Legality/Ethics of re-using images posted here?

[asimbaig]

I am working on a project (a new e-commerce business) and put together the following montage of images collected from, you guessed it, the styleforum! Now, before I actively use the image below on my website, I am struggling with the following: a) Is it ethical to re-use these images copied from SF posts b) Should I be concerned about copyright issues. What does it mean anyways, when a SF forum member posts a picture of themselves. Is it really copyrighted, as we understand copyrighting from a business perspective. What if the identity is hidden (face covered etc). Does that change anything? c) Does posting of one's picture on a public forum constitute a de facto permission to re-use, a la creative-commons license. d) Should I track the owners of these images down and send them each an email asking for permission to use on my website. Google caches (copies the images to its servers). Why is that OK? e) What conundrum? Its 2009. This is the way the new collaborative, social, interwebs work.....blah blah...just do it.

The one in the middle is yours truly, the rest are some of the usual culprits here... oh wise men of SF, help!

 

[kwilkinson]

Personally, I would pm each respective member and ask their permission, and if not given it, I would refrain from using their picture. Obviously, many people will feel differently.

 

[Milhouse]

Just because a photo is displayed here does not mean there is a free use license. Get permission first.

 

[acidboy]

I say permission plus putting credits

 

[unjung]

My photos are technically hosted off-site. I don't know what PB's ownership claim is.

Whatever the case, if you're starting an e-commerce site, you need to give credit and/or more. If you were doing a student project, I would personally worry less. But a commercial venture is a different story.

 

[binge]

Originally Posted by asimbaig

I am working on a project (a new e-commerce business) and put together the following montage of images collected from, you guessed it, the styleforum!

Now, before I actively use the image below on my website, I am struggling with the following

Don't worry, no one is going to buy that ****.

 

[asimbaig]

Originally Posted by binge

Don't worry, no one is going to buy that ****.
buy what ****?

 

[binge]

Originally Posted by asimbaig

buy what ****?

(a new e-commerce business)

That ****.

 

[asimbaig]

Originally Posted by binge

That ****.
Oh ****....when did that happen? News must get to CA faster than for the rest of us in the boondocks ...

 

[binge]

It doesn't move any faster than the OP.

 

[LA Guy]

Originally Posted by unjung

My photos are technically hosted off-site. I don't know what PB's ownership claim is. Whatever the case, if you're starting an e-commerce site, you need to give credit and/or more. If you were doing a student project, I would personally worry less. But a commercial venture is a different story.
PB technically owns your images, or rather, rights to free use of your images, but the privacy policy may or may not preclude it from using the images without your permission. There's a pretty simple litmus test - nothing is for free. If you are paying to host something, likelihood is that you own it. With some exceptions, if you are hosting something for free, you are also giving that hosting company content. Ot the OP: a student project is different from E-commerce. Tons of stuff falls under "fair use" in that case, but once you start making money, all bets are off.

 

[MrG]

Originally Posted by asimbaig

I am working on a project (a new e-commerce business) and put together the following montage of images collected from, you guessed it, the styleforum!

Now, before I actively use the image below on my website, I am struggling with the following:

a) Is it ethical to re-use these images copied from SF posts

I would say the answer to this question is "no," at least not without the user's permission, and that should really be enough for you to decide not to use it. The rest of the questions are really peripheral when the answer to this one is negative.

 

[baseball_guy]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

Personally, I would pm each respective member and ask their permission, and if not given it, I would refrain from using their picture. Obviously, many people will feel differently.

This is what I would do

 

[Piobaire]

You have permission to use my sausage shots.

 

[acidboy]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

You have permission to use my sausage shots.

are these the "sausage shots" you pm'd to me???