Photo usage on My Blog

[John_A]

Here is a super green'ie question. Today on my Dogo {my breed} blog site a guy posted a picture of a cactus flower and thought it was nice. Well I saw the same picture here that was breathtaking.

The question is it ok for me to snatch it here and post it there with the statement that it was not my shot?

[mmuhlenkamp]

If you want to refer to someone else's work post a link, I believe posting the image directly violates the forum rules (just in case someone mistakes it for you claiming it as your own photo).

Links are never a problem.

[revjvegas]

I would think if with the photo a proper notation is given with the name of the photog and link back to the originating site it should be ok ... BUT, the best thing to do if you just want to make positively sure is to contact said photog for the ok to do so.

[Howard Barlow]

Yeah, copyright means nothing. Use anything you like online.

[Abel]

Originally Posted by Howard Barlow

Yeah, copyright means nothing. Use anything you like online.

I hope you're being sarcastic.

Originally Posted by John_A

The question is it ok for me to snatch it here and post it there with the statement that it was not my shot?

I would say no. plain and simple.

Here on the forum for instance this is one of our rules:

--------------------------
21. No Copyrighted Photos
DO NOT post/embed any photos to which you did not photograph. If there is a photo online that you would like to ask about and/or show to our members, do not embed it into our site. Simply post the URL of the original owners website where it can be found. We ask that you respect their rights.
--------------------------


I would suggest that if you want to post someone else's photo on your own blog that I would contact that person and ask for permission to do so. Usually in return you would list their name and site info as photo credit but that usually only occurs AFTER they've given you permission.

Posting other people's photos on your own blog without their permission will only end in drama and headache. It's not a matter of IF the original photographer finds out, it's a of matter of WHEN they find out.

One of the easiest things to do is to think of it this way. How would you feel if other people "snatched" your photos from this site that you've posted and reposted them on their own blog without notifying you first. I am sure you would have liked to have been given the option to say yes or no and have been made aware of it initially. Often times finding out from other sources such as members on the forum etc already makes the situation uncomfortable and negative right off the bat.

I think this is a situation of just because you can doesn't mean its right.

My suggestion is to respect other photographer's rights as you would wish your's to be respected.

Ask first and save yourself the drama. If they say no, then you have your answer.

[auddii]

There is actually a fair use clause, so if your blog is about photography, and you are discussing a point, and the photo emphasizes said point, you can use it with credit to the original poster and you can't edit the photo in any way. Fair use only includes education satire, and possibly one other thing that I can't remember.

I know lots of photographers freak out when they find their work on random other blogs. Some I think actually are fair use, and some they edit out the watermark (don't know if they had claimed it as their own or not). I know at least one photographer on here (and I'm assuming there are lots more on this site) that has a lawyer on call for when he feels his picture is improperly used. Maybe if it's fair use his lawyer would tell him there's nothing he could do, or the lawyer may call and harass you even if it is fair use just because they know most people would freak if a lawyer calls. I think several people here would not mind if you contact them first and get their permission. Just easier in the long run...

[Abel]

Fair Use Clause still won't save you the drama from being served papers and/or possibly going to court if said photographer has a lawyer on call...

That's more headache than what its worth over simply posting a photo on a blog... I'd still contact them first and not chance it.

[bryanlindsey]

Originally Posted by Howard Barlow

Yeah, copyright means nothing. Use anything you like online.

This sarcasm will be lost on some.

Contract the 'tog. Chances are he'll be flattered and it'll be no problem if you give credit and link back to his site.

[Howard Barlow]

Originally Posted by Abel

I hope you're being sarcastic.

Yes, indeed, I am. I wasn't aiming that at John, as he asked a perfectly fine question. I am, though, constantly amazed at the responses such questions usually receive. I am not a lawyer and I don't offer legal advice, however, I do have a pretty good knowledge of copyright law.

F-stops and shutter speed are fine to give one's best guesses. Legal matters, I believe, should not be guessed at.

The Copyright Zone is a good place to start. They also have a book that is very beneficial.

Basically, don't copy someone else's work.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by John_A

....Today on my Dogo {my breed} blog site a guy posted a picture of a cactus flower and thought it was nice. Well I saw the same picture here that was breathtaking.
....

Are you saying someone on your blog posted a picture from here that wasn't theirs to post?

[Tom]

Originally Posted by auddii

There is actually a fair use clause, so if your blog is about photography, and you are discussing a point, and the photo emphasizes said point, you can use it with credit to the original poster and you can't edit the photo in any way. Fair use only includes education satire, and possibly one other thing that I can't remember.

I know lots of photographers freak out when they find their work on random other blogs. Some I think actually are fair use, and some they edit out the watermark (don't know if they had claimed it as their own or not). I know at least one photographer on here (and I'm assuming there are lots more on this site) that has a lawyer on call for when he feels his picture is improperly used. Maybe if it's fair use his lawyer would tell him there's nothing he could do, or the lawyer may call and harass you even if it is fair use just because they know most people would freak if a lawyer calls. I think several people here would not mind if you contact them first and get their permission. Just easier in the long run...

The US Copyright office tells you to get permission even if you think your use is fair use.

Even in an educational sense, not all use is fair use.

The safest thing is to link to a picture and talk about it and hope your words are interesting enough to make someone click through.

[SpeedRacerSlots]

Originally Posted by Jake

Are you saying someone on your blog posted a picture from here that wasn't theirs to post?

That's where I thought the OP was headed too Jake.