And do it right!
The last post was a warning on how NOT to steal images. It was really a setup for this post which deals with finding the right image on the internet and using it properly.
To Recap: Poor Faye had used Google’s Image Search, found a picture she liked, and then used it for her blog. The owner of the image had setup a Google Alert for anything linking back to his site. He saw that Faye had used an image so he changed the actual image on his server (the one she was linking to). The new image which was unsightly, to say the least, now showed prominently on Faye’s post.
Here’s just one way, and my favorite way, Faye could have done it right.
Yes Flickr is an image hosting site, but it has a really cool feature you can use to your advantage. Creative Commons. When a photographer decides to upload their work to Flickr they can also assign any one of 7 different Copyright licenses to their photo.
- None (All rights reserved)
- Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Creative Commons
- Attribution-NonCommercial Creative Commons
- Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs Creative Commons
- Attribution Creative Commons
- Attribution-ShareAlike Creative Commons
- Attribution-NoDerivs Creative Commons
That means you can find a picture you like and know that it’s Rules for proper use (assuming you follow the rules).
Here’s how this works.
Go to Flickr. Find the drop down for “EXPLORE“. You’ll see the Creative Commons section.
Read the descriptions for your options on the right.
Most of the time I go with the “By:”
or 
symbol.
Now search for an image using descriptive tags, like “sunny day” or “kid on swing” or even "credit crunch".
Every image you find is free to use. All you have to do is give proper credit the photographer (as I did on the first picture above).
If you still are not finding the right image, try changing to another Creative Commons sections. My second favorite is the
or in human terms, the "Attribution-NoDerivs License"
WARNING: If the image uploaded to Flickr was not theirs to begin with, this does not remove you from liability to the real owner.
Let me put that a different, more personal way.
Let’s say I upload a great graphic of the famous Porsche Crest. I slap a Creative Commons License on it saying it’s free to use. You grab the picture and use it in your blog. Meanwhile Porsche employs leagues of very high powered people constantly searching the globe for improper use (ask me how I know). They find your picture and you get a cease and desist letter. “Well, Mike said it was ok” doesn’t hold water.
- Best Idea. Take your own pictures.
- Second Best. Use Flickr and Creative Commons.
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- Supporting Creative Commons
- Search for Free Images
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This post brought to you courtesy of Mike Mueller.
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Mike - I love the follow up article! There are so many "legal" options out there, you don't have to steal. The content of Faye's blog makes it even more amusing that she would 'steal' something from someone.
Mike ~ Thanks for giving the "advice!" I really hate when people steal images and I've had my share. In fact their is a MAYOR of a local town who stole one of my images for her My Space page! Can you image that?
The best thief (sarcasm here) was a President of the Board of Realtors who stole 48 pages of my website, including photos I personally staged using my husband, children and grandkids! I really enjoyed how he justified his theft! Such a moron, may he go down in flames.
There are just too many places to go to get good photos for free or almost free. I've been buying mine when needed for a buck! One lousy buck can enhance the copy of your blog, it is so worth it to me!
kk
Debbie - In all fairness to Faye, and really to anyone new to blogging. She just didn't know better. I started out exactly the same. I made the same mistakes. .
Kristal - Wow! Both the Mayor and Prez of Board of Realtors? You take such wonderful pictures. In this post I didn't want to confuse the issue with other sites but what is your favorite not so free image site?
Mike, this is a great post. I have to admit I have been using Google images for most of my pics, however most of the time I also look for any wording that indicates it is copyrighted and or requires permission. I have posted a few that I got the permission and gave credit where credit was due. Clearly Flickr has taken this idea of protection a step further to protect all involved
Flickr here I come.
Thanks again
Bo
Ok Mike, Now I can be a thief legally & not get in trouble! :)
Mike,
Your posts were both funny and informative, the best form education. My only problem with having pictures copied has been from my MLS listings. One REALTOR even used my picture for a front-page ad for a monthly magazine even though the picture was over 2 years old. Our MLS recently changed the rules to require permission from the original submitter of comments and/or pictures. I was glad to see this happen. Both REALTORS and the public deserve pictures of properties that are up-to-date.
