Flickr Creative Commons Image Attribution

[MisterT]

I'm interested in using some Flickr images that are listed under the Creative Commons license.

I've seen several other websites using Flickr images, but the way they give attribution to Flickr seems to differ. Some sites host the image on their server and credit Flickr by linking to either the image itself on Flickr or the image creator's Flickr profile. I've seen other sites just hotlink a Flickr hosted image and link back to Flickr. I'm wondering what are the specific rules on this and the generally accepted creative commons code of conduct sort of thing? I tried digging through Flickr's help pages but got nowhere. Anyone who knows about this please reply!

Thank you...i pity the fool - MisterT

[Beagle]

I believe this would depend on the specific image and what terms the copyright holder has set up for it - As I understand it, there's more than one type of Creative Commons license. If a specific image is listed as having a Creative Commons license, there should also be some details listed about how it can be used. I'm not familiar with Flickr, but I'd guess there's a way to contact the copyright holder and ask about the details if they're not given. It wouldn't be Flickr's decision, which is probably why there's nothing in their Help files about it. (ETA: It's the image creator who'd be the copyright holder, so it's most likely that the sites who link to the creator's profile are following the license stipulations. But you'd need to check out the terms for the specific images you want to use.)

[edited by: Beagle at 2:26 am (utc) on Feb. 15, 2008]

[MisterT]

Thanks for the info Beagle.

FYI, if anyone wants to find images on Flickr with a Creative Commons license: flickr.com/creativecommons

There are several license types, so make sure you abide by the specific rules of each.

I've done some more research and there does not seem to be specific rules regarding attribution, but the attribution should basically be as prominent as it is in the original work. For Flickr, it seems usually a link back to the user's Flickr page is enough.

Anyway, if anyone is interested in this the best thing to do is read the license details at creativecommons.org

[zett]

Be very very cautious when using CC licences. Two big problems:

1) Any uploader can assign a CC licence to his images regardless of him having the actual rights to do so. In other words: if some moron uploads a photo from Getty and assigns a CC licence, and you download and use this photo, then you are in big trouble.

2) On Flickr, the uploader can change the licence at any point in time, also from CC to copyright protected. This makes you (as a user of the photo) vulnerable to copyright infringement claims by this photographer, putting the burden of proof (that you rightfully used the CC licence) on your shoulders.

So, I'd stay as far away as possible when using CC licences.

[MisterT]

zett - yeah, i've now noticed that some creative commons stuff on flickr is definitely copyrighted stuff...and the fact they can pull the license is a little scary. but, i'd bet that there are some reliable sources of CC material. - i'm still doing my research and looking to see what is reliable, if anything