get in trouble for posting something copyrighted, even if they didn’t upload it themselves?
I’m sorry if these all seem like beginner questions, but I guess that’s what I am.
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I know you may not be looking for flower pictures but I have a ton if you need any and I have a picture permissions at the top of my blog stating which pics you can and can not use. It’s that simple on my blog. So feel free to use any.
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Well, I’ll tell you what. If at any time I do require a picture of flowers, your blog will be the first site I go to!
Thanks!
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The Youtube issue isn’t with us, the bloggers, generally. When someone uploads something to youtube they have to state that they’ve got the rights to do so. What often happens is, they don’t, and your youtubes expire after a certain point.
Now, all this said, I steal pictures from all over. I always have. I link them to the source, but I have had, in three years of blogging, three confrontations about it and staff have made it VERY clear they’re not going to stick up for me when it comes to me using materials I don’t have the rights to. This is why the Picapp thing is such big news; you’ve GOT all the rights, from the get-go.
Stealing is the tradition. But it’s not the Best Practice. And it’s obviously not legal.
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You are very welcome and good luck. I do like Picapp and am impressed with it. Easy to use I see–haven’t tried it yet. But what a nice relief not having to worry about copyright.
Did ya’ll know the FTC has a new thing—if you review a product like I do with so many garden items—you have to disclose that it was given to you—starting December 1st, 2009.
I already disclose that information but so many don’t. Will be interesting to see if the IRS jumps in on this.
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I do like PicApp. The only thing that frustrates me is that the little bar that pops out with all of their other embedded pictures. But I have been impressed with the sports photos they have offered so far, since it keeps me from stealing from places like ESPN or the AP when writing game recaps.
And from what I’ve read, you do NOT want to take from the AP without permission. They’ll get ya.
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The bar is slideable. There’s an arrow on the bottom-right side that slides it back in. Annoying, I know. I blog about fashion at http://ayyyy.com and it always hides the shoes!
And yes, the AP will hunt down your children and feed them to wild dogs.
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