Very interesting posting Mike. Thanks. The average "Joe" (I didn't say Joe Six-pack), innocently copy and pastes and feels that everything is free on the internet. I appreciate the sobering reminder.
In Krystal's case, I can see why someone would copy 48 pages; her site is amazing!
-Mark
mike, your are a treasure chest of information... very nice, thanks for making time to share this.
chris the implementer
Mike,
Great Follow up!
I use Flickr and have over 5,000 photos posted.
And I have multiple cameras for shooting my own stuff.
Mike, great post and terrific info. Thanks!
Awesome! I really didn't know that Flickr had photos that could be used by others. Thanks for the information.
Thanks so much for this post, lately was runnig wild trying to find pictures and coudl not figure out free usage ones.
Mike - this is a great tip. I also purchase stock photos from istockphoto.com. I usually have to pay $1.00 but it's worth it to know I can use it whenever and wherever I like. Besides I have a daughter who is a photographer so I guess I'm more sensitive to this than others sometimes.
So people really change their images to foul someone up? Surely not. Your post is excellent and quite helpful. I'm off to read your other one now. Thank you!
I have posted this particular link in another topic but thought it relevant here as it concerns the topic of "fair use" http://www.google.com/permissions/geoguidelines.html
There are also entire "very large" real estate sites out there that pull large amounts of data including images into their system(sometimes by skimming practices) and "reduce" the resolution and size to fit within the constraints of what they feel is "fair use". They in fact link those images and text back to sites with the full details but the lower res images reside on their servers. I would venture to say that everyone on this blog uses this site I am referencing and doesn't think twice about the copyrighted images that reside there or how they get away with that practice....but it involves "Fair Use" and they rightly so in my opiinion feel that they fall within it as described in the link below.
You can read more about Fair Use here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use
Copying full resolution images though from someone elses site with our without recognizing the other party most likely falls outside fair use.
Mark Passerby
www.PovVideotours.com
Mike, great post. I spend a lot of time with C&D letters to protect my business and my clients interests. It is in fact stealing and you may as well walk into a store, grab an item and put it in your pocket. When a photographer sells a photo, they are feeding their families. Thanks for bringing this topic to light. I look forward to reading more of your posts! ~Laurie
Photo bucket allows you to publish your photos to the internet and use them as you wish. Or you can keep them private. I use both when looking for content photos.
Mike Jaquish told me a long time ago to use Flickr to upload my pics - then pull pics from there because Flickr has "yahoo love!" Thanks!
Mike, this is excellent. I like the fact that under the creative commons license you can change the photo's or alter them as long as you still give credit to the photographer. Excellent tutorial.
I love Flickr and now this will make it easier to use. Thank you for the explanation.
Hey Mike, thanks for sharing this info. I have been using Googl images for ever and did not know. Thanks again.
Mike, thanks for the tutorial on Flickr's Creative Commons copyright licenses and the warning. I agree it is best to take your own photos.
Hi Mike, When I take a photo ( love photography) I sometimes just put them into my picture file from my card reader for my camera. When I want slided I use photobucket. Should I place ALL my photos including the single use onesw ( not only the slides because I read it is better for seo to use pics from photobucket? Thanks
Great information! This is a resource I haven't used enough.
I love Flickr! Luckily I was introduced to ActiveRain by a user who is already well-versed in the ways of image-sharing (or stealing) and warned us about using pictures we did not take ourselves or didn't have permission to use. A reminder never hurts though. Thanks.
Mike this is a important and informative post. I remember one AR poster had used a graphic which apparently linked back to a site which swapped it out to a pornographic picture. I alerted him private email, and he removed it, but it clearly illustrated what can happen.
Hi Mike,
thanks for the tip...I'll have to re-look at the site. I also take most of mine, and buy from IStock for $1
Another free site would be great too, I tend to use too many pictures on my post :) 'm a visual to the total max. :) Liz
How Crazy !!! I have never thought about all that !!! WOW thanks so much for the heads up. I will see if I have any freaky links that now look funny. thanks for the heads up. I would hate to look stupid about all this !
