This stuff is my opinion after a number of years as an image-maker online. I don't think there's a gold standard anywhere or a law that the Internetz Police will bust you over.
- Go beyond Google Images or Wikipedia to the original photographer, illustrator or artist.
- Check for a Creative Commons Licence*.
- Ask. Just ask if permission is unclear.
- Credit the photographer, illustrator or artist by name.
- Link back to their site.
Saying "Credit: Google Images" is like saying "Credit: Someone on Earth".
If you search for more than 10 minutes online and cannot find the original creator and are desperate to use that specific image, perhaps put it up and ask your readers for help identifying who created it. A knowledgeable blog readership on a niche topic will often know.
Be prepared to take an image down if asked.
*A note about Creative Commons Licences: it means some sort of sharing is allowed, but the most restrictive licence still says a) You must credit the artist b) You must not alter the image in any way and c) You must not make any money from it. It's one of the reasons an artist may allow free use on a blog, but ask for money if it will be in mainstream media.
These are my opinion on the subject of credit: thoughts?
#scio11
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Original artwork on The Flying Trilobite Copyright to Glendon Mellow
under Creative Commons Licence.
7 comments:
Thank you for this instructive reminder to pay credit where credit is due!
On a similar note, Roscott (SystemComic.com) & Caldwell (Loldwell.com) produced this tongue-in-cheek flowchart to spread the word for proper content attribution: See Something? Cite Something.
6. Look into stock imagery. The fee you pay will allow you certain reproduction rights.
7. Hire a talented artist to create the image you need!
Tell it, brotha!
Amy, that's an excellent flowchart.
Jason - True!
Thanks for the support, Anonymous!
One other semi-related suggestion (since I see Glendon has just signed up for ScienceSeeker): You can tag your Flickr images with "ScienceSeeker" and they will appear on our front page (with links back to the original Flickr image, of course).
Well said as always, Glendon. I especially like the part about ASKING. This critical step is a glaring omission in the flowchart Amy mentioned.
This was very helpful Glendon, I guess I did alright! Thank you again! Kathi
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Posts over 14 days old have their comments held in moderation - I've been getting an unusual amount of spam for a guy who paints trilobites. I'll release it lickety-split though.