This is actually an interesting idea: adding copyright info and/or Creative Commons info to the HTML code of images, and adding it to the (X)HTML specs. For myself, I don't mind a thumbnail image of mine being used, as long as I'm credited. If you come to my office, you'll see those same images on an endless slideshow anyway, and nobody pays me for viewing those either.
I spend a fair bit of time perusing the web for images to go with these posts and I generally limit my searches to Flickr because Flickr makes it easy to find Creative Commons Attribution Licensed work. Sometimes I remember that there’s actually a dedicated search engine for CC-licensed work, but neither of these solutions is optimal.
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Now for the purpose of thumbnails on this blog, legally speaking, there is a good set of precedents that say thumbnails qualify as Fair Use. However, not only could that be challenged if someone was angry that I used their image, it doesn’t cover me if I want to use a full size picture.
Even removing legal concerns, the truth is, I just prefer to use CC licensed images because, well, I like to support and draw attention to the CC and reward the people who use it with back links from this site. I like sharing....
Google displays license information in the Code Search results — why not images?Well for one thing, there’s no simple way for Google to figure out what license applies to an individual image. I suppose it could try to guess it from meta tag information, but often the content of page is governed by a different license than the images. Consider a forum page for instance, each member might have his own license for the images he posts and that license might differ from the one listed in the meta tag.
Which led me to this idea: the (X)HTML specs should add an attribute to specify the license governing a photograph.
Currently there are eleven attributes for the img tag, two required and nine optional. Frankly the tag is already bloated enough that I don’t think one more attribute is going to matter. Something as simple as lic=“license-abbr” would do wonders for image rights on the web.
Not only would a license attribute help image search engines, it would help protect copyrighted works by drawing attention to the fact that they are copyrighted.
I probably am guilty of using copyrighted images of news events, though I always add a link to the original story, but perhaps I'm skirting copyright law by doing so.
parenthetical note: Wired has an extremely annoying floating banner ad that blocks text. How techno-savvy is that? Sheesh.
Technorati Tags: photography, Web
I don't have the patience anymore to try to delve / all of the minute details that involve copyright. You used to have a Mark Twain quote here, very appealing to me. I love Mark Twain and He was so right about most everything. I understand your attention to your property. I don't see why I should pay dead people.
Copyright can take over the world if we aren't careful. Stupid Disney.
I give all my writings and photographs (that I post) a creative commons license that says, basically reuse if you want, just tell me you've done so.