Hi all I’m new to this stuff, wanted to ask about using other people’s pictures in my journal, so that nonhiker friends have an idea of the terrain. Do I need permission or are they public domain once posted? Would it be bad karma? Is it difficult to do?
beek
The content of the journals are the property of the journalists. You would need permission to use photos.
edited 12/09/04
Leif
Properly speaking, all images are the copyright of the photographer, unless they have somehow transferred (sold) that right. Using someone else’s images without permission would be a copyright violation. If the creator has registered the images, there could be a serious liability (even if they haven’t registered the copyright, it is still a violation).
However, for “friendly” non-commercial use, I bet that most people would allow you to link to their photos - with attribution. Just ask! 
Jim
I have a ton of photos on-line and will get e-mails out of the blue asking to use my photos. As long as they ask, I really don’t mind. One photo was recently published in a magazine…so thought that was pretty cool!
Makes me wonder how many people have used my photos without asking.
Mags
If you are at all concerned about protecting ownership rights of your photos it is wise to overlay a copyright notice in the lower corner of the photo.
I once voluntarily submitted one of my best photos to a non-profit club which I was a member of for “friendly” use. Turns out one of the club officers got in a spat with the others, took all the photos and had them all registered copyright in his personal name on a CD which he now sells for $12.95 each.
Sometimes I just shake my head and wonder…
RockyTrail
Rocky Trail…that kind of scenerio; whereby a kind act gets used for another’s fiancial gain, with no thought to the original giver just “frosts” me. What did you say to yourself to move on from the anger?
Neela
Neela: Thanks for the empathy. I try not to get worked up over things too much, you live and learn. The person that did that turned out to be a little bit psycho, and it wasn’t worth fighting over.
Like the Kenny Rogers song says, “You gotta know when to hold’em, when to fold’em,…and when to walk away.”
RockyTrail