copyrights ?

Hi !

I have a question.

I want to use images of models for the vendors in my shop. (as deco)
I will not sell the pictures, I only use them as deco.

And now im not sure if i need the permission to use them. Pictures are for example from google or free wallpaper pages.

I want to use the pictures so that the head isnt shown on it.


Do anybody know if i can do it of will i get a problem with this ?

(an example)

I wouldn't trust free wallpaper sites for having "free" images, since people who submit to those sites likely took from a copyrighted source.

Unless you can find images that are absolutely guaranteed to be in the public domain, or licensed under Creative Commons, GNU, or other "copyleft" methods, there is a chance (albeit very small, given the odds that the actual copyright holder will ever see your use of their image and care enough to make you change it) that you might get called on it.

The fact that you aren't actually selling the image in world doesn't make a difference.

Check out these sites for images that you can use freely for what you described:

http://pdphoto.org/
http://yotophoto.com/
http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/

As a RL photographer, I can assure you that we are very picky about what we release for public domain and/or stock photos.

I sell many of my photos as stock photos through a broker and earn 20% commission every time someone purchases the image. You are free to do whatever you want with the photo you purchase from a broker ... except resell it. All photos through a broker also have model releases on file meaning that the model has released rights and you are free to show his/her face.

Images released to public domain are also license free and have model release on file. However, just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's public domain. If you go to my web site, or if you seach google and it takes you to images on my web site, they are *NOT* public domain nor are they stock photos. They are copyrighted works, even if you only use a portion of the image.

If I see a photo of mine in SL, and it's one that I sold as a stock photo, I'll assume you paid the fee to the broker. If you stole it from somewhere, I'm still not going to care as it's not my problem ... it is the brokers problem. I transferred a copyright license to the broker giving them specific rights.

But, if I ever see one of my photos (or a portion thereof) in SL and it's not one that I sold as stock ... then that photo is in violation of international copyright laws. Period.

I have run into the problem already in SL. I upload a texture into my SL photo studio as a backdrop. The texture is one of my photos. Someone steals the texture via whatever means, and then uses the texture somewhere else ... either as a photo on the wall of their home/business, or imports it into their own studio, or even bundles it and resells it as part of a texture package .... That person violated copyright as well as SL TOS and had their account suspended.

As photographers, we are very protective of our work.

The simple answer is, if you don't absolutely know that you have permission to use an image from the owner of the image, you're liable. Using part of an image is no exemption. As mentioned above, images that seem to be part of a freebie collection may or may not actually be public domain.

Realistically, though, you can decide to take your chances. Especially, using an image that appears to be provided as a freebie. If the owner of the image find out and does not agree, the usual first step is for them to contact you and ask you to cease. If you comply, it's unlikely to lead to further problems. Note that this is no guarantee.

Use your judgement, or else stick to images where you have written permission from the person you know to own rights to the image. (FYI, copyrights can only be assigned in written agreements. Verbal agreements are not valid.)

For artists who post material for others to use, I highly recommend using a Creative Commons license mark. This makes it obvious to laypeople what they can do, backed up by rigorous legalese. You get to choose from a number of common options, such as whether people are free to modify your work, and whether they can use it for profit.

For example, I'm an amateur musician, and I use this mark for all music I post on the web:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/

In addition to what the others said, you are FAR better off using a photo that you took in-world of your actual merchandise, than showing a misleading photo of something that is simply NOT what your customer will get.

Make your own art for your vendor pics.

I also had a question that deals with photos. I was wondering, is it okay to scan a picture from a magazine that I purchased and paid for, then use the picture I scanned as decoration for my home...say like in a photopicture frame, on my drawing room table, etc. I ask because I assumed it was okay if I purchased the magazine, but now am not sure, and I certainly don't wanna break any rules. Thanks for your help.

(Yay first post! Unfortunately it's on a negative subject)

Nope. You can't, at least not legally speaking.

When a photographer or advertiser or whomever publishes something in a publication, they're extending specific rights to that publisher to get their images or information out to the public. What you're doing is still "unauthorized reproduction" the moment you stick the image on your scanner and hit "scan."

As some other people have pointed out, depending on the subject matter, there's a low-to-nil chance that anyone will notice to be irritated about it. (In fact, an instructor in an advertising class once pointed out that almost all advertisers depend on image piracy at some level or another to help get their image into the public consciousness.) But remember, "figuring nobody will care" is almost exactly like speeding when you're driving. A lot of people do it, most of the time nobody cares, and people look at those who talk about the morality of speeding to be a little pious.

That doesn't mean it's not illegal - and if you do it enough, someone, someday is going to pull you over.