Can I use pictures I find on the internet?

[Savantegarde]

Hey everyone,

I intend to author a book which will be a study utensil specifically targeting certain select academia. I hope to use images to convey certain ideas and there will be a lot of visuals.

Are there pictures that are considered free domain?
Can I use a image that appears to have many multiple sources?
If I find an image I like on the internet, what cues are there to whether or not I can copy/paste this image into my format and sell the final product?

Thanks,
JTG

[phppoddotcom]

You should contact the author of the picture and ask for a permission to use it. It is their decision whether you should pay for it or not. And you have to credit the authors in your book as well.

[CIsaac]

Hey everyone,

I intend to author a book which will be a study utensil specifically targeting certain select academia. I hope to use images to convey certain ideas and there will be a lot of visuals.

Are there pictures that are considered free domain?
Can I use a image that appears to have many multiple sources?
If I find an image I like on the internet, what cues are there to whether or not I can copy/paste this image into my format and sell the final product?

Thanks,
JTG

Go to istockphoto.com

[Logan Baker]

copyrighted pictures are just that...copyrighted pictures...you may get caught, you may not. I've seen some free stock photo sites that have GREAT high quality photos (mostly generic and some odd...but) they are free and will fill your site until you can afford to hire a professional photographer to take pictures of your products.

Logan Baker
schoolmarquee.com

[invertabritt08]

Hey everyone,

I intend to author a book which will be a study utensil specifically targeting certain select academia. I hope to use images to convey certain ideas and there will be a lot of visuals.

Are there pictures that are considered free domain?
Can I use a image that appears to have many multiple sources?
If I find an image I like on the internet, what cues are there to whether or not I can copy/paste this image into my format and sell the final product?

Thanks,
JTG

Stock Photography: Search Royalty Free Images & Photos | iStockphoto.com is a great site for photos. They have a great selection and are user friendly. We actually use it quite often.

You can also register at: High Resolution Stock Photography: Download Free Stock Photos and Royalty Free Images

[arenacreative]

Those are all great places to buy stock images. I'm an artist that sells on these actually, I'm up to about 4200 images. Right now I've been developing my own little site so I can feature my own work and cut down on the hefty commissions that the big guys take. Check it out, I might have some images you could use - and I take offers, in case my prices are over your budget.

[rdc]

Generally, any photo you download from the internet is copyrighted, unless the person who took the photo specifically grants you a license to use it or specifically elects that the image is public domain. Simply posting a photo on the internet does NOT automatically make it public domain; and along that same line, all works are automatically conferred copyright status upon creation (though federal registration confers certain benefits and is required for certain things--another topic altogether).

There are good sites for buying stock image licenses, such as istockphoto, but this will cost money, and you must carefully read the terms of the license you are buying, as this will govern exactly how you can use the image(s).

Multiple sources is not indicative of any increased ability (for you) to use it in any way, without obtaining a license.

No, there is no real indicia for whether you can copy/paste directly from the internet for your own personal/commercial use, unless you find a website that claims it's images to be public domain and free for any and all use, and even then, you aren't in the clear; you may have a technical argument that you acquired the images properly, but there is NOTHING to say that the website conveying such a message regarding its images knows the true copyright status of any of those images.

Thus, the rule of thumb is unequivocally: don't do it; you could be sued.

[mlapointe]

if they are copy writed you must have permission by the publisher

[feint]

No. You can use Creative Commons images. If you do an advanced search on Flickr for CreativeCommons works that allow commercial usage you will find a lot of quality images that can be used.

[heidrek]

I'm keen on finding good stock images for basic web development - whwere the best place to go?

[RawMarketing]

Haven't read all of the posts above, but in my opinion, your best to just purchase photos from a stock website. They don't cost a huge amount and that way, you know that you're safe for at least a few hundred thousand or so uses of the image before they will chase you for anymore $$$.

Just read the terms and conditions, maybe contact the author before you use it to see if they are okay with it.

[sbusiness00]

You must contact the author first, some author are putting a note after their articles so be aware of that, always check everything not only the content.

[arenacreative]

By the way, all images on my site are on sale for 50% off now, about 5000 to choose from. $5 each thru 11/30/09 - just trying to get the word out about it, and the blog.