Using Images found Online

supermonkey

Hello all,

Strange question and not really sure if this is the right place...

I know that most sites have copyright, but what about text & images on a site without. Can you use that image yourself without fear of any comeback?

Thanks

ukbill69

All websites are copyright and you need owners permission to use any content. They could take legal action! Best bet, create your own content, will make it better in search engines as never been seen before.

supermonkey

thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, some of the images I need are rather specialist and not the kind I can take myself. The alternative is featurepics.com, but I have found better photos elsewhere on a non commericial site with no copyright!

Halloway

http://www.sxc.hu/

I've used this site in the past. For some images you have to notify the artist but the images are free to use.

ukbill69

supermonkey wrote: »

but I have found better photos elsewhere on a non commericial site with no copyright!

Every website either commercial or person is copyrighted automatically. You need to seek permission form the copyright owner, this is the law.

paulwf

I've found most website owners will happily allow images to be used - they really appreciate when people ask to use content rather than just use it without permission.

jasmin10

There are free image websites available for you to use if you google. I can't remember of the top off my head which ones I used, but they are there if you have a good look.

Colin2511

Halloway wrote: »

http://www.sxc.hu/

I've used this site in the past. For some images you have to notify the artist but the images are free to use.

hi Thanks for that, I sometimes use the ones where you pay per image, but as I only need generic images thats great

Uncertain

supermonkey wrote: »

..... but I have found better photos elsewhere on a non commericial site with no copyright!

Sorry but there is no such thing!

The owner of the copyright may choose to make it available without charge, in which case you can use the image without paying a fee. In this case the image is "royalty free" but somebody still owns the copyright even if they choose not to enforce it.

*MF*

Hi supermonkey ...

Strongly recommend that you always ask for permission from the site where you want to lift whatever it is that you want to use - beyond being polite it gives you some safeguard.

But remember even then, you have no 100% sure way of knowing that the photo or whatever it is that you want to use has not itself been lifted to that site from another site altogether where the owner has indeed claimed copyright.

Sorry if that sounds negative, but it is something to consider, ok.

Ste_C

Be sure you know where the image originally came from and make sure you keep evidence of being given permission to use it.

I know someone who took a site from an ordinary looking home made blog. It turned out that the image originally belonged to Getty images and was being used without permission. They weren't happy about it and threatened legal action and sent demands for payment - £750 for a 150x150 pixel image. Eventually after about 8 months and many letters they dropped it but just be careful.