Dos and Dont's for Bloggers

[Former_Member]

I have a quick question for the audience: What is the policy about copying images off of a website and pasting it in your blog, even if you leave a link and credits?

I copied an image of West Elm's store in Charlotte, because they're hosting an Etsy event tomorrow there, and pasted it in my blog's post along with an image showing the date and time. I made sure the image had a link so if someone clicked on it they will be guided to the West Elm website and I also stated this in the blog post. Is that enough? Was or is that ok?

Also, if I cited like fashion content from like Ann Taylor or The Limited, let's say, in a post on my blog regarding fashion. Could I copy the image of that "dress" and put it on my blog, as long as I put a link to the store there?

I have read about the whole copyright laws and what's really free and not free and that Flickr has a commons area to use photos and all of that. But that's not what I'm looking for.

What I'm trying to do is basically set up on my blog like a "Fashion Friday" or a "Friday Finds" where I showcase things that I've found on the internet that interest me and my viewers/readers. Things I find interesting. Maybe I'd like to show a pic with a link to an Etsy seller and their item because I thought it looked cool. Can I copy their pic and list their name and link in my blog and say "Hey, check them out. I like their stuff and maybe you would too." without getting in trouble?

Your assistance would be GREATLY appreciated. I hope you all can help me.

[Former_Member]

No, you are not allowed to use anyone's photos for anything. Linking to them and writing content about them is just fine. Using exact phrases you have to quote and credit.

Heck there are at least 100 bloggers that nabbed photos from Pinterest or Etsy and used them of mine! lol I'll take the traffic I get but some wont be happy you 'stole' their photo. I go comment on the post and thank them for featuring my image. I see these blogs in my stats and I Google myself weekly, I find my pictures/info on blogs, etc.

I do give permission to share on my website under my Terms and Conditions for my website content.(temporary disabled page while I go through my site makeover...) Ive embraced the sharing instead of fighting it personally.

More than likely none of the stores will care either but... do at your own risk. You can always check the sites terms, they may have some sort of sharing content info like I do. With the Pin and blog craze its possible they do.

I always ask, and if I cant like some big name brand(well I Can ask...) I just dont use a photo. Anyone can file a take down through Google, you dont want to fight with Google! ha ha


I keep Etsy sellers in a private favorites I will blog and message them asking to use photo. I dont always ask when I will blog it, its a 'pre' permission thing so I can just blog when I am ready. I take the time to 'pre' find content. I have a stash of stuff to use.


I could of swore I posted some info about this, I guess I better get on that! ha ha

[Former_Member]

Wow. Kelly. Lots of helpful info. Thanks so much for responding with such detail. I try to be respectful of people's things as a general rule. I mean isn't that the respectful thing to do. :) But I just wanted to get the proper etiquette down first before I have a bunch of people screaming down my neck for actually TRYING to give them acknowledgement and credit. Know what I mean?

I will get on top of making my Etsy lists of faves as well as other items I've favorited on the internet.

Always Learning.

[Former_Member]

You are welcome. :)

A good majority will love the sharing. I cant say this 'factually' but, if a site has added Pin it buttons to all their products I would say they are ok with sharing. Its their own site, they added that code. Not like Etsy where you dont have the choice to opt out of 'pin this'.

I have this on my site(well I will again lol)

Content Usage:

I do allow pinning/posting of my images/designs in a sharing capacity on social media/blogs with a link that leads back to my website. I allow sharing only. I do NOT allow copying of my images/designs for profit, claim as your own, commercial use, or alter in any way. Please just ask permission if you would like to use outside a sharing aspect.




Blogging does take some work for content but if you spend some time 'pre gaming it' it makes posting easier. Like some of the other tips I posted in another thread sizing images before you load to the blog etc. Prepping content makes it more efficient.

Oh and if you search the forums you will find people that would love to be blogged and pinned. Ive seen many threads on both, do a search and take a lookie lou. They've posted 'permission' in the thread. ;)

[AnnakesGarden]

Hi, All --

Like you, Kelly, we've made peace with the fact that the content we post on the Web WILL be copied; and, so far we're OK with that, for the reasons you outlined. However, we take advantage of the Creative Commons copyright for everything we post on our blog. We have more detailed info on our Policies page, but the CC tag is right there in the content of every post, which makes it easy for people like Jasmin to know that a use like she envisions is fine with us. We find that it's a good way to state "Feel free to use it - this far, but NO further!"

Of course, true enforcement of copyright on the Web at any level is problematic, Google sanctions not withstanding. I have found a number of tools and practices recently that might be of interest for things one is really concerned about protecting; I might have found them sooner if we were selling our Web content, rather than using it to promote our concrete items for sale.

(Sorry, I left the URL's in my other browser...and no, I don't want to hear about how easy it is to sync my 2,000+ bookmarks...)

Maybe you should consider a thread on this team about intellectual property protection from the provider's side, Kelly...

J.D. (Annake's Garden Gnome)

[Former_Member]

Thank you for your input J.D.! Yes, I have to get on a full thread about it. :) Ive been crazy with orders so havent been able to dedicate the time to it yet. i'll try to get to in the next few days or so.