Cool blog pictures without copyright problems

[bartjes]

To give a blog some personality it would be nice to be able to post funny pictures, maybe edit them and so on. I see some good blogs that do.
But when I see those pictures (for instance a famous person with a "speech cloud" or whatever you call those white balloons with quoting text in 'em) I always wonder how you get one of those and when one is allowed to put it on his blog?
I mean I don't know a content provider that sells funny pics of the president, or something similair
How do you guys get your funny and good content (that you are allowed to use)?

[virgohippy]

I think Walrus once described bloggers as "the biker gang of the net."

Silly little things like copyrights and ownership seem beneath a lot of bloggers.

As for funny stuff, I have a friend who often surfs the web in search of akward expressions of Mr. George W. Needless to say, it doesn't take much effort.

I believe published photos of public figures can be cited as long as you reference the source... maybe someone with copyright expertise could advice you on that one.

Wish I could help you with a "legal" source, but I don't know any. Sorry I could only be the voice of a pirate.... Arrrrgh!!!

Um... yeah.

[bartjes]

Originally Posted by virgohippy

I think Walrus once described bloggers as "the biker gang of the net."

Silly little things like copyrights and ownership seem beneath a lot of bloggers.

As for funny stuff, I have a friend who often surfs the web in search of akward expressions of Mr. George W. Needless to say, it doesn't take much effort.

I believe published photos of public figures can be cited as long as you reference the source... maybe someone with copyright expertise could advice you on that one.

Wish I could help you with a "legal" source, but I don't know any. Sorry I could only be the voice of a pirate.... Arrrrgh!!!

Um... yeah.

Yes those awkward expressions won't be too hard too find
I personally don't want to take too much chances with copyright issues though, I guess I'm just the pussy of the bloggers

[walrus]

Originally Posted by virgohippy

I think Walrus once described bloggers as "the biker gang of the net."

Silly little things like copyrights and ownership seem beneath a lot of bloggers.

That does sound like something I would say!

First, I know nothing about what is legal only what appears to be acceptable and I do not advocate copyright violation. That being said, I have always believed that it is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask for permission.

But we all have to do what we feel comfortable with and I would never knowingly use copyrighted material.

[Simon]

I'm not a lawyer and you shouldn't base your decisions regarding legality on anything I tell you. But there's good information about copyright and "fair use" on these pages:

Copyright and Fair Use Overview

What is Fair Use?

--excert on Fair Use: In its most general sense, a fair use is any copying of copyrighted material done for a limited and "transformative" purpose such as to comment upon, criticize or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner. Another way of putting this is that fair use is a defense against infringement. If your use qualifies under the definition above, and as defined more specifically later in this chapter, then your use would not be considered an illegal infringement.

Lots more information linked from the two pages above.

[bartjes]

thx, I'll start reading

[ponygirl]

Originally Posted by Simon

Copyright and Fair Use Overview

What is Fair Use?

--excert on Fair Use: In its most general sense, a fair use is any copying of copyrighted material done for a limited and "transformative" purpose such as to comment upon, criticize or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner. Another way of putting this is that fair use is a defense against infringement. If your use qualifies under the definition above, and as defined more specifically later in this chapter, then your use would not be considered an illegal infringement.

thank you for the excellent info Simon

[virgohippy]

I agree, very good articles Simon.

[ronnie]

Great info Simon, thanks also..

ronnie