From the U.S. Copyright Office FAQ ( http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/ ):

Can I copyright my website?
The original authorship appearing on a website may be protected by copyright. This includes writings, artwork, photographs, and other forms of authorship protected by copyright.
==========

It's important to remember that images can be copyrighted just like text. It seems that more and more AR bloggers are spicing up their entries with images. I like that -- it breaks up the text, adds visual interest, and helps to convey a little more personality of the blogger. Just be careful that the images are not copyrighted, or if they are, that you have permission to use them.

Stock images that are available online generally fall into two categories: rights-managed and royalty-free. A rights-managed image usually costs more, is purchased for a specific use (like a magazine ad or brochure), and has managed distribution, meaning it's unlikely your competitors would be able to use the same image.

Royalty-free images cost less and can be used multiple times, but are not exclusive, so several agents in your area could use the same image in their marketing materials.

If you use a website provider, can you use those images on other sites that you develop? Check your Terms of Use. For example, Alamode's says this: "Copy, reproduce, modify, use, republish, upload, post, publish, license, create derivative works from, transmit or distribute in any way material from the Web Site without ALM's express written permission." 

Graphically challenged? Here are some image sources:

 
Post is included in group: Blogging & SEO

7 Comments on Copyright and web images

AUG
27
2006

As a note, Flickr is a pretty good place to get images to use on your post.  Millions of the images on their site are available for use on some form the "Creative Commons" license.  I occassionally use images from there, but give credit at the bottom of my post to the photographer to satisfy the licensing requirement.

For more information...

http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/

6:42pm • #1
604,946 Points 244 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Hi John, How do you know if a picture is copyrighted? I usually just do a google search and if is not stamped "copyright" I use it. Is this OK?
7:21pm • #2
12 Featured Posts

Photos, at least, are owned by the creator, unless done under work-for-hire or other employment agreement.   Per the US Copyright Office - "Copyright is secured automatically when the work is created, and a work is 'created' when it is fixed in a copy or phonorecord for the first time."   It does not need to be registered to be considered copyrighted, nor does it need to have "copyright" on them.   

I am guilty of using copyrighted images in my blogs as are most people using images "found" on the internet.   It's inexcusable on my part.  However, I purchased licenses to the images on my website.  Istockphoto.com is a very inexpensive stock photography source.

Over time, if the copyright is not renewed, photographs will fall into the public domain

10:44pm • #3
DEC
21
2006
18 Featured Posts

I do just like Bryant said. If its off a big site, or something important, I dont use it.

if its off some dinky site or an image that is cahced by Google and the site no longer exists, I'll use it.  so how do you really know. as I understand it.. everything online can be claimed to be a copyright.

5:08pm • #4
3 Featured Posts

www.dreamstime.com

Great website for pics and they are just $1 royalty free no questions. Just make sure to read their usage policies for print.

10:53pm • #5
DEC
23
2006
18 Featured Posts
Ade HouseStart with this assumption: No copying of images permitted, period. Not from big site and not from "dinky" sites (Nick M ;-) Unless you created it or have permission to use an image it's likely to be off limits. Here is a good link dealing with the length and expiration of copyrights
1:23pm • #6
120,680 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Nick, it's not that everything online can be "claimed to be" copyrighted.  Everything online *is* copyrighted - the question is, who owns the copyright (may not be the person who has the website - you can find stolen images being used on websites all the time, at least until the photographer's attorney contacts the webmaster in question), have they given blanket permission for the use of their work by any Tom, Dick, or Harry comingn down the pike or only permission to the website owner to use that image on that website alone (having permission to use an image is NOT permission to give others permission to use it - that's a separate contract and probably money changes hands). 

So, "dinky" or not, chances are really really good that you, not being the creator nor having a contract of purchase for the copyright of the image, are violating copyright law when you lift it (much like lifting a book from a bookstore without paying for it) and use it for your own purposes. 

 

2:21pm • #7

Leave a response…



(optional)
What does the graphic say?
 
Profilecpk Rainmaker_large

John Novak - Las Vegas and Henderson NV Real Estate

Las Vegas, NV

More about me…

Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace

Address: 2230 Corporate Circle, Suite 250, Henderson, NV, 89074

Office Phone: (702) 939-0000

Cell Phone: (702) 339-9700

Email Me

News, statistics, and observations about the residential real estate market in southern Nevada, and my experiences and thoughts about being a REALTOR®.

Do Not Miss VREBC

Real Estate Blogs - BlogCatalog Blog Directory Real Estate blogs
Yellow Pages for USA and Canada Real Time Web Analytics Clicky


Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog

Find NV real estate agents and Las Vegas real estate on ActiveRain.