Question about Royalty Free images

[Janine]

Hey all,

I found this board via Google while searching for free images, and thanks to your Resources section I have found a lot. I have a (rather silly) question though:

I'm running a fansite and we decided to open a store at cafepress.com to sell some items and draw in funds. Some of the graphics the pic wizards created contained paid for and altered images from istockphotos.com, but I'm not so sure if it's legal to use them for commercial purposes. Of course I've read their legal but I'm no native speaker and have troubles to find that out. So, if someone could tell me I'd be really grateful. :)

Thanks bunches!
Janine

[Drazan]

1) is the images used to dictate a character from a movie or comic or other precreated "official" character?

2) if so your infringement is there, not in putting the altered image on the cafepress prjects.

3) istockphotos and most "royalty free" image sites have exceptions where you can't resell the image in original forms. But does grant you the right to use that photo/image in a work of your choice for sale.

[Janine]

1) is the images used to dictate a character from a movie or comic or other precreated "official" character?
It is used for our online 'RPG' (it's more like collaborative fan fiction), but it doesn't have to do anything with the star the site is about. In fact, we only need two female silhouettes.

3) istockphotos and most "royalty free" image sites have exceptions where you can't resell the image in original forms. But does grant you the right to use that photo/image in a work of your choice for sale.
I see. I shall drop them a mail then for clarification, their license agreements are too confusing for me.

Thank you. :)

[Janine]

Okay, so istockphoto.com didn't really reply to my inquiry and I continued searching. I stumbeld across fotolia.de/fotolia.com and they also offer royalty free images for fair prices. If you buy the Extended License for a pic, you can modify it and use it for items you want to sale. The only thing not permitted is illegal/obscene usage and reselling the original image. Thought you'd might be interested in this source. ;)

[MisterClips]

I have photos at both locations, istockphoto.com and fotolia.com. Both offer the Extended License options allowing for usage and resale on a product such as a T-shirt, mug etc.