Forum Moderators: not2easy
I often get photos with press releases and some of those photos would continue to add interest to my site after the press release expires.
I haven't used any of those after the press releases expired because I wasn't sure if it was ok to do so, and I haven't been interested enough to ask the press release source.
Has anyone here run into this situation before? If so, any advice (beyond contact the sender) would be appreciated. Mostly, any problems with this idea, even if permission to continue using the photos is granted?
However, the images contained within may well have a time limitation or one that pertains to how it is used. Perhaps only in articles related to that specific press release topic and almost certainly forbidding them appearing on anything very negative or abusive regards company/individual concerned.
An example might be UK OUT, No INTERNET, CREDIT MANDATORY or ONE_TIME USE ONLY, EDITORIAL USE ONLY. These are typical notes attached to agency photos that are also often included in release photos. CREDIT MADATORY is stating the obvious as nearly every photo we have ever used has required one.
Usually any such details will be included in the release itself. If not then you will ahve to contact the sender as no hard and fast rules, imho.
[edited by: FattyB at 1:19 am (utc) on Oct. 16, 2007]
included in the release itself
Yeah, in this latest case it wasn't included. But I dug around a bit online and found a bit more info.
If you have widget images on file, which you've garnered from press releases sent to you about widgets, and at some point in the future decide to run an editorial about widgets in general, there is nothing to stop you using any of the images you already have. The only consideration is that you credit the images properly.
If the image was of, say, a Model Two-Type Super Widget, then I'd be inclined to ensure that any image caption or credit stated this fact. That way you know the widget supplier will be happy and, at the same time, your audience doesn't have to guess what the object/widget is.
At the end of the day, using the previously supplied widget images brings additional and free publicity for those issuing the photos, and for that extra exposure they're usually very appreciative.
It's taken as red that images would not be used in a defamatory or any other way that the supplier of said images may find objectionable.
Syzygy
