Let's talk about copyright...
Social media is full of beautiful pictures. As a photographer, it's the perfect field of study for inspiration and improving my technique. It's also where many copyright infringement cases take place.
"I found the picture in Google Images. So I assumed I could use it for my blog post."
"I'm not sure who took this picture, but I shared it because it's pretty."
Unattributed photos have been passed around for years on the Internet, especially on Facebook and Twitter. I have seen it here on Steemit as well. Even some publications are guilty of it. Or worse, those who use them sometimes claim ownership.
I know that many people are genuinely unaware that copyright laws apply offline AND online. But others do it with full knowledge of the facts.
"To start, you should assume that all online images are protected by copyright. Then do your research to determine if the image you want to use actually requires permission," says Lesley Ellen Harris.
Almost anything published on the Internet receives automatic copyright -- whether they sport the copyright symbol or not. Exceptions include non-recorded and non-written works (e.g. improvisational speeches or performances), titles, slogans, ideas / concepts, and content used from public documents. For a complete list, you can refer to this document.
Thankfully, there is Creative Commons. The site provides a set of six licenses for photographers and other creators interested in encouraging the reuse of their work:
Attribution (CC BY) - "This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. This is the most accommodating of licenses offered. Recommended for maximum dissemination and use of licensed materials."
Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) - "This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work even for commercial purposes, as long as they credit you and license their new creations under the identical terms. This license is often compared to “copyleft” free and open source software licenses. All new works based on yours will carry the same license, so any derivatives will also allow commercial use. This is the license used by Wikipedia, and is recommended for materials that would benefit from incorporating content from Wikipedia and similarly licensed projects."
Attribution-NoDerivs (CC BY-ND) - "This license allows for redistribution, commercial and non-commercial, as long as it is passed along unchanged and in whole, with credit to you."
Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) - "This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-commercially, and although their new works must also acknowledge you and be non-commercial, they don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms."
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA) - "This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-commercially, as long as they credit you and license their new creations under the identical terms."
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND) - "This license is the most restrictive of our six main licenses, only allowing others to download your works and share them with others as long as they credit you, but they can’t change them in any way or use them commercially."
Bonus license: CCO - "CC0 enables scientists, educators, artists and other creators and owners of copyright- or database-protected content to waive those interests in their works and thereby place them as completely as possible in the public domain, so that others may freely build upon, enhance and reuse the works for any purposes without restriction under copyright or database law."
There is always a creator behind the content you find on blogs, websites, and social networks. Make sure you have permission before using their work and give credit where credit is due. And if you are unsure of the source, do not gamble with fate. You could be sued for copyright infringement.
Actually, why not create your own graphics? Canva is the perfect tool for that!
Do you use Creative Commons? If so, do you think it's useful? Have you ever had to deal with illegal uses of your images? Share a story with us in the comment section below!
For further reading:
- Blogger Beware: You CAN Get Sued For Using Photos You Don't Own on Your Blog by Roni Lauren (BlogHer)
- Copyright Basics (U.S. Copyright Office)
- Oh Snap, Can I (Legally) Use That Photo? by Peg Fitzpatrick (Positively Peggy)
- Blogger's Guide to Copyright and DMCA by Natalie Mootz (BloggingDotCom)
Are you a photographer? If so, I'd love to hear from you and feature you on this blog. Read the following post for more information.
Click the image below to see my photography:
I see this everyday and it pisses me so much! People use the pics or art of others, they even dare to change it and then say its their pic! They can't understand what a copyright is and they don't care either. I always use my own stuff but when I use another person stuff I always write the place where I took the thing. I know what is to have your pics stolen so I don't do that
shitExactly! Some people have quite the nerve, I tell you.
Years ago, someone stole one of my images and claimed it as their own. When I mentioned that they forgot to remove my watermark and asked them to tell me when and where they took "their" photo, they insulted me . lol
That's why I only use low-resolution versions of my photos. That way, good luck trying to pass it as yours...
Some people have no decency! We call that people in my island "lettuce face" ahahaha
That's a great nickname for those people. I call them a...holes. lol
Hello @cendrinemedia, well put. Yes be aware of what pictures you use...either know if your allowed or ask for permission...always put your source on image always. As well there are plenty of free site you can acquire many beautiful images on the internet. Links below
https://pixabay.com/0
https://www.pexels.com/
https://www.lifeofpix.com/
Thank you @johnskotts!
Stay tuned for more social media tips from me in this space. :-)
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STOPTo support your work, I also upvoted your post!
One day somebody stole my picture on Instagram and when I told them to give me a credit at least they told me that I SHOULD BE HAPPY they share my photo, lol. I was so shocked. I kept asking them to delete the photo but they just ignored me. I reported them but I don't know what happened after that as I was too frustrated to follow up on this.
I understand that many people are not aware of copyrights but if you are asked to at least give a credit to the author you should do it without even thinking about it..
Thank you for spreading awareness! :)
That sucks! It must have been frustrating for you!
What I usually do when people refuse to comply is simple: I call them out publicly online. I have been really successful so far, because I bother them until they get tired of me and remove my content. lol
One thing that works well is filing a DMCA takedown. Tumblr, Pinterest and Google are on the ball when it comes to that. I have had several guilty parties slammed successfully. :-)
I'll probably write a post on the topic in the near future.
That is a good strategy! I hope it won't happen to me again but if so I will do it as well.
Thank you for the information about DMCA takedown! I will be waiting for your post about the details :)
Sometimes, shaming people is the only way to get them to learn anything. I wish I didn't have to do that, as I hate being mean. But when you don't respect me, why should I respect you?
You are right! I also don't feel comfortable doing that but some people are asking for it and if being nice doesn't help then you have to take another action...
I don't feel comfortable doing it either. But sometimes, you have no choice!