If I put links to images from other sites, on my blogs, it is ok?

[ryukenden]

I have a few blogs and I wonder if I put images from other sites, will there be any copyright issues or legal problems. I will not save those images on my webspace. I will only put original links to those images from other sites.

thanks

[bogs]

you mean links of the image to those site where you got the images?

[ryukenden]

Originally Posted by bogs

you mean links of the image to those site where you got the images?

Yes. If someone read my blog , the image which appears on my blog will be from the original link.

[ScriptMan]

Originally Posted by ryukenden

Yes. If someone read my blog , the image which appears on my blog will be from the original link.

That would be hotlinking to another site's image and is bandwidth theft.

[Avinash]

Originally Posted by ScriptMan

That would be hotlinking to another site's image and is bandwidth theft.

Agree with ScriptMan. Always make sure that you've the right to post pictures on your blog. For example, if you are posting a news about iPhone that you read over at TechCrunch, it's ok if you download the original image found @ TechCrunch, upload it to your own site, add it to one of your blog posts and give full image credit to TechCrunch with a link back to their site.

And in case you aren't so sure if you should post another person's photographs on your own blog or not, contact the photographer/owner of the original images.

Always avoid hotlinking images. It can spoil your reputation and might create problems for you if the owner is too nosy.

[TheFriend]

If you only put the links to their websites (with their pictures) on your blogs, i think that is ok. It is like backlinks, in my view.

[ryukenden]

Wordpress provides a tool to put image link and it means we could put image links from other sites?

[Avinash]

Originally Posted by ryukenden

Wordpress provides a tool to put image link and it means we could put image links from other sites?

Yes, the purpose of this feature is to add images to your blog posts but that doesn't mean it supports image+bandwidth theft. You can link an image using this feature if you've the right to use the image + bandwidth. For example, if you use Photobucket or flickr to host your images, it's ok to post these images on your blog.

[chicgeek]

As mentioned briefly above, it also adds a degree of professionalism to contact the site owner and ask, as well. State what credit and linkbacks you will give them, and that you will not be hotlinking, and you will get a positive answer nearly every time.

[mrgee]

If you SHOW (hotlink) the image on your site without permission, this is theft and you probably can get sued, but some sites allow you to hotlink directly, some provide hotlinking only if you provide credit, some provide hotlinking, but you must save the image on your server. You should check the specific site's licence and contact the owner if not sure. Also, use Flickr for hosting.

[selfhelpebooks]

Well, you can post any picture you want. But, the worst that will happen is they send you a letter asking you to remove it.