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Reminder about images on here
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Message
Posted
Hi all,
A recent experience with a website I help maintain has flagged up the need to be careful when posting up images. Despite carefully choosing images that were in the public domain, one very simple photo slipped through our net.
The big picture libraries have now recruited third party companies, who have powerful software to search the internet by image (much as we do when we try to identify a painting) and match them against copyrighted images. Where the original licensing would cost in the region of £35 for a non commercial site, the fine for infringement is upwards of £350.
Obviously our own photographs of our own work is absolutely fine. But it's always best to give credit for other work. Or perhaps link to it in the post?
I can understand that photographers need payment for their work and in these days when everyone has a phone camera in hand, the professional's income is highly reduced. So I don't blame the picture libraries for doing this - although £300 admin charges is a bit galling.
Anyway here's a reminder of this site's policy: POL Copyright rules
Best wishes
Edited
by Norrette Moore
Posted
There is one thing about this that strikes me as odd. Perhaps there is someone who can clarify the position. I can understand that a copyright owner would wish for a licence fee to be paid and if you inadvertently don't have a licence then they are entitled to charge you for one or request you remove the item that offends them. But, they are not part of the judiciary of this land I therefore struggle with the concept that a private person or company can actually 'fine' you. Yes they could, I am sure take you to court over the matter, but surely they have no authority to impose a fine?
Posted
Thanks Tony. We had debates on exactly this subject. But the editor of the site in question did not want to risk court action. If the demand from the agent for A***y had been addressed to me, I would have removed the image, and ignored the email.
I feel this may blow up in time. Many forums discussing this 3rd party.
I noted that some photographers have uploaded high res copies of works in galleries, eg Vermeers woman at a virginal, and asking for licensing. I'm going to write to the NG to see if said 'photographer' had actually spent time with the unframed picture at all! Anyone can join that picture library and upload any old rubbish.
Nonetheless, the piece we'd used turned out to be by a professional. Several local newspapers also caught up. Google is sometimes not our friend.
Posted
Is the POL “Inspiration from Other Artists” thread in breach of copyright? It contains uploads of many artist’s paintings as a means of stimulating critical discussion and helping painters develop and each artist is clearly identified. The pictures are however usually sourced from other websites, not always the website of the original artist.
I had thought that as we weren’t using them to promote a commercial product there wouldn’t be an issue, so is the thread putting us and Warners at risk ? Just a tad confused.
Edited
by Andrew Roles
Posted
I have often wondered the same Andrew, but I think the question was raised a while ago and it was understood that as we are discussing for non commercial purposes we were ok. I do wonder about copying work from live artists websites etc? In this case should we at least ask or advise the artist that we are doing so?
Posted
From my initial discussion with Dawn when I spoke about setting up the thread I asked about using artist’s material and from what I recall as long as we are acknowledging it’s their work and not using it for commercial purposes or claiming it’s someone else’s work we are fine . What we are actively doing is discussing the work and at the same time promoting artists we feature .
The thread into its 90th week and I think we would have had some comments from artists and copyright holders by now if they were unhappy. I do recall a question quite some time ago asking if we were infringing upon copyright by posting painting and of if I Dawn and Team explained at the time that we were ok , but I will ask the question again.
Posted
Thanks Norrette; I wouldn't dream of identifying you.
Private parking companies issue fines; we'd negotiated free parking for our exhibition last year and had terrible trouble with members being chased by debt collection agencies and all sorts. This year we're paying to park, and certainly not in that car park.
I have serious doubts about some of these picture collection companies; some claim to have copyright on old postcards but if I have an original copy of the card for a century or so ago am I not entitled to scan it and reproduce it?
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