When someone posts their copyrighted photograph, that photograph does not become publicly available. It continues to be protected by copyright. Other people cannot then take that photograph and publish it for other purposes. See the following for more information: Judge: News agencies shouldn’t have used Twitter photos | Internet & Media – CNET News.
Tweeting a Copyrighted Photograph Does Not Make it Fair Game for Others to Use
Published by Shawn E. Tuma
Shawn Tuma is an attorney who is internationally recognized in cybersecurity, computer fraud and data privacy law, areas in which he has practiced for nearly two decades. He is a Partner at Spencer Fane, LLP where he regularly serves as outside cybersecurity and privacy counsel to a wide range of companies from small to midsized businesses to Fortune 100 enterprises. You can reach Shawn by telephone at 972.324.0317 or email him at stuma@spencerfane.com. View more posts
You have to be VERY careful about photo use. A friend of mine, who’s been blogging on WordPress for almost three years, with more than 1 post per day, with about 3 photos/cartoons per post he pulled from search engines, had his blog site closed by WordPress. For two, yes, TWO violations, where someone wrote to him and/or WordPress asking him to credit the photo or pull it down, which he did as soon as he found out. Three years of this guy’s life (he’s disabled and used the humourous blog as part of his therapy for depression) down the tubes, because he didn’t properly credit just two photographs. (Hmm, reading over what I just typed, I sound just a TAD bit biased….)
Be careful what you grab off the Net!
You are exactly right John. Copyright violations are very serious business — people must be careful with what pictures they use or they could get them into serious trouble. Sorry to hear that about your friend.
You are exactly right John, people must be very careful about what they use on blogs because copyright violations are very serious business. I am sorry to hear that about your friend.