Lately, I’ve been wanting to feature some awesome things on my blog that have been going on in the blogosphere. I’ve even seen websites built around featuring other people’s blog posts. When I talk to other bloggers about this I get mixed reactions on what is and isn’t acceptable.
For example:
I would love to make these amazing caramel dipped apples. You can find the recipe over at Food Family Finds.
I keep saying I want to be more handy. One of the first things I want to make for the kids rooms are these mini wooden bookshelves. For directions check out The Sweet Survival.
How cute is this monogrammed twine letter wreath? LuluBelle’s Couture tells us how!
So, what’s the dilemma?
Does permission need to be asked to feature these posts?
The photos are theirs and so are the posts. Had there been tags on the photos I would have left them, they just happen to be bloggers that don’t tag. Credit is given both by telling you the name and by linking back to the website giving them some good link juice. I personally wouldn’t mind as long as credit was given and it was clear you needed to head over to that site for more details. Some think it’s okay and others have said that their photos should never be taken without permission.
I went and started to ask permission for the photos above and realized it defeated this post since I think it’s okay. Okay to feature THEM, not take credit. I would also be upset to see my photo on someone’s site that implied it was theirs. So, I’m interested in seeing their point of view as well.
I think it’s perfectly okay to link to photos, even pull short excerpts of texts for features when link credit is given. I mean really, what blogger is going to get mad over having their work featured? And if they do, you probably don’t want to feature them anyways.
I agree with you. I have written posts about other blogs posts, linking back to them, but I have never used their pictures, without asking first. However, if I were writing the post and wanted to get it posted quickly, I would probably use the picture and then let them know that I did. As it is, whenever I link back to someone else’s blog, I let them know. If they want me to remove the link or photo, I would, but it has never been an issue.
I have wondered this very same thing. I have asked permission to link to posts, and sometimes it’s completely fine, and other times I get absolutely nothing back. I figure it’s better to ask forgiveness than for permission, so I just link away and make sure I do the best I can to give credit where it’s do.
OMGosh. I hate typos. I meant *due*, not *do*. That’s what I get for trying to do 3 things at once. Grrr….
Who wouldn’t like someone to link them and brag on their stuff:) Love that wreath above.
I have been conflicted about this too. I always come across really interesting stuff I want to share but I don’t want to offend anyway by using their pictures. When I do, I make sure I give credit to where I got it from. I never copy their posts or anything. I want people to visit the person’s website. If I was ever asked to remove someone’s picture I would.
I just have to get better at letting people know when I feature them. I don’t want to come across as spammy
i see nothing wrong with what you did. You gave them credit and linked their post. But some people get really upset about it. If somebody took my photo and linked me I’d be flattered. i’m sooo gonna do the letter twine btw… super cute! was looking for something fall-ish different then a wreath! Thanks!
I think it’s totally okay – you gave credit and a link back.
I think it’s perfectly acceptable to post other’s photos as long as you provide a link back to their site. What I don’t like is when people post my recipe photos and the exact same recipe. If you are going to pretend it’s yours, at least make 3 or more changes! That’s my 2 cents 🙂
that is just wrong LOL Sorry it happened to ya Jen! Not linking to the source is theft and terrible. Just because something is online does not make it fair game to use (and profit from) as your own.
I think it’s totally OK as long as you’re giving credit, linking back to their post. I mean, why wouldn’t you want your name getting out their for being creative, having great recipe’s, awesome photography, etc…?
I guess bloggers have to study up on copyright and Creative Commons rules to really see the many directions this conversation can go. For instance, I see you are giving attribution to the websites where you found the posts. That is the first important rule – giving credit where credit is due. Unless you hear otherwise, the rule is “all rights reserved.” That’s copyright. It means all material belongs to the person who first created the image or document. Creative Commons allows other to use material created by others within certain parameters. Another angle or question is, are you making any money $$ showing other people’s images? If your site’s advertising results in financial gain, you are restricted even more. That puts you in another place in the copyright / Creative Commons puzzle. Yet, another thing to keep in mind is the image itself. When a reader clicks on it will they be taken to the originator’s blog? Or will they simply be taken to a separate image at your blog? Long after this post is gone, that image will be kept by you and may even be used again without ever giving credit. Few of us would remember where we found it in the first place. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Commons"You can read more about the rules for Creative Commons here.
