Using other people's images on your blog

[Gusthetheatrecat]

Hello,
I wanted to ask a question about using images on blogs, and it occurred to me that here would be a good place to ask.
Thus far I have only used pictures I have taken myself, for fear of copyright issues, legal proceedings, and general nastiness. I have noticed, though, a lot of bloggers using pictures from their Pinterest boards, and it seems to be commonly accepted that doing so is fine as long as you link back to the original source. In fact, a blogger whom I really like specifically told me this was fine (sorry to be still sceptical, btw).
But can this be right? I mean, really? I am torn. On the one hand, doing my little home improvement blog, it would be GREAT to be able to include pics of some of the things that have inspired me. Particularly where I have a 'before' picture, then some inspiration pictures, then the after. But I just can't bring myself to do it, as I can't see how it would be legal or ok to use other people's pictures without asking them, even if I did link back to the source.
Can anyone give me any definitive advice?
Am really grateful, as this has been bugging me.

I am no expert as there is a whole ton of law surrounding this. I tend to use images from freedigitalphotos.net as you can use those by just giving an attribution.

Search for royalty free images when you want something and then just make sure you credit the source. Many photographers (especially non-professional)are happy for you to use their image with a credit as it brings them new traffic.

Mich x

Thank you, Mich! Thing is I am not so much looking for an image, as wanting to use a specific one to show what's inspired me / I am ripping off.
I will definitely check out freedigitalphotos.net though. Thank you for the link.

Posting someone else's image on your website may be ok under a defence of "fair dealing" under section 30 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 as you could claim you were publishing for the purposes of review and attributed the source of the image. But I think you would be on very shaky legal ground. Moreover, the onus would be placed on you to prove that your breach of their copyright was allowed under the law.

Is it impossible to simply ask for permission?

Certainly not impossible. But - lazily - obviously a faff if I was going to do it lots, and if it were legally possible to use the pic by just providing a link to the source (which EVERYONE else seems to do!).

I have to say I agree with you, though, and can't quite see how everyone else is getting away with it. I think I will steer clear unless it's so unavoidable that I want to contact someone to get permission.

It's like speeding. Most of the time you can get away with it. Sometimes you won't. And at least some of the websites that are copying pics and putting them up with a link back to the source will have sought permission first even if it's not obvious to you.

Or, to look at it another way, how would you feel it someone copied all your blog entries and put them on their own website? Would them having a link back to your website be sufficient for you?