Copyright question

[Blazing Storm]

Hi,

I'm putting together an online portfolio, which will feature my University work and I have a couple of questions.

1) Some images I used in my projects were sourced images, as they're just student projects. Do I need to put someone on the website where I sourced the images from?

2) How can I stop people saving the pictures of my work?

Thanks

[jlknauff]

2) How can I stop people saving the pictures of my work?

Don't put them online ;)

[Blazing Storm]

I've heard there's a HTML code that stops people right clicking and saving. Is that true and where do I find out how to do it?

[CkretAjint]

I've heard there's a HTML code that stops people right clicking and saving. Is that true and where do I find out how to do it?

There is. But if you know basic web coding you can get around it quite easily. ;)

[Ned]

There are several ways of doing that, all of which can be gotten around, but with varying degrees of difficulty.

One way is to write a javascript code, which will pop up a warning box instead of a the right-click menu. This is the simplest, easiest, but least effective way. (You need just basic knowlege of your OS to get around this... In fact, I believe you can still click and drag from your browser to your desktop).

Another way is to use CSS layers and create a transparent GIF file, the same size as your image, and layer it on top. This way, when somebody right-click downloads the image, all they get is the transparent GIF. To get around this, they would probably have to View Source, find the direct link to the image, and input that URL into their address bar.

Another way is to slice up your images into a number of smaller images. They would then need to download ALL these images, and piece them all together. This method is often used, but I don't suggest it, as it will drastically decrease the loadtime of your website.

There's also a lot of other methods, but these are the three main ones.

Personally, the only method I use is the first one, because this is simple to implement and won't take any of your precious time. All methods have holes in them anyways - if somebody really wants that image, they'll get it. However, they can't run from the law. If their inappropriate use of your image is found, then you have legal grounds to sue them.

[MikeTheVike]

There are several ways of doing that, all of which can be gotten around, but with varying degrees of difficulty.

One way is to write a javascript code, which will pop up a warning box instead of a the right-click menu. This is the simplest, easiest, but least effective way. (You need just basic knowlege of your OS to get around this... In fact, I believe you can still click and drag from your browser to your desktop).

Another way is to use CSS layers and create a transparent GIF file, the same size as your image, and layer it on top. This way, when somebody right-click downloads the image, all they get is the transparent GIF. To get around this, they would probably have to View Source, find the direct link to the image, and input that URL into their address bar.

Another way is to slice up your images into a number of smaller images. They would then need to download ALL these images, and piece them all together. This method is often used, but I don't suggest it, as it will drastically decrease the loadtime of your website.

There's also a lot of other methods, but these are the three main ones.

Personally, the only method I use is the first one, because this is simple to implement and won't take any of your precious time. All methods have holes in them anyways - if somebody really wants that image, they'll get it. However, they can't run from the law. If their inappropriate use of your image is found, then you have legal grounds to sue them.

Anyone can just take a screenshot of their screen and get the picture anyway...

[Blazing Storm]

OK, I see what you're saying. I might just use a watermark instead then.

Any advice on my first question?

1) Some images I used in my projects were sourced images, as they're just student projects. Do I need to put someone on the website where I sourced the images from?

Thanks for input.

[Ned]

Anyone can just take a screenshot of their screen and get the picture anyway...
Heheh... I can't believe I failed to mention that one. :D As web images, they are all 72dpi anyways. You won't get a better quality image than what you screenshot.

And there's another reason not to even bother... The images you put on the web are low enough quality to drastically limit their usage. They could be tossed around the interwebs, you can't do anything about that, but they won't be used effectively in any kind of print.

[Blazing Storm]

Good points. I won't even bother to watermark them either then.

[Ned]

Any advice on my first question?

1) Some images I used in my projects were sourced images, as they're just student projects. Do I need to put someone on the website where I sourced the images from?

Thanks for input.

Yes, it's good courtesy to credit the originator. You can also use a "Used with permission" caption. As far as legalities, this is not necessary as long as you have proof of permission in writing, email, etc. (not verbal).

Waitasec... I may be confused here... I was thinknig that you included other student's work in your portfolio (ie, like a group project, or shared resources?). Rereading your quote, I'm not sure if you mean that you "sourced" images off the internet, and used them in your design. If that's the case, it doesn't matter if they're student projects or not, they can't be used in your portfolio! I would then look for similiar Royalty-Free stock images (go with either free or cheap, like Stock.Xchng or iStock), and swap them out.

[Blazing Storm]

The images were from Corbis, not just taken from anywhere. We were told it was fine as long as we credit where they're from. I just wondered what you do on a website.

[Ned]

Who told you it's okay? Only Corbis has the right to say that!
There are different type of license agreements. The simplest is to allow for portfolio display or non-profit usage, the common is to allow for commercial use with a chance of profitibility. Then there's more extensive licenses.

Now, you're not clear about how you got these images off Corbis. If you downloaded them as a paying member (it could be you, your school, your teacher, whoever has the membership), then yes, it should be okay and you shouldn't need a credit, though it would be a good step. If you just took the preview images, don't they have watermarks on them? And whether or not they do, if they were previews, they can't be used.

As far as where to credit... Dont' you have some sort of caption on your projects? All you need is to put a little footer note, "Images courtesy of Corbis".

[Blazing Storm]

OK, I get the message.

Thanks

[PrintDriver]

You are allowed to use Corbis thumbnails in comps. That's what they are there for! Just don't try to use them in print without paying for them. Especially with Corbis. There are no 'memberships' at Corbis. You pay per image. Usually through the nose with lots of blood.

You should credit them or list their image numbers somewhere nearby just as you would on a client's comp. You usually have to credit Corbis visibly when used for real too.

Student work can technically be covered under Fair Use but it doesn't give you permission to swipe images from the web without credit. Most image sites such as Getty, Corbis or any of the pennystocks have low-res images for thumbnail purposes. However, getting images through Google or Yahoo or Mamma is kind of dodgy.

As far as posting uncited images on a website...hmmmm.......I dunno what the rule is on that. If you post an image of a brochure you did for a client, did you also buy the web view rights for the image along with the brochure rights? This is an interesting one to ask the lawyer folk next I meet with them. If I remember.

[PrintDriver]

I'm curious too...
I know a lot of people don't like to use flash in websites but I've seen some tremendously well done flash portfolio presentations. Would that be a way (other than screen shot) of keeping people from swiping your images? Not that they're your images but in a manner of speaking...?

[Blazing Storm]

I'm going to ask my lecturers at university what they suggest I do. They know my work so can probably guide me better. I don't want to brake copyright laws; that's why I asked to start with.

[Psychosako]

Usually, with that Java hoo ha, i can go through the source and pick out the picture. It's usually more trouble than it's worth.

Unfortunately, some poeple, like my mother, will swipe screenrez pictures and print them anyway. since they can't tell the difference, they don't really care.

I used to have a program called Micrographix Picture Publisher (the last American version was 8, i think). If you told it to "Watermark", it would look fine until you printed it. Then it would have a big ol' crazy scrambling, like a scrambled television channel, on top of only being screenres.


It would be best to have some sort of artist statement or something anyway, but make sure to put something like this with the picture somehow:

"X image is copywritten This Guy. This was for nonprofit and educational use only. Please don't sue me, i am but a lowly worm."

or something.

[JPnyc]

The best way is to watermark the images. That's the toughest to get around. You at least need a decent graphics program and a little knowledge to get rid of them. Any of the coding solutions, all you need is a little knowledge to get round them.

[Blazing Storm]

OK, so watermarks are the best way; that's if I bother doing the website at all. I get the feeling it might not be worth it.