Question on using images for your website?

Question

I would like to create a blog dedicated to children's learning; however, my biggest problem would be the requirement of tons and tons of pictures. I went to Istockphoto and there is just no way I could spend that much money to buy a number of pictures I need for my website. Maybe some but definitely not by hundreds. My questions would be:

1. If I buy an image from Istockphoto or Getty Images, do I have the right to include that in my website, where it would be used by the public? Or my right is limited to personal use?

2. I have found this site stock.xchng and they're stating that their images are free from licensing fees and anyone is free to use them as long as you have asked permission from the owner and are using the images appropriately. Is this a legit site? And also, how do they generate money when what they do is give things for free?

By the way, my blog (whether it matters or not) would be free from any charge, more like a non-profit website, mainly relying on people's donations. I have read about the term "Fair Use"; which would lead me to the last question:

3. It seems that under "Fair Use" you can infringe copyrights as long as your using the image for reviews, criticisms, "teaching", home use.. etc.

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/copyr…

now, I am not intending to use the images in a classroom setting; like stated above, I would be running a learning website, would using online images without proper licensing be protected under "Fair Use Doctrine"?

Answer 1

The answer to the "fair use" question can only be "maybe"! Nobody here can give you full legal advice! Use images from sites that publish OPEN images, there are plenty of them! Try Freerange http://freerangestock.com/index.php , stockxchng http://www.sxc.hu/index.phtml , stock vault http://www.stockvault.net/ and flicker.



Always best to ask the owner unless the photo is open for use! It saves you later!

Answer 2

You could go to Flickr, find images that might help you and directly message the owner of the image and ask if you can use their photo for this purpose. Write a standard message that you can re-use. I bet there are many people who would let you use their photos free. I would - I am not looking to make money out of my photography (but I am not good enough anyway). If they say "no", there may be thousands if not millions of people out there who may say "yes"!

Answer 3

google. . . . . . . . .