That’s a really good point that I never considered. In that case where my image is being indexed by search engines I would rather it be hotlinked from my blog than downloaded and reuploaded to a new blog.
Very well said! I agree with you 100% Gail! If you have CPM ads up and create a post specifically with the goal of the images creating pageviews (and $$ for you) then you MUST get permission and link to the source.
However, if you are featuring a blog post/recipe and you type out a teeny blurb with a link saying “you MUST go check this out” then that is totally ok.
Also, be careful when picking photos to share if you don’t have time to ask for permission. Do not take a photo of someone’s child and post it on your blog unless you have permission from the parent. Just imagine if you found your child on a blog while googling and you had no idea another blogger was making money off your picture……..
Oh, IMO people’s kids are ALWAYS off limits.
In the age of content curation this can be tricky but you should check the copyright of the page owner first to ensure they have given a “creative commons” or a “share alike” license. Lots of blogs post it in their footer or on a specific page. If they don’t have it posted, you can always leave a comment on their post telling them you want to feature them on your site. While some sites owners won’t be offended at being featured you could find yourself in trouble one day.
I have a pretty detailed copyright notice on my blog, and it state pretty much what Gail outlines above… mainly to give credit where due and don’t profit off of my material:
http://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com/2009/04/copyright-notice.html
My personal opinion is that if you are posting that you want to make the caramel apples – make them and then post the photos. LOL But those do look delicious!
I would do this: Post the photo from the site (upload it do NOT hotlink) then I would say this site and recipe is my inspiration, then make them, then post your results and compare to the original, giving full credit for the photo and original blog piece to the original author.
Now I had my first recipe interpretation and they did not link my photo but used their own, and changed enough of the recipe that I can’t sue them but they gave me a link to my site for the original they adapted from. I’m flattered. Plus the site had higher ranks than mine so it helped.
The easiest way to keep the photos credited is to add the copyright to the caption box when you insert the photo.
It doesn’t matter if its a picture of their kids or their cupcakes…they own both. The preferred method is to put a low-resolution representation (generally that means thumbnail) of the photo and a link. I can’t tell you how many times a day I’m asked to Stumble something and it’s a page of full-size photos “borrowed” from other sites, not links, no attributions, with vague text that they”found” them. That’s wrong.
It should be OBVIOUS that you’re not the owner and I’ve started watermarking all of my photos. Not because they’re so fabulous, but there are so many curation services now (Tumblr, Pinterst, etc) that they’re getting picked up and shared all over the net and the ownership is getting lost. I at least want MY name on them so someone can link back or at least Google my site.
I use Picnik.com to watermark mine now – super easy.
It’s the old do unto them…imitation is flattering but I’d rather have my own ad revenue 😉
I use Picnik too! I love them. I try to remember to watermark my photos…I think that I remember about half of the time.
I don’t do ads so the whole “making money off photos” doesn’t make too much sense to me.
“Money” means profiting. You don’t do ads, but you benefit from the traffic you get using someone else’s photos….that get you better opps…so you’re BENEFITING which is the same as profiting. Money doesn’t have to change hands.
And those photos are on your blog for its lifetime – you may add ads sometime down the line…I did. 🙂
Connie, I hate that people are putting up CPM ads, stealing photos from other sites and making their money that way.
You said it perfectly and I totally agree with you!
I think you should always ask before using photos, but no way should you need to ask before linking to another website or pulling short excerpts. That being said, though, Pinterest is photo-based and I don’t think too many people have a problem with it. The only time I would have an issue is if the photo was hotlinked, because that uses my bandwidth.
I think it starts to get “iffy” is when people create posts solely for Stumbleupon (and CPM revenue) that are entirely based on other people’s work. Often times the original post is better than the stumbled post and really deserves the traffic and revenue more.
