Is it just me or are most the images on peoples hubs illegally used?

1. 77

   LVidoni5posted 12 years ago

   Is it just me or are most the images on peoples hubs illegally used?
   
   If ads are activated in your hubs you're required to use pictures that are only for non-commercial use along with other guidlines, like crediting the creator and supplying their webpage. Many people seem to have images that are just labeled 'google images' or something like that. I read up on image use laws and it seems many of the people who hub on here are breaking the law. Am I mistaken?

   replyreport
2. 94

   melbelposted 12 years ago

   Yeah, this is a big problem in HubPages. I've actually used a picture before that I got from wikipedia that was free for commercial use and cited the author. However, since I did not cite the author's full name, I got a note from a mod saying the image was removed from HubPages. I used the image completely legally EXCEPT I'd gotten something mixed up on the guy's name... I think I didn't put "Dr." or something in front of the picture. Oh well!
   
   But yeah, at least I try with my images. I see people who just pull images without even a caption or anything -- and you can tell that the image is ripped.
   
   With advances with Google image search, it will be much easier for original authors to find their ripped content on the Internet so writers here on HubPages need to be more wary of where they get their images.

   replyreport
3. 0

   u01dtj6posted 12 years ago

   It is illegal because people are breaching copyright laws when taking them from Google images.

   replyreport
4. 0

   Giselle Maineposted 12 years ago

   I do think that many images on people's hubs are illegally used.  It can be very frustrating for the original photographer who created a unique picture for his or her website (or his/her company's website) only to find it somewhere else without the person even asking for permission.  And yes, it is illegal. 
   
   The part that bothers me is that it makes the hub (and hubpages in general) look less professional when that happens.  I know not everyone will agree with that, but that happens to be my opinion on it.
   
   People can keep their hubs legal by using stock photo sites or taking their own photos.  A stock photo site is basically an 'image library' which people can browse and use.  The stock photo site I like the best is www.sxc.hu because it is free and has a large range of photos.  Read the restrictions on any photo from there which you want to use - some of those images mandate prior permission from the photographer, but most may be used as is.
   
   Or you can take your own photos.  Sometimes you may have to go a little bit 'sideways' on a topic if you don't have the subject matter at hand. For example, in a recent hub about pregnancy, I decided to take a picture of a baby crib and label it 'getting ready for baby', because I wasn't pregnant myself at the time and therefore it would have been hard to arrange for a pic of someone who is pregnant.  But I really wanted my own, original pic for that particular hub, otherwise I would have gone with a stock photo site.

   replyreport
   1. 80

      Chris Nealposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree. I know that some of the accreditations can become cumbersome, having to type "monserini7656 CC-SA 3.0 via wikimedia commons" can be time consuming, but it is more professional. Unlike one of the other commenters to this question.

      replyreport
5. 0

   vinsanityposted 12 years ago

   I think that a lot are, some are original, and some come from open sources. I try to get all my media from open sources so that I do not infringe on any rights.

   replyreport