Sharing images & copyright
If you aren't able to create your own image's you might want to think about using free 'sharable' images that are available on the internet.
Campaigners generating content online often convert their work into a ‘sharable’ document that can be easily circulated via email or downloaded from the internet. If the ‘license’ invites sharing and the media is compelling it will get circulated almost as if it has a life of its own.
Such “sharable content” is also referred to as Open Content. Text, sound, images can be freely used, distributed and modified by the general public — just about anybody — without the traditional restrictions imposed by copyright. This can be done either by adopting an Open Content license, such as Creative Commons, or simply by following commonly-accepted practices.
Copyright free images
Tonnes of images (primarily photographs but also illustrations, simple animations, cartoons, video and art) on many subjects are today available with an open content license on sites like Flickr.com. Here is a copyright free image, found on Flickr in less than 5 minutes.
See how we have acknowledged the owner of the copyright, which was essential (and only fair!) under the terms of their copyright notice. The name and a link to the website they requested might suffice. Sometimes, you will want to give more attention to the issues and people behind the shared images, as we have down at the end of the page.
Here's a quick link to get started with finding images at the advanced Flickr search. Select Creative Commons Copyright at the bottom. http://www.flickr.com/search/advanced/
More about copyright in our Flickr guide here.
If you need permission to reproduce an image, contact the Flickr.com
photographer by visiting their profile (via their mugshot on top left
of the page) and sending a message to them.
You can learn all about how to use Flickr in our Using Flickr guide, including:
- how to upload images
- create sets and groups
- use tags for search and activism.
In addition to Flickr, take a look at the these photo sharing websites too:
http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/cfimages.html
Images & Permissions
Whether you are commissioning original images or
finding what you need on the internet, make sure you are comfortable
with copyright and licensing. Find out whether you have permission to reproduce them.
You can always remove an image from a
blog, but if it was a national poster campaign based on an illegal
image, would you really want to risk it?
Unless the images have been specifically given with the intention of
allowing you to reproduce them, make sure you ask for permissions, even
when they belong to a friend or supporter of your organisation. When
requesting permission, you could stress that your publication is a
not-for-profit or that authors are not paid for their contributions.
Mention your print-run and readership. This is especially important if
your content is for educational purposes. Under these circumstances,
some copyright holders may reduce or waive their expected fee.
Otherwise, it makes more sense to rely on copyright-free images.
Take care while photographing work that might be covered by copyright.
Photographing a copyright work can amount to reproducing it. By taking
a photo, you could be violating copyright. This is true of paintings,
some sculptures, craft items, architectural works, jewelry, clothing,
toys and artistic work.
Don’t forget to ask for permission if you need to; politely and in advance!
Sokwanele - Zvakwana ("Enough is Enough") use photo activism with extraordinary power. It is a Zimbabwean peoples' movement, embracing supporters of all pro-democratic
political parties, civic organizations and institutions.
The images uploaded to their Flickr site and, redistributed from it via open sharing, have been sent in by Sokwanele activists,
supporters and the general public, all with the purpose of showing the
world what is happening in their country.
[NOTE - this prompts the need for a section asap on ethical / legal issues. The questions raised here include... who is responsible for the images circulating? How can we know it's okay to use them? Do we have to go back to the original source? Did Angela sign permissions to have her image taken and distributed? This image is now widely circulated. It's a powerful image, it needs to be shown. Sokwaneleare and Justice for Agriculture are legally responsible not us as far as I know...]