Online Images - Copyright Question

[jimbob1208]

Hi,

Who owns the copyright of images that are available on the internet? Is it OK to use them because they have been put in to the public domain?

Example, I am writing a fashion article about a particular celebrity and their choice of fashion and style, which I am going to publish on my fashion blog. I have found a picture from the internet of this celebrity and that illustrates the fashion they wear.

Can I use this picture in my blog?

Thanks

Jimbob

[CopyrightAid]

You need permission, you cannot simply take content from other peoples sites and publish it on your own site (unless you want your site taken down by your ISP or end up in court).

Public domain has a very specific meaning in copyright terms -
Published on the Internet does NOT mean public domain.

Public domain means copyright has expired - i.e. the person that took the photo died more than 70 years ago. Everything else IS subject to copyright.

If you want to use someone else's work, contact the site owner publishing the material and ask who the copyright owner is and how to go about getting permission.
Bear in mind they don't have to give you permission and can demand any fee they feel is appropriate for the use of their work.

Better still, there are a whole host of sites (like http://www.istockphoto.com/) that provide stock photos under licence that you can use for a small fee.