Technically, using someone else’s image is a no no…but most of the time bloggers are ok if you’re featuring them (in excerpt) and linking to their content. But if someone wanted to – they could cause a fuss and you’d be in the wrong. It never hurts to ask 🙂
If you’re going to be using someone else’s content or photos, you have to get permission. They’re covered by copyright laws. Hopefully they have Creative Commons licensing on their blog and a disclosure, but you have GOT to ask permission first or they can go to your (or maybe their) host and ask them to investigate. I’ve seen a lot of bloggers totally peeved their posts or photos were taken EVEN when credit is given. I’d say it’s walking a very thin line to do it.
I totally think it’s ok! I have done the same – post small excerpt and use their pictures but I ALWAYS link back to them as well! I’d be happy for someone else to use my posts/pictures as long as I’m getting the credit…
you are promoting them in this instance – not stealing. i don’t think permission is needed, but notifying them afterwards would just be a nice heads-up. I do this on occasion and never had anyone pissed at me. 🙂
I have been doing a lot of post on giveaways on my own blog lately. On all the giveaways they to get an entry you post on your blog about the give away. I have found that if they have a pic of the giveaway people are more likely to go to the other blog. But I ALWAYS link back to the original blog.
Sounds like you have all of the copyright info you could ever need – but I have to chime in and say that the reason you wanted to highlight these is the same reason I am totally addicted to Pinterest LOL Someone even has a Meme called “How Pinteresting” where people link up their fave finds of the week LOL
I have a weekly Links I Like post where I share things I’ve found that I like. First, I look at the site to see if they have specific instructions for using their pics. Most say it is fine as long as you link back. However, some say to ask first and I do. I’ve never had anyone say no that I’ve asked and I’ve never had a problem posting a pic and link back to the original item. Most people come to thank me for featuring them.
Love those apples! I would say that asking permission to use their pictures would be sufficient.
wm
If the photo has kids in it I would ask permission. Other than that, as long as credit is given, I agree – there is nothing wrong with featuring them and putting a link to the source. I would, quite frankly, be thrilled if that happened to my blog – not knowing until I checked my hit sources would make it a bit more exciting, as it would be a surprise!
The food blogging community gets really peeved if you use photos without permission since all photography has is automatically copyrighted by the owner/creator. Many food bloggers feel the same about their recipes (ask first for permission, then link back and give credit).
There is debate among food writers (both print and online) that recipes are not copyright-able and you don’t need permission. However, you should also give credit – “this is from so-and-so’s cookbook/blog” or “based on the recipe from blog/cookbook/magazine/etc.”
Most food bloggers will give permission, so ask!
There are a lot of great tips in this thread! I haven’t done many posts that use other people’s photos because of this very same reason. That being said I LOVE Pinterest and have done a few posts sharing recipes I really want to try using the Pinterest embed code, it links back the original blog, the original blog post, and the image on Pinterest. I wouldn’t dream of using an image without giving credit unless it’s clearly okay to! Great post!
There are many times I wish it was ok (and by that I mean legal) to use photos without permission, because if you want to write a quick post you don’t want to wait for the website owners to respond. Unfortunately it’s not legal to post other people’s photos.
Ideas are not copyrighted, so when you’re talking content you can summarize (although a link is still appreciated).
Even though it takes time, asking permission does let the other website owner know you respect their rights, and they might want to link to your post, or otherwise collaborate with you in the future…..so asking does have some benefits!
I think it is 100% ok as long as it is lined to the blog. I have done this many times and wondered to if I should email and ask but really- who is going to say no to free advertisement of their blog. I always give credit where credit is due 🙂 I think it is good blogging to share others blogs without any thought of compensation. Okay in my book.
i want those shelves!
First off, those caramel apples look delicious. You’re right, there’s a fine line and a difference of opinion. Just from reading the comments, you can see there’s different opinions as to what’s right, wrong, and in between. Personally, I think it’s all right if you link back and give credit to the original author. By the way, what is a hotlink?