Copyright & Teaching
~ Digital Images and Copyright ~

In this digital age, it is very easy to copy photos and illustrations from the 'Net.  In fact, it is a process we discover when we "right-click" our computer's mouse.  However, we must observe the same copyright compliance given to written property.

Given that, how do we help our students discover which photos and images are available for them to copy from the Internet and use in their work?

Below are some resources to help you educate your students in using images.

bullet How do you locate Copyright Statements on a website?
bullet What if you cannot find the Copyright Statement on a website?
bullet Sample Copyright Statements for "Free" Images
bullet Sample Copyright Statements for Limiting Use of Images
bullet Sample Copyright Statements for Restricting Use of Images
bullet Some Options for Using Images on School/Student Websites

 
bullet How do you locate Copyright Statements on a website?
Copyright statements appear on many different places on a website.  In some cases, the statement is in an obvious place on all pages ... like the ones found on the bottom of the 2Learn.ca's pages. However, on most websites, you may have to do some detective work to discover whether or not you have permission to use an image.  Some of the places we found copyright statements on various websites appear as links labelled:
  • All Rights Reserved
  • Read Me
  • Who are We
  • Copyright and Privacy
  • Contact Us
  • Site Info
  • About Us
  • Terms of Use

Note: Sometimes you have to go to the "Home" page of a website to find information on copyright.  
bullet What if you cannot find a Copyright Statement on a website?
Just because a copyright statement does not appear on a website, that does not automatically give you permission to copy the website text or images.  You know from reading this guide to copyright  that all intellectual property belongs to the author or creator.  

If you or your students find an image on a website that does not have a copyright statement, and you cannot find a "free" alternate image, please obtain permission for its use  -- before using the image.
You may also wish to consider the options outlined below.
bullet Sample Copyright Statements for "free" Images
Sample #1: Here is a sample which is clearly a "Free image" site:

 

Purdue News Photo Index/2000 - There are no restrictions applied to these photographs.
"These photographs are publishable JPEG's listed in the order in which they were produced. Links to previous years are at the bottom of this page. A comprehensive high-resolution photo archive is available at our FTP site: ftp://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns [page introduction]."

http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/
newspix.index00.html

Sample #2: Here is a sample which appears to be a "Free image" site   -- but has restrictions on the use of images:

 

FreeFoto.com -Their statement clearly indicates that you can use the images, but describes the limitations.

FreeFoto.com is the largest collection of free photographs on the Internet (link back and attribution required). See FREE USE RULES.

The comprehensive, yet easy to navigate site, offers images that are free for on-line use, with higher quality versions available for sale.

Also non-commercial users may download our web size images to use off-line in school projects, church services, cards, leaflets, etc. Basically if your off-line use is not commercial you can download our web size images for free.

[This site also has special rules for students and educators - see the "Education link"]

http://freefoto.com/index.asp

Sample #3: Here is a sample which is a "Free image" page of the site -- but it specifies which images you can use:

 

Free Wildlife Screensavers
This site is somewhat confusing because it has a whole section of images and screensavers, some of which are free, but most of which you must pay for.
Children would find this site very confusing because very little of  it is available for download without a fee for service.   So while you can view the artist's sketches and paintings, none of them are available for downloading.

http://www.wildlife-art-paintings.co.uk/
free/wildlife-screensavers.htm

Sample #4: Beware! Sometimes a "Free image" search links to a "Royalty Free" site:

 

Dreamstime.com - High resolution Stock Photography - When doing a "free photos" search, upon further investigation you will find that you are required to register and pay a small fee to purchase Royalty Free photos.

