Copyright anxieties...

[NoisesOff]

Hi all. I've just set up my blog, but I'm not sure how to go about posting some of what I want to talk about because of copyright issues.

For example, I want to talk about a particular artist's work. His paintings aren't well known so really, I need to refer to his website. I assume it's ok to mention his web address in my post. But what about pasting in a photo of one of his paintings?? Obviously I'd state underneath that this was from his website and provide a link, but is it ok to do that without getting his permission? I guess I could email him to ask permission, but he probably won't respond to a nobody blogger with only one post to her site.

I often see products and pieces of art discussed in blog posts. I assume that not everyone is getting permission for everything. So how do you do it?

Advice please!

[ButThereAgain]

Fine to mention his/her web address and I would think it's fine to embed the image using the image location address you get when you right-click the image on their site to be on the safe side, actually include that image location as clickable text, as part of a caption identifying the image, the author of it, and the website it comes from. I think I would also write to the artist to ask permission check they were happy, but if they didn't respond I think I would go ahead with the image it is like quoting an author and citing the source to give them full credit. (disclaimer: I'm not speaking as a legal expert, just as someone who edits text that includes issues with permissions for use)

This is all assuming that you are using the image to illustrate commentary on their work, not to profit from it by making your website look nicer -- if the latter, definitely get permission first.

Not fine to take a screenshot and use that, because it severs the image from its provenance.

[ButThereAgain]

Actually, backtracking a bit here: I think I might have been relying too much on the notion of implied permission. If the website you are taking the image from has anything that amounts to implied permission -- a share button or something like it, or words that encourage you to use the image, then go ahead. I was wrongly imagining that the very act of putting up an image amounts to implied permission for a properly accredited use of it.

I would definitely ask permission. If I decided to go ahead even without an answer, I wouldn't feel too angsty, unless the images were on the artists website primarily to encourage sales of reproductions of them. If that is the purpose of their being publicized I would imagine that the artist definitely wouldn't like reproduction without permission.

[TheTwistedYarn]

Thank you! I really appreciate your advice. Sounds like a bit of a potential minefield...