Why is it that MyLot is so much more "chill" about the use of others' photos than Bubblews was?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (218546)
Walnut Creek, California
September 20, 2016 11:34am CST
As I was reading some posts this morning, I noticed that some people use random photos without citing the source. No problem for me, but I became so paranoid on Bubblews, that I started (almost) always using my own photos on my posts.
I assume that the Bubblews folks were worried about getting sued for Copyright infringement. But here, the administrators seem more chill about the whole thing. Why the difference? Can I use random cool photos I find in internet land (so long as they don't specify that they're Copyrighted and not intended for general use)?
I'll probably continue to (mosty) use my own, just to be on the safe side. What's your strategy?
Photo by me: Mt. Diablo from the Twin Peaks trail in California.
30 people like this
32 responses
@GoAskAlice (5826)
•
20 Sep 16
Images get shared all over the internet on social media, etc. Realistically, many can be impossible to source. The chances of any suit in regards to the use of images are probably near zero. That is not to say if a genuine serious issue comes up with an mage, it would not be dealt with and set right. For example if a photographer shows up and asks his work to be removed and he can demonstrate he has the rights to them, I will certainly honor his wishes. There is also a term "fair use" that apply to many images, if they are relevant to the discussion. I'm no lawyer so I won't try to go in to that, but I do believe it is applicable.
16 people like this
@CinnamonGrl (7084)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
20 Sep 16
I've noticed that, too. As you can see, I don't use photos hardly ever. When I do, they're photos I took. I know a lot of professional photographers, and they are constantly getting ripped off, so it's something I tend to be sensitive about.
6 people like this
@TheHorse (218546)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Sep 16
No, I haven't. Maybe I'll link @GoAskAlex here. I'm actually just as interested in members' personal interpretations of the rules.
3 people like this
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
20 Sep 16
I think some people do break the rules by using photos they shouldn't.
I never use pictures in my discussions but do occasionally in comments and I just make sure they are ok to be used.
5 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
20 Sep 16
I always include source links. But I try to use my personal photos or none at all.
4 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
20 Sep 16
@TheHorse Yes, I like personal photos also 
More sentimental and meaningful.
More sentimental and meaningful.3 people like this
@TheHorse (218546)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Sep 16
@infatuatedbby Precisely!
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471294)
• Switzerland
21 Sep 16
@TheHorse They were fishy, they set rules that were unclear. I remember a long discussion about the copyright of photos. I asked Arvind, he replied saying we had to use "only our photos", hours later Kevin jumped in saying that this was not what he intended to say that we had to use ONLY freeware photos. They invented excuses, I know.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
21 Sep 16
I think they should be concerned. Using material that belongs to someone else (photos or text) without their permission is illegal....
I mostly use my own, but sometimes they don't fit and I hate seeing a photo on a post that has nothing to do with the post.
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
21 Sep 16
@TheHorse Well, since I've been writing online since 08 I try to follow the rules I was taught and also cite sources. I also don't plagiarize and there is lots of that going on here. when someone copies definitions of things from dictionary or whatever and doesn't source the info. that's plagiarism. If I wanted to read the dictionary I would do so...I skip over those discussions since no one put thought into writing them.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Sep 16
@TheHorse - I almost always use my own photos or, occasionally, something I downloaded from a site like morguefile, which has free photos available. Either way, I cite the source. I am also surprised that the Admins here don't seem to worry about it. I wonder why?
4 people like this
@TheHorse (218546)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Sep 16
Alex actually responded to this post. The bottom line: If a photographer notices his or her photo being used, and would rather it not be, it's easy to ask the poster to disappear the photo, or simply do it at the site level. To harm intended, no foul, no lawsuit.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Sep 16
@TheHorse - Ahh! That makes sense. They will quickly remove any photo that is questioned ... and I think that most of us try to avoid creating a problem so the issue probably doesn't come up very often.
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
20 Sep 16
Unless I'm actually in the photo, I only use ones I take myself.
3 people like this
@Lady_Justice (969)
• United States
20 Sep 16
There are some sites that allow the use of photos without attribution. Pixabay is one of them. If you use those, you should be okay.
2 people like this
@ms1864 (6885)
• Bangalore, India
20 Sep 16
I think i fall under the category of using pictures off the internet without citing sources...i don't know ...i guess i don't see it as a big deal...no one really cares..to be honest. How much can people keep track of? The online has become a very free world...and i like using pictures that 'go' with my discussion....
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
21 Sep 16
@ms1864 but do you upload personal pictures on others sites like social media?
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
21 Sep 16
what if other people use your own photos and profit from them @ms1864?
@mysimplelot (1347)
• Calcutta, India
21 Sep 16
I was in Bubblews also. How can they allow photos by others. By the way I do not use much photos in post and if I use them they are free from copyright issues.
