When using pics in an article......

I don't know anything about this. Hopefully someone can help.

Gather's policy, now, apparently, is that they won't enforce copyright infringement, until and unless they get notice from the copyright holder that their work is being infringed on and needs to be pulled down. This is why, suddenly, there are jillions of copyright songs from well known artists appearing in the recent videos and not being removed. They've eliminated that option from the list of reasons we give for reporting something, also. Therefore, you're not going to get into trouble from gather, in all likelihood, even if it's something that's a known copyright infringement, as the people posting songs they've ripped from their cds are doing. Just because gather no longer enforces it doesn't mean the people doing it are not leaving themselves open to suit from the Big Dogs in the recording industry. I would translate that to pictures as well - if you infringe on the artist's copyright you're liable to them, if they come after you. But as long as you take it from a free to use site and designate it as not your own, as you stated you will, you should be fine as far as I know.

Photo bucket has pics which are free. i do like to say if it is not mine, tho...and jese gave good advice up there. I saw a dude use pics from e-mails here, and he did not give credit, which i thought was a bit shabby..... :)

Thanks that helds alot.

Wow, Lune...you know your stuff, Woman!! :)

oops...Helps, not helds.

I have decided Lune is a very smart woman.

Well I actually decided that a long time ago.

*grin*

Jeff thanks I will be sure to call if you if needed. Thanks so much.

Lyla that is true.

Trista and others who are curious -
The BEST thing to do is provide a link to the original content if you want to include something in your article for reference. It's easy, gives credit to the original work, and gets your point across.

As someone who has had photos stolen and plastered all over the internet on celebrity websites as if they are theirs, I say if you didn't take it or it's not from your own camera - don't post it as yours. Some of the sites have been good and once I contacted them, they did remove my photos. Others don't even have a way for you to contact them.

I wouldn't worry about people at Gather, but the owner of the copyrighted photo, article, video, music, etc. There are some people who are VERY protective of their works. I know of a couple of people who have fined thousands of dollars and yes it was taken from their wages. Do you want to have to worry about that?

The easiest thing to do if you WANT to include someone else's work, is to contact the owner. I have had CNN, MSNBC, the BBC, ITV, etc. as well as everyday people request use of some of my photos. I usually grant it. I am given proper credit for my work and compensated by the news agencies.

Just because photos are on photobucket or other share sites, does not mean they are free for everyone to use. Here is an excellent site that explains it in pretty plain English:

http://www.internetlawtoday.com/copyright.html

And the official government site:

http://www.copyright.gov/

Lyla, it is not that hard. If you copied one of my photos, I would know where it came from.

I am not the Nazi-police. I don't give people a hard time about it. I do like to inform and educate people on the subject. I know the majority of people know nothing about copyright law, but it hasn't stopped some of them for being fined huge amounts of money for not knowing.

I think this web site gives the best advice for all of us regarding copyrights and Internet use.

http://webnet77.com/webstuff/copyright.html

Thanks so much Cathy that was very informative.

When in doubt take photos of your own to use.

Technically posting any photo here that is not yours is not allowed. Free-to-use photos are free to use, BUT you have to remember Gather asks that you do not post things you do not own.

As a result you are making money off the free to use photos, and that's one reason why Gather doesn't let you post things that are not yours. The obvious reason is copyright, but there's the payment factor that comes into consideration.

I only use my own...I am too paranoid

Great discussion and tons of information! :)

Great info.I feel I learned something.

Seems your question has been answered Trista. Good luck on the posting.