May I Copy Photos ?

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May I Copy Photos ? - Most everyone knows that we are not permitted to copy someone else's writings, but there can arise questions as to whether or not it is okay to stick someone else's photos and other kinds of artwork into our postings. In search of information regarding questions as to the use of images which do not belong to us, I went to some articles on the Internet that might provide answers. I was especially concerned about images that I like to create from others that I make with my own camera and those that I transform into new images from images that were made by other people. Essentially, here is what I learned from that search. You cannot directly use images belonging to others without their permission or unless the images have gone over into the public domain or if your version comes under the definition of "fair use." (Fair use is something that you will have to have explained to you elsewhere than this little posting.) You can use the images belonging to others if the image owner(s) provide you with permission to do so. OR... You can completely transform the original image such that it becomes unrecognizable - completely unrecognizable and not just somewhat unrecognizable. Your image has to be a completely different image from the original. Your image cannot just be "derived" from the original, it must be a real transformation. (Imagine the difference between a piece of sugar candy and a pile of sugar grains, and you will understand the concept.) The image above is that of a common brass bolt. The top part of the picture shows derivative images made from the original bolt photograph. The bottom part of the picture shows the bolt and its transformation into a graphic design of some sort. To use the photo of the whole bolt and the two bolt pieces requires that you gain the right to use them. To use the bottom part of the photo, you would need permission to use the image of the whole bolt, but not of the design into which the image was transformed. (I hope that I am correct in this, and I believe that I probably am.) * * * * * * * * * * Image source: Pixabay dot com and Gus Kilthau * * * * * * * * * *