Is this copyright infringement?

Question

I want to make some graphics using an image from a website. I plan on crediting the creator by saying, all graphics copyright of the original creator. Would that be wrong or infringe copyright?

Answer 1

If you publish someone else's work without their permission, it IS copyright infringement.  Putting it up on your website is a form of publication.

Giving full credit for who's work it is, is NOT enought.  How do you know the original artist even WANTS to let you use it?  He may not.  The whole point of copyright ownership is that the creator decides how and where his work can be used.

Commercial purposes or no, YOU don't have the legal right to publish the images.

Let's say that someone ELSE takes the images off of your site, puts them up on HIS, and, somehow makes a whole lot of money from them.  Even if he gives "proper credit," why should THAT person have a right to make money from someone else's work.

In any case, it's NOT the money and it's not the credit.  It all has to do with ownership.  Is it all right for someone else to drive around in your car, as long as he gives proper credit for who REALLY owns it?

Answer 2

If you approach them first, it's no problem (if they say yes, of course).

Answer 3

If you are using the graphics commercially then it is infringement, even if you credit them because they actually aren't aware of it and you are taking away from possible profits to them.

Really as an overall rule, anything you create using something that is copyrighted without author consent, is infringement. The fair use only applies if you are using it as a reference for something (like a news report, crit, for teaching, etc).

Even if it's for personal use, it's for a website that is publically viewable.

Answer 4

I think you might need to contact the owners of the website and get permission from them, then you would still need to give them credit for it. I would definately try your hardest to get permission from them though, because I'm sure you don't want anyone coming at you later on for using their work without their permission.

Answer 5

You might want to ask permission first. People tend to get VERY stingy with things like this and usually want to know first. As long as you credit them, they are usually okay with it.

Answer 6

For all you know a lot of expense went into creating the graphics you wish to just lift and use for free.  How would you feel if the situation were reversed and it were your hard work being copied and used for free?  Copyright isn't just about rules and laws. . . .it is about preservation of ownership of original ideas and images.  Ask first . . .