Using an image while linking

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Using an image while linking

don't want to violate copyright

uhwebs

4:05 am on Jun 20, 2008 (gmt 0)

linking with images

What is the proper procedure for linking to a site and including an image? (ie, of their logo, or a photo off their site if your talking about a news article, etc.).
I see many blogs just copy photos from news or other sites and post a link to them, often linking directly to the image (hotlinking?). I would think hotlinking wouldn't be acceptable.

I'd love to either take a screen shot of a few sites I'm linking to, or include a small image of their logo or an image off their site. Of course I dont' want to violate copyright law.

What is the proper procedure for doing this? Would a screenshot or copy of the logo be OK?

thecoalman

10:30 am on Jun 20, 2008 (gmt 0)

Acceptable or not hot linking presents other problems, since you have no control over the image it can be replaced by anything and that can also be done dynamically and you wouldn't be aware of it. Here's the scenario, you visit site X and see an image, this image is cached by your browser. You then hot link to it through your own site BUT site X is checking the referrer. Since the referrer is not Site X they send a replacement image which could be anything, nothing etc. The trouble for you is the image is cached in your browser so it all looks fine to you but any visitors to your site will see the replacement image.

Ask before hot linking to images or better yet get permission to serve the image from your own server.

cgiscripts4u

5:31 pm on Jun 20, 2008 (gmt 0)

if you email the web site and ask for permission to include an image with a link to their site that should be enough. If they refuse permission then don't do it - create some kind of generic 'no image available' image. If they give permission then keep a copy of their email in case it's required in future.

uhwebs

6:47 pm on Jun 21, 2008 (gmt 0)

Yikes, howe about screen shots? Would that be acceptable?

Buzz

10:26 pm on Jun 24, 2008 (gmt 0)

You could also shoot your own images (which are instantly copyrighted, btw) that convey a meaning but not the exact representation (e.g., logo) of the destination. Try something different that after awhile visitors might start to look for on YOUR site whenever they stop by, knowing that the image is their Good Housekeeping seal of approval for quality links.

Otherwise, no yikes, no big deal. Just contact a site and ask permission. It's really a simple thing.