I ve stopped posting match video's as apparently not legal in my area, very grey area as to what we can post most of the images I put are readily available on other sites, seems to have gone worse since the Online Safety Act
Yes, posting copyrighted images on forums without permission is a form of copyright infringement. To legally post an image, you must have a license or permission from the copyright owner, or the image must be in the public domain or available under a free license like Creative Commons. Simply finding an image online does not make it free to use, even for non-commercial purposes or on forums.
How to avoid copyright infringement
Get permission: Obtain a license or explicit written permission from the copyright holder before posting their image.
Use public domain images: Use images that are in the public domain, meaning their copyright has expired or was never established.
Use licensed stock photos: Purchase or download images from stock photo websites that grant you a license for use.
Use Creative Commons or similar licenses: Use images from repositories that offer free licenses, such as Creative Commons, which have specific terms for use.
Create your own images: Generate your own images or hire a professional to create them for you.
What to do instead of posting an image
Post a link: Instead of uploading the image itself, post a link to where the image is located. This is generally considered a safer practice, as the forum host is not directly copying the image.
Use a small, low-res thumbnail: Some forums allow for the use of small thumbnails, but check the specific rules of the forum and be aware of the potential risks.
Important considerations
Forum rules: Check the specific rules of the forum you are posting on. Many forums have their own policies regarding image usage and copyright.
Fair use: Some uses of copyrighted material, such as for criticism, commentary, or news reporting, may be considered "fair use." However, this is a legal defense and is highly context-dependent. Relying on "fair use" is risky and should only be considered after careful legal evaluation.
Yes, posting copyrighted images on forums without permission is a form of copyright infringement. To legally post an image, you must have a license or permission from the copyright owner, or the image must be in the public domain or available under a free license like Creative Commons. Simply finding an image online does not make it free to use, even for non-commercial purposes or on forums.
How to avoid copyright infringement
Get permission: Obtain a license or explicit written permission from the copyright holder before posting their image.
Use public domain images: Use images that are in the public domain, meaning their copyright has expired or was never established.
Use licensed stock photos: Purchase or download images from stock photo websites that grant you a license for use.
Use Creative Commons or similar licenses: Use images from repositories that offer free licenses, such as Creative Commons, which have specific terms for use.
Create your own images: Generate your own images or hire a professional to create them for you.
What to do instead of posting an image
Post a link: Instead of uploading the image itself, post a link to where the image is located. This is generally considered a safer practice, as the forum host is not directly copying the image.
Use a small, low-res thumbnail: Some forums allow for the use of small thumbnails, but check the specific rules of the forum and be aware of the potential risks.
Important considerations
Forum rules: Check the specific rules of the forum you are posting on. Many forums have their own policies regarding image usage and copyright.
Fair use: Some uses of copyrighted material, such as for criticism, commentary, or news reporting, may be considered "fair use." However, this is a legal defense and is highly context-dependent. Relying on "fair use" is risky and should only be considered after careful legal evaluation.
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