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Beware If You Use Creative Commons Images

By Joe Lane Richland

Real Estate Agent with Kennewick Richland (and West) Pasco WA Homes For Sale

May 26, 2011 07:44 PM

I recently read this article from AgentGenius regarding the authorized use of Creative Commons images for your own personal or professional use. In the article Lani Rosales describes how some photographers post their images to photo sharing sites like Flickr with full Creative Commons licensing allowing for anyone's use, then after a period of time changing the license to All Rights Reserved. These unscrupulous individuals then email unsuspecting bloggers (you and me) and use threats to extort fees for the use of their images.

What Can You Do
In the article AgentGenius not only shows a user how to properly use Creative Commons images, but also provides useful tips to protect yourself when the authorization is changed from Creative Commons to All Rights Reserved.

Image Credit: Flickr

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Lorinda Ward

Keffer Realty - Norfolk, VA

Serving, Hampton Roads Virginia. Norfolk, Chesapeake, Va Beach

I have not heard of this before. I am trying to find a website where I can make my own pictures and not have to worry about these unscrupulous people.

May 26, 2011 07:57 PM

Joe Lane Richland

Kennewick Richland (and West) Pasco WA Homes For Sale - Richland, WA

WA Realtor, 509.438.9344 www.LaneRealEstateTeam.com

Good luck Lorinda! Oh, and cute pic of your daughter. We have 5 kids and we too incorporate our kids into our avatars, blogs, and all sort of other stuff. I guess it goes with the territory, eh!

May 26, 2011 08:20 PM

MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900

Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA

Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Thanks for the heads up about this issue. However, some artists actually don't do it for unscrupulous reasons - more like "free exposure" for a certain amount of time, then after it becomes more "known" and "Popular" to change it so they can make money on their work.

May 26, 2011 10:19 PM

@Michelle,

Let's hope these folks do not require some sort of payment after the change, eh!

May 27, 2011 01:54 AM

Myrl Jeffcoat

Sacramento, CA

Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Joe - I have not heard of this, and it is good to know. After the tattoo artist that created the tattoo for Mike Tyson came out of the woodwork claiming copyright for his artistry, I guess most anything is possible in that realm.

May 27, 2011 03:30 AM

Thanks Myrl,

However, if I did Mike Tyson's tattoo I'm not sure I would want anyone to know about it! [grins]

May 27, 2011 07:17 AM

Mona Gersky

MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC

GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

Hi Joe,

I clicked suggest on this and bookmarked the article. Again...if they would use their powers for good!

May 28, 2011 03:24 AM

Michael Taylor

Red Door Real Estate - Indianapolis, IN

Yikes... I would hate to get wound up in someone's legal trick like that. I guess the wisest thing to do is simply to record some evidence of the fact that the images were Creative Commons at the time that you used them, just in case.

May 30, 2011 08:02 AM

George Fanucci

CoreFact.com - Los Altos, CA

Internet - Technology - Business - Solutions

Bummer! So, what does the IP attorney say about this? If you have recorded the fact that it was unprotected at the time of use, are you covered, or not?

BEWARE, there are all kinds of stories posted all over the place, if anyone reported to Godaddy, or certain other domain registrars, that you have violated copyright, they can shut down your DNS, effectively killing your email and your blog, regardless of your hosting. There is practically no recourse.

Stop SOPA, stop PIPA, preserve Internet freedom... No tyranny on the Internet! It's un-American!

... Suggested!

Feb 17, 2012 03:13 PM

Joe, how did you make the impressionistic image used in your profile pic? Photoshop filters? Or, some other app? Looks like a Norman Rockwell effect? Sets an appealing mood.

Feb 17, 2012 03:20 PM