[MicroPsycho]

If someone posts an image on the internet, is that image copyrighted by default unless stated otherwise?

[Sapphire]

 

[MicroPsycho]

So if I were to use pictures I have found on the net for, say a school project, I wouldn't have to search for "free for non-commercial use", but as long it wasn't somewhere mentioned that it was in fact copyrighted, i could use it?

The reason I ask this is because one of my teachers is trying to tell me that when an image is posted on the internet it is, by default, copyrighted and cannot be used.

[Fineus]

Funny, I've learnt the following:

Any image, music, text etc. that you create is automatically copyrighted and owned by you unless you specifically transfer the copyright to someone else. For instance - Setekhs renders - are copyrighted by him. If I were to use them to advertise a new website I'm making (even if I credit him) he could have me remove them and follow through with legal action if he were so inclined.

The fact that it would be a long and arduous court process in which he probably wouldn't recieve much in the way of repayment doesn't change this.

However, for the most part this is not a strict issue on the net - it only becomes a real issue if A) the person is a particular arse / is really anal about protecting his property or B) if you try and make money out of it. As an example:

I couldn't take a screenshot of any section of a Strongbad comic and use it to produce T-Shirts that I could then sell. The owners of Strongbad could quite legitimately sue me as I have not gained there permission and did not create the images.

So - to cut a long story short - if you were to post a picture / photo / whatever on the net that you created/took - that image would be copyrighted by you.

[Fineus]

Your teacher is right - but since it's for a school project (and therefore probably not money-making, right?) you may be OK to use it. To be certain you could give credit/the URL of the image in the project somewhere so that the source of the image could be viewed and credit given where it's due.

Similar to including the page, author, publisher and date of a book you might source a quote from for a school project - for instance.

[Sapphire]

 

[MicroPsycho]

Thanks Kalfireth, that's good to know, even though it is in his favour.

This teacher gave me 0% on one of the major parts of a culminating assignment (non-profit, non-commercial use) on the basis that the 5 images on my brochure were copyrighted, even though 4 of them are my own images and the last one is one is a/the picture of a high-res Hercules with the cockpit art that was posted on here awhile back (by Bobboau, I think) and I would have liked to cite my source but I couldn't find it again and I used the one I saved on my HDD and if its not too late I'd like to find the image, apologise to the author and, if possible ask for permission to use it...if it's not too late.

[Fineus]

He gave you 0% despite you using your own images for 4 of the 5 shots? Is that the only reason? It does sound wholy unreasonable of him.. although technically you need permission from the image author it shouldn't make much/any difference in a scholastic setting... especially if he didn't mention copyright issues before you began the asignment.

Still - I'm not going to argue with him. I'm only passing on what I know... and at that I'm not especially experienced myself.

[kasperl]

If the image of the Herc is made by someone here, they will probably allow for use. Bob made the Herc, though WMCoolmon is making a lot of screenshots. That migt help track the creator.

If you used your own images, they ought to be accepted, even if they include a copyright notice citing yourself.

Since you mentioned the Herc, I feel I'd better mention that even though any screenshots from FS have been taken by you, the art displayed in those shots might be copyrighted to anyone from Interplay, Volition, or one of the local MODders here. Not sure on the legality of displaying screenies, though.

[vyper]

Copyright is an implied right, along with design right. You can contest them, but it's highly unlikely to work.

Then again as has been stated most people won't care.

Edit: By most people I mean the average joe running a personal site. Someone big might take offence.

[MicroPsycho]

doesn't it state somewhere in the FS/FS2 EULA that because the game is discontinued it can be freely distributed, even sold, which means that anything within the game can too.

At this time I'd like you all to know that this teacher is a moron, starts arguments/flamewars with students for ****s and is in charge of business studies and computers and yet knows nothing about them.

[kasperl]

The FS2 EULA states that you can copy all 3 CD's and that you can pass them on IF you are making no profit. The FS1 EULA doesn't even have that.

[MicroPsycho]

meh, I'm not dealing with FS1 or profit...or making copies of any game for that matter

[Kazan]

Micro: go to the department chair or the dean - that grade is BULL****

[WMCoolmon]

Originally posted by MicroPsycho
Thanks Kalfireth, that's good to know, even though it is in his favour.

This teacher gave me 0% on one of the major parts of a culminating assignment (non-profit, non-commercial use) on the basis that the 5 images on my brochure were copyrighted, even though 4 of them are my own images and the last one is one is a/the picture of a high-res Hercules with the cockpit art that was posted on here awhile back (by Bobboau, I think) and I would have liked to cite my source but I couldn't find it again and I used the one I saved on my HDD and if its not too late I'd like to find the image, apologise to the author and, if possible ask for permission to use it...if it's not too late.

That could be messy. If it was a picture I took, in order to use it, you'd probably need permission from me (Which you have. ), Bobboau for the Hercules model, and Volition for the likeness of the Hercules, as well as any other objects there. You might also need permission from Interplay (Titus, or whatever they're called these days) for the Freespace universe. I have not, however, contacted Bobboau or Volition for permission.

If you gave credit where credit is due, though, (ie didn't claim you made the Herc image from scratch) I don't see a big problem with it. Worth a warning, but not a 0. It's a helluva lot different from ripping off another student's paper and using it as your own. Sounds to me like the teacher just wanted to make an example of it.

[Fineus]

That's a good example of leeway really... Setekh and I, or any/many people in the community for that matter - have no permission from Interplay or Volition to use their ships likeness (for instance, a render of an Orion destroyer) to our own ends. But since it's not money making it's not something they're following up or even interested in.

However, if Setekh started to sell his renders on T-shirts and they contained original FS ships / anything else related to it - he could well be in breach of copyright.

(sorry for using you as an example so much Ed, but your renders are easily the most well known around )

[MicroPsycho]

ya, the guy is a real ass and I don't suspect he liked my slideshow either, as it contained many of my own pics

He did say that we could not use copyrighted pics, and I didn't (save the Herc), at the beginning, but  I don't have it in writing.  And I don't see how I'm supposed to cite my sources if it was my computer...

Here's the kicker: He told us to get images from freefoto.com "because they are not copyrighted" even though they are, free to use for non-commercial use, but copyrighted nonetheless, which makes his argument void.

If he doesn't give me the mark I deserve I will take this fight to the principle/vice principle, maybe get him fired, I know many people who would vouch for his incompetence.

[Sandwich]

http://creativecommons.org/