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Please do not post images that infringe copyright...even if you create an image link and the image shows within the forum (hot linking).
Why?
Everything published on the internet should be taken to be copyright unless it clearly states otherwise. There is no requirement for anyone to place any notice of copyright to protect rights. The law assumes that copyright exists unless specifically stated to the contrary. However, claims for damages can be be higher where a specific notice was present.
The UK Copyright Service has clarified that: "It makes no difference how the work is stored or published, the law still applies." Therefore it is clear that it makes no difference where an image is stored - it is where it is published that counts.
In law, "in the public domain" can only apply if you have it in writing from the author / intellectual property owner that this is the case. Public domain rights cannot be assumed if it's an imgae on the web.
Civil law applies for all actions regarding copyright issues. Unlike criminal law the plaintive does not have to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt - the balance of probability can be enough to have damages awarded.
In short, the only photos that can legitimately be posted within forums are:
photos which the poster took him/herself and which the poster owns the royalty free rights
photos which the poster has written permission from the intellectual property owner to reproduce specifically in this forum
photos from the web which are clearly and specifically labelled "in the public domain"
ANYTHING else could lead to civil legal action being taken.
You can provide an html link to an image on the web but not re-produce the image itself within the forum (including avatars) if you don't have permission to do so.
Please remember that part of the code of conduct asks for members not to transmit any material that you don't have the right to transmit under law (such as copyright or trade secrets) and that you will indemnify us in respect of any breach of that warranty.
Thought it best to make everyone aware of the situation.
Below is a list of some image resource websites. There could be provisos attached to some of these "public domain" images. Some image owners may place conditions on the use of their images such as: "a credit must be given wherever the photo is published" or "the photo may not be edited" etc.
So please check the copyright status of each image.
- http://www.picfindr.com/ - A "web2.0" image search that finds free-for-commercial-use stock photographs on other websites.
- http://karenswhimsy.com/public-domain-images/ - Scans of engravings and other artwork from a personal collection of old books, magazines, and post cards. Updated regularly.
- http://www.wpclipart.com - Public Domain clipart optimized for use in word processors. Browsable via site treeview and thumbnail pages. Complete collection also downloadable from ibiblio.
- http://yotophoto.com - Free image search engine including public domain, Creative Commons and GFDL images. Currently indexing over 130,000 free images.
- http://www.burningwell.org - Repository of public domain photos.
- http://www.osterkartenausstellung.at/ - Easter Postcards from 1898 till today from 32 states all over the world - an international exhibition.
- http://www.gutenberg.net/catalog/ - Project Gutenberg: 12,000+ books, only a few illustrated, but the number of illustrated books increases from week to week. There are thousands upon thousands of PD images to be had, with a wee bit of legwork and a modicum of serendipity.
- http://backgroundsarchive.com - Thousands of public domain images organized by category, color and brightness.
- http://gimp-savvy.com/PHOTO-ARCHIVE/ - GIMP Archive: 32,000+ Royalty-free photos, organized by keyword.
- http://www.openclipart.org/ - This project is an archive of public domain clip art. The clip art is stored in the W3C scalable vector graphics (SVG) format.
- http://www.pixeleye.com Pixeleye.com - Pictures from the Montafon Valley. Collection of public domain photos organized by category.
- http://pdphoto.org/ - Large collection of mostly public domain photos. Read the license for each picture before use; also, model releases may not have been obtained for all photos.
- http://www.logodesignweb.com/stockphoto/ - Small but growing public domain stock photos released by photographer.
- http://www.wisegorilla.com/clipart.html - All kinds of clipart.
- http://www.freephotos.se/ - Small personal photographic collection dedicated to the public domain.
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