by Tomm Swords

Created on: November 26, 2009   Last Updated: November 27, 2009

I have a problem with people who break copyright and at the same time, I totally understand what it is like when you need a piece of audio or visual material for a project - you need to go and find it and pay the author.

The internet has brought about a free for all where the majority are under the hugely false impression that if it is on the internet it is fair game.

That is not the case!

If you didn't take the photograph that you are using on your blog, no matter how artistically unsound the image is, it is NOT yours to use.

If you didn't write that piece of music, which you have used to accompany your Youtube video, it is NOT yours to use.

If you didn't write that Dooyoo review which you have copied and used on Ciao it is not yours to use.

So what is the solution for those of us who need a media form for a project.

The same as it has always been - you contact an agency and pay a licence fee for the use of the material. At one time this would have been a difficult job and involved going to a physical agency, for a photograph or piece of audio or film stock, probably in London (no good if you are in John O' Groats) and paying a lot of money for a license to use the said piece.

Nowdays it is EASY and CHEAP to obtain audio and video stock - do the right thing folks and pay the media creator. There are plenty of media stock agencies where you can buy photo, video and audio stock. There are plenty of agencies online such as Dreamstime, Fotolia, Bigstockphoto, 123RF, Stockxpert, Mostphotos, where you can pay pennies for the use of a photograph.

So, I haven't mentioned Creative Commons. Well, what this organisation supposedly allows you to do is to find media stock which is free to use and share. Normally when someone creates a media text, i.e. a photo, song, or film for example, they automatically reserve all rights to copy, reproduce and use that artefact themselves only.

Should someone else wish to use it, it is normally licensed out to them for an agreed time, a set amount of copies can be made, and limits to the type of use (i.e. for commercial or non-commercial purposes), normally for payment, or at very least a creator's byline.

Sounds complicated, so you can probably see why Mr Blogger thinks 'bugger this' and just lifts an image off the internet to use on his blog.

Creative Commons is attempting to work around this. It supposedly encourages people to track down works where the author is prepared to allow his or her work to be used for free AND for a byline,

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>