What is it will all this stealing? I wish I had a photo worth stealing. I know I'm politically wrong here but if you don't want someone using it why put it on the web. Aren't we lucky we live in a country with so many rules that none can be enforced.
Thanks for the thoughtful post, Mike!
As a content creator, I run across my stuff being used with attribution all too frequently. Charles wonders why one would put photos (for example) on the web if they are not free for commercial usage. The answer is that the web has become the universal portfolio, museum, salon or whatever you'd like to call it.
I don't get real heated up about it or spend a lot of time tracking down copyright violators. I've always granted permission to anyone who asks for it. It's just annoying. It's stealing.
My advice: if you admire a photo (or movie or picture), ask for permission. Offer a credit and a link. That's what WUNC did for me.
Last post was by me... forgot to log in :)
Great headline, btw.
OK Mike, good point. but I can't even figure out how to insert my own pictures much less steal someone else's. You're all safe from me. --- For now. I'm learning every day.
Mike I agree that it is best to try to use your own work. I am always leery of the disclaimer on the "free-photo" site as it does specifically say "we think it's okay to use, but we are not 100% sure" in the disclaimer section. That is not exactly a warm fuzzy. Great information as always!
Mike,
You definately have been around, I appreciate the information and look forward to learning other interesting and valuable tips from your site. Thanks
great post, never want to steal someones copyrighted material.
Mike...thank-you for an informative and interesting post. It wil be very helpfull
Thanks for the information..I've been trying to take my own photos but that is hard sometimes and I've been looking for a legit source of photos that won't infringe on copyright laws...
Mike:
Thanks for the heads up, I too have used Google images. Just started looking into flickr, thanks for the tutorial.
Peter Vekselman
Mike this is such a good post - you need to add it to the new Bright Ideas group :-) I am bookmarking it so I can refer back to it later. Thanks very much!!!
Great post but we still don't advocate using flickr as they still have some lawsuits pending. I highly suggest using istockphoto for high quality prints that oftentimes only cost 1$ for medium sized resolution images. This is a great way to get some vacation spots from a far away land you could never visit. For local pictures, take em yourself.
I also use istockphoto. $1/photo/video/illustration. The site is very easy to use, they have tens of thousands of photos, videos and illustrations. I believe in paying others when I use their work.
Thanks for the great info Mike. I have used photos from flickr and I actually e-mailed everyone asking for permission. When they asked for a link I thought they wanted a link to the post and that is what I did. How stupid they must have thought I was I didn't realize they wanted a link back to their photo and flickr site. Oh well live and learn. At least I asked permission and I am much smarter now.
Thanks Again,
Lisa
Mike, very informative! Thank you for sharing. I have bookmarked for future use.
Thanks for this amazing tip. I got this one bookmarked !
Mike: Thanks for the tip! Is this the site that Katerina uses? Don't they give a kickback to those who recommend it? I'm more into taking my own and using the old clips that I've snagged with 'SnagIt' so that I don't get into any trouble! There is another site and I can't remember what the name of it is but, I purchased a couple for my website (iPhoto?). Anyway, I know Faye was horrified when she saw this!
Hey Mike, great explanation and I will read your 1st installment even though I do get it. Question for you though....Do you ever sleep?
I reblogged your first post about how NOT to and created a link to this one. I did not want to over-reblog. I have copied several floor-plan images from a site that I don't want to name. They really caused me some embarrassment when they did virtually the same thing that was done to "Fayes" blog. The image was replaced with a horrible and disgusting image- almost pornographic!
The horrible image did trace back to the original source, but that is no consolation.
thank this will help me. I have always been confused as to what I could use.
David Medendorp
www.sellmuskegon.com
VERY helpful advice, Mike. Thank you.
Mike,
Very useful, logical and insightful post. Thank you!
Very interesting! Never seen anything like it...
