User blog:Midrad/Copyright ©. All Rights Reserved

.The Ugly Side.
Let me make this clear... JUST because you flipped an image, cropped an image, renamed an image, blurred it or battered it or added whatnot onto it or flipped it does not rightfully make it yours. Copyright violating is a serious crime, and must be dealt with severely in law. It is a cowardly act by unworthy people. Images on Google do not make it yours; or indeed, any images that may show up in various search engines. Adding texts to it STILL does not change the fact that you stole.

Yes, stole.

The photo/sketch/painting/digital painting that you may be using as banners/flyers for your clan belongs to the talented artists who spent hours, maybe days or even years, putting heart into each line and movement. Passing the artwork off as your own is highly discouraged; claiming the image officially belonging to you just because it looks good on your wall is, indeed, one of the highest sins a human can commit. It is a selfish and ignorant act, disregarding what the artist might or might not, feel.

Stock Images
Stock Images are images/grafetti that the original artist/photographer permits everyone to use. Stock Images make their main appearance in stock websites. Other people you don't know online offering you images for use are mostly copies of the original, which means, the people offering have a very good chance of having stole the image themselves. Good stock images can only be bought through trustworthy websites. Buying a stock image and fully negotiating with the owner makes it legal for you to crop or edit it, and repost it online. It would be best to credit the original owner's website/name beforehand.

Tracing Images
Printing artwork from the internet and later copying every line and gesture is also an act of thieving. In my time, I have met many a people who believe this is the quick and effecient route around violating copyright. (After all, I bought the pencils that traced it, right?) Every artwork has its own unqiue style. Copying only doubles your crime. Be original, guys-- why not use the time you wasted plagiarizing to create your own unique art?

Crediting An Author
Images can also be legally used after signing a contract with the original author. In addition, he/she may want you to credit thier artwork, as a sign of respect and symbol of humanity. Uncredited photos are mostly obtained by theft, as the pictures on search websites don't usually leave behind a reliable source.

Example of crediting:

Most people credit in obvious lettering on the corner of the image. Make sure you are able to read the words yourself, and check that each letter is clear and bold. People might mistake you for a thief if even the size of the words tricks the space of their eyes. Background: <  > Angel: <    > Dog: <    >