How to Use Images in Your Steemit Posts - WITHOUT PIRATING - Usage Rights & Useful Tips
Let's be real, don't steal
Imagine you're an artist or photographer. You've undergone many years of study, likely amassed some student loan debt in the process, have spent thousands on professional gear and worked hard to hone your skills. Then your work gets stolen and someone is profiting off of it. How do you feel?
I can tell you first hand - it is disheartening. I've had people steal my work and stiff me for entire design projects more than once. That's probably why I'm a tomato farmer now!
Image Credit No changes or alterations made - see image license here
You might be a PIRATE and not even know it
You might already be committing piracy and you might not think that's a big deal. Depending on whom those images came from on google images and how they are licensed actually matters. Well, to you it does. They aren't coming after me for stealing!
There are many ways to track image theft and hopefully you don't take from one of the many that protect their images.
It could cost you big time
There are measures that artists can take and groups that will help artists initiate legal recourse, at no cost to the artist. There's big money in digital images and many artists take their work seriously. Don't assume nothing can happen because there's a good chance it will at some point should you read no further. Don't get sued when you have the tools to avoid it altogether.
HOW TO CHECK IMAGE USAGE RIGHTS ON GOOGLE IMAGES
First, type your search query in the image search. I used "Steemit". Next you will notice a TOOLS Button, CLICK that to expose the toolbar.
It is important to use images that are Labeled for Reuse if you are just grabbing them to add to your post. If you intend to modify the image - you must select reuse with modification. You should also actually open the image and locate the actual source - the artist or photographer who created the work!
Simply citing google search IS NOT citing the source of the image. Also keep in mind that STEEMIT use could be argued as commercial use - in which case you would be liable for damages. It is unclear exactly if what we are doing is considered commercial because profit IS involved.
Google images does not always know the usage rights, so finding the actual source is very important. It could be a few extra minutes that save you thousands of dollars in legal fees. You would be shocked at how much it can cost you for those few minutes you might not have taken.
Find the source for images found elsewhere
One technique is called Reverse Image Search. Sites like Tinyeye & CTRL.org make it a breeze. Even if your on mobile device, you now have no reason not to cite your media source.
Beware
There are tools for digital media creators to use, many are free, that protect and scan for misuse. Sites like CopyTrack will track your images for you. There are also some secrets that I'll share in a future post that many do not know - sneaky ways to trace images, music, video, etc.
Are you sharing your digital media & want to learn some more? I've added some helpful links below:
How To Avoid Getting Your Work Stolen
CopyTrack
Tinyeye
If you have enjoyed this - tell me about it! I'd love to hear feedback from my fellow Steemians! Thank You.
Excellent post chocked full of useful info that I certainly appreciate knowing! Thanks so much for the post and push in the right direction. Bravo!
Thanks for reading and for your encouraging words @stillwater! It is something I noted since @finnian invited me to STEEMIT. After my first month, I began to realize how many are taking a risk they might not even be aware of. I made the mistake as well, but have since corrected my procedure.
Hopefully this helps more users here thrive and help those that are creating the wonderful media that benefits this platform.
Thanks again for your support my friend.
You are welcome! Thank you for the post! Many have no idea what trouble could come their way due to this and what it could cost them to get out of it. Hopefully they learn something here. Yep, I like what finnian puts out in his posts. He seems to be a good guy. Loads of good info. I'm a follower of his and anyone reading this comment should check him out. I think it would behoove them in many ways. Take care and steem on brother!
Thank you, will certainly use this info, has been worrying me, have only been using Google advanced search for free images. Will follow your advice!
I know you've been robbed this way, and I would never want to do the same to someone else.
I'll follow the process above from now on and avoid stealing other people's work. This is great education for Minnows too, so I mentioned it in the PAL Discord.
Maybe we can get @aggroed to resteem it? It is valuable information that all Minnows should see! I've upvoted it with MSP and resteemed. Thanks, brother!!
What's the bottom line here? How can I easily and quickly get stock images for my posts without stealing? I would also assume the commercial category, and I sometimes have to resize the image. Is that considered modification?
@finnian you already know you're the man, but I'll say it anyhow!
I personally have let go of the rights to some of work and plan to release more in Creative Commons for the world to use. It is important, even with CC media, to follow attribution requirements - it not only helps you avoid any issues, but helps the original creator of the media as well. Win-Win. If we are using their work to essentially earn more in our posts, I think it's proper etiquette to share some reward with the creator of that media. Whether they want you to purchase commercial license or they simply ask for attribution - do it. If you think the image or media is good enough to help your post earn more rewards, doesn't it make sense to buy commercial licenses? Stock photos can be bought for under a buck, so that's pretty reasonable if you consider some posts will generate FAR more than that.
I appreciate the support! You're the man
Thanks! I want to make sure I'm using images properly. This is definitely a great topic for Minnows to learn more about too.
This post has received a 0.58 % upvote from @booster thanks to: @grow-pro.
unfortunately piracy is rampant here on Steemit but thankfully there are bots and users that take care of it. Some people just don't know or don't care but it is called INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY people, c'mon!
Great tip for those that don't know tho @grow-pro!
I can attest to that @liberty-minded, it is rampant. But, as you mentioned technology is becoming a friend of the artist. Thanks to some savvy minds! I was an artist starved into a tomato farmer.. 😆