John
I think Katrina uses IClipart - I use that 29 bucks for a year. Plus my own masterpieces. :(
Mike.. Once again, thank you for taking the time to share with us on the correct way for using pictures for our blogs
Thanks for this information. Very helpful. From now on I will always take my own pictures or use flickr.
Mike- this was really informative- You did a great job of explaining the common- and guiding people to the right areas to enhance their blogs with photos in the proper way. Thank you so much for the insightful information!
Great advice and great tools.... thank you for sharing with us all. I can always learn something new and will use this with my photos.
Mike -Flickr is a great resource- this was a great reminder.
I'd like to use pictures or cartoons but I think I feel more comfortable with not being in the position of "stealing" any one else's work although now I'll start to take notice if others are acknowledging their sources for the cute stuff they use!
Thank you for this info. I haven't done a blog yet but am learning very quickly that it's more than just typing some words and posting them.
Mike, thanks for the great info. I'm glad I didn't have that happen on my post about the 'picture exchange'. Never thought about it but it would be a piece of cake with just changing the image to the link itself. Voila, instant porno.
Great post. I try to take my own photos but always good to know what you can and can't do if you need to "borrow" one.
Mile: Thank you for the break down. I was wondering what the different license laws meant on Flickr. I recently started quoting where the pictures came from. I take my camera everywhere, that way I can use my own photos and not have to worry about the issues with copyright laws!
Thanks for the useful information. Mostly I take my own pictures and was not even aware of what could happen if you STOLE a picture! Not that it has ever crossed my mind to go stealing :-)))
Mike,
I was sitting in on a website class, an "Expert" was teaching at our office, and someone asked him where he gets all his images for the websites he builds. He said, "O, I just do a Google search for the type of image I am looking for and then right click it, choose "Save As" and then then insert into the webpage. It's that easy". I couldn't believe what I was hearing and had to say something, he just laughed it off like it was no big deal, like I was just being overly cautious, because he has never had a problem! Glad he is not teaching at our office anymore :)
Hey I love stealing images and I want to share one with you!
This picture, run on a pay per click Facebook campaign, has been successful beyond my dreams. The accompanying text just says Vancouver now has lower Prices, low interest rates and lots of Selection, click here to see!
Try it!
Mike, great information for all of us to have. Thanks for taking the time to thoroughly explain the ins & outs.
Thank you! I had no idea how to get images the right way!
I will have to check out flickr thanks for the advice.
Great info Mike: Flickr is an awesome website... thanks for the tutorial.
Mike this is very helpful info, I've looked around in the creative commons area and didn't really understand it. Thanks a lot for explaining this so well. Always looking for new places to get images. Sometimes it's easier just to buy them.
Thanks for setting me straight, although I was almost there
Excellent, Mike. It's very frustrating to work hard at being creative with copy, design, and photos, only to have someone rip off your finished product. This should be required reading for any agent that has a website.
You are really a smart guy:) Thank you for the clarification and break down that will make it a lot easier when I do not have a picture of my own handy. I try to take my own pictures and enjoy doing it but sometimes it just is not possible.
Good info, Mike! I will check out Flickr - I use IClipart for cartoon graphics, and always have my camera handy. Good to have another site to peruse!
Debi
Mike,
This is great inforamtion, and you instructions are so easy to follow.
I appreciate you bringing this to our attention.
Great information. I agree that you should use your own original content. If you don't have the time, use one of the many royalty free images offered by Flickr and other sites. If you are using someone else's photos, attribution alone is not sufficient. You need to secure written permission for the use of the photos. In addition, if you are using a customer's house photo on your website as a lifestyle image or if people are included in your photo, I would secure written permission from them to use the photograph or their likeness.
Yes, great info! I had no idea about this Flickr feature - Thank you!
Thanks Mike, I searched for this info in AR and found your post. This has been helpful :)
I'm checking out this Creative Commons stuff now - - - - hope I can figure it out!
MIke - Love the post. I just new there had to be a way. Thanks for the step-by-step. I've signed up for Flickr and plan on spending some time on it tonight.