Question about image legality

0mitts

0mitts

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Nov 26, 2009
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I stared a video game blog and I'm wondering what images I can use. I understand you can't just go rip any images from Google, but I searched through some of the threads about image legality and the sites that were posted, like sxc.hu don't have the images I need. I checked out some of the "creative commons" commercial usage images on Flickr and they're either not what I need, or the ones that I would want are just clearly ripped from official websites.

Is there no way for me to use screenshots/box art etc. on my site?
 


If you're doing a review, using the cover art of the reviewed product is legal in so far as I know. It's the content shots that you're not allowed to use. Something about what's "publicly facing" if I recall uni classes correctly.

Otherwise you'd have issues with pretty much every site attempting to review or sell a product.
 
Put it up and keep it there until someone tells you to take it down. You will get an email or letter prior to being sued. It happens everyday. Unless you're stealing a logo and representing it to be yours or something dumb like that, putting an image on your blog at worst would get you a C&D letter.
 
0mitts said:
I stared a video game blog and I'm wondering what images I can use. I understand you can't just go rip any images from Google, but I searched through some of the threads about image legality and the sites that were posted, like sxc.hu don't have the images I need. I checked out some of the "creative commons" commercial usage images on Flickr and they're either not what I need, or the ones that I would want are just clearly ripped from official websites.

Is there no way for me to use screenshots/box art etc. on my site?
Click to expand...

For product shots use Amazon. Sign up for their affiliate program if you want to keep it legal (lots of people don't and I've never heard of anyone getting sued but IANAL) and, although eleventy-billion people on ebay hotlink their images, I'd download and self-host them.

Check out SEO Blackhat for a way to get Amazon to output their images for you


As far as screenshots, if you make your own you should be OK.

If you make videos, you may want to get permission from the game's publisher. In fact, you could ask the game publisher for screenshots and images, videos, etc., they may help you out if you have a decent blog.

Hit 'em up for free games to "review" while you're at it.
 
If you are really worried what about throwing them up on Tinypic and linking to them from there? That way you aren't even hosting them on your boxes, just deep linking.
 
if you sign up for an affiliate program with pictures of the stuff, then its legal. like the other guy said, Amazon Associates is probably your best choice
 
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