Another blog question - is it very wrong to use images from the web on your blog?

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

Another blog question I'm afraid....
The page on Blogspot about using images says that using an image from elsewhere on the web counts as 'stealing bandwidth' and is therefore a bad thing to do.
Is this bad as in 'bad and you might get in trouble', or 'bad and you really shouldn't', or just 'bad but everybody does it?'

A lot of sites pay for the bandwidth used to access them. If you link to one of their pictures, they may be paying for delivering the picture and not getting the benefit, i.e. visitors to their site. From a copyright point of a view, you'd need a lawyer to say where you would stand. As you aren't actually copying the picture, I would say you aren't liable for copyright infringement, but a clever lawyer might be able to make a case against you.

Copying it onto your server without permission is definitely illegal. Depending on whose picture it is, it can be surprisingly easy to get permission. Sometimes the website itself will have a notice with a licence that allows you to use the picture, providing you meet certain conditions.

In short, it's complicated.