[Definition of royalty free - Clip art, images, graphics, photographs, art, music and other created content which may be offered to the public or individuals, normally for a specific amount of money, to be used in ways described in the terms of usage.]

http://www.dreamstime.com/

bullet Sample Copyright Statements Limiting Use of Images
Here are some examples of general statements used to limit use of images:
  • These are copyrighted photographs and may be subject to certain other legal rights. You may utilize each photograph for personal (not commercial) use only, and only in a printed or digitized literary work as a news report or editorial. You may not create derivative works from a photograph, display or distribute copies of it, publish it, use it in a performance, modify it in any manner except size, or, if the particular photograph relates to identifiable persons or entities, you may not use it in a manner which suggests their association with or endorsement of any product, service, opinion or cause.
  • The ... web site, including: text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal, non-profit, and non-commercial use. Users agree that they will not use this page to contact contributors for commercial purposes or to gather information for another publication.
Sample #5: Here is a sample which is a large site, with information from multiple sources -- resulting in a special disclaimer:

 

United States National Library of Medicine - This site has all sorts of medical information and images. Because of the size of the site and the source of the content, a special disclaimer has been developed:
"Government information at NLM Web sites is in the public domain. Public domain information may be freely distributed and copied, but it is requested that in any subsequent use the National Library of Medicine (NLM) be given appropriate acknowledgement. When using NLM Web sites, you may encounter documents, illustrations, photographs, or other information resources contributed or licensed by private individuals, companies, or organizations that may be protected by U.S. and foreign copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use (PDF) as defined in the copyright laws requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Specific NLM Web sites containing protected information provide additional notification of conditions associated with its use."

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/about/imagespage.html

Sample #6: Here is a sample of a personal site, where the creator lets you use her images, but with qualifications:

 

Debbie Orlean's Frog Photographs - While Debbie is selling her images, she provides use of the images with some conditions attached. Her statement reads....
"You may use any of my graphics on your site. Here, or any you find browsing my links. Please give me credit and provide a link back here. A simple text link will do. Image(s) © Debbie Orlean Or, simply copy and paste the next line into your code: <a href="http://www.darsbydesign.com/orlean/">Image(s) © Debbie Orlean</a>
When you click on an image, you get the following message..."My images are all copyright protected. Watermark will be removed from any photos that you order."

http://www.darsbydesign.com/orlean/frogthumb.htm

bullet Sample Copyright Statements Restricting Use of Images
Restricting statements can be short or lengthy.  We have provided some samples below. Please read such statements carefully to see what conditions if any apply to student or school use of an image.

In some cases, you may want to have students attempt to obtain permission  for use, while in others the restrictive message is very clear.

  • "All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the written permission of the page author."
  • "(the site) contains copyrighted material, trademarks and other proprietary information, including, but not limited to, text, software, photos, video, graphics, music and sound, and the entire contents of ... are copyrighted as a collective work under the United States copyright laws."
  • "...users shall not publish and distribute such material (in whole or in part) and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media or technology now known or hereafter developed."
Sample #7: Here is a sample of an image site -- used to market images you can use:

 

Second Nature Photos -  This company is selling a CD-Rom of their photos and have samples on the web.
"All images copyright © by respective artists and photographers. All rights reserved. You may not upload this software or images to a web site or distribute it commercially or otherwise. It is illegal to use these images on your web site and to post on community web sites. Copyright © 1992 - 2006. November 14, 2006." (website homepage)

http://www.secondnaturecd.com/

Sample #8: Here is a sample of a site where you must contact the organization and request copyright information.

 

Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame - the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin: This website has a wonderful collection of images, but the site is not clearly copyrighted. (A request to obtain permission to use images would be in order here).

http://www.cahf.ca/
bullet What are some options for using images on school/student websites?

 

Given all of the copyright conditions described above, how can students safely acquire images for use, in compliance with copyright law?
Proceed FREELY!
  • Use the Galleries found on the www.2Learn.ca website, which contain images that are clearly free for student and teacher use.

     

  • Using a digital camera, students can take photos and use them within their pages. A reminder that FOIPP guidelines limit the use of photographs of students (FOIPP information from the Government of Alberta), but students could take pictures of objects, scenes, etc. to visually enhance their work.

     

  • Have students draw or paint their own illustrations, and scan them to create a digital format usable in a webpage.
Proceed with CAUTION!
  • Use copyright free images (considered public domain) available on the 'Net. Make sure your source is legitimate.

     

  • Use copyright free images from clipart/photography available in CD-Rom format.  Read the "fine print" to see if any restrictions for use apply.

     

  • Obtain permission to use a particular image from the 'Net, following a thorough investigation of the conditions to be met and an adherence to the process described by the image owner.

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