Licensing Awareness Working (LAW) Group

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About Licensing Awareness Working (LAW) Group

We are a collection of photographers on Flickr who are concerned about the fair and legal use of our creative work.

Flickr is intended to be a photo-sharing site. However, the term "photo-sharing," while ambiguous, does not imply that material on Flickr is freely obtainable by either registered users or non-users without first gaining consent by the creator or owner. The inappropriate and illegal use by some -- whether blatantly or otherwise -- or by an organization or an individual -- is morally wrong and unfair to the person or people who created the work.

While Flickr, and the Internet in general, gives us ease and a great ability to share our work, it should not lessen the value of that work. Many Flickrites who copyright their images view the term photo-sharing as simply an invitation for others to see our images -- to share our vision -- not to steal them for profit or call them as one's own. Many photographs, images and other works on Flickr are either full or partially copyrighted by their owners. Copyright laws are in full effect on Flickr and should be respected prior to publishing by an individual or an organization.

In addition, Flickr gives its users the ability to indicate images that are more freely available by applying Creative Commons, which is a more flexible approach to licensing creative works. We encourage members to educate themselves on the difference between the various licensing types and then choose the best option for their needs.

Flickr was not intended to be a stock photography site. If you wish to use someone's image, words or an idea, please make a personal connection with the artist and ask permission first. If the artist gives you access to use the creative work, then it is only fair to appropriately cite them in the publication as it is a fair and respectful way to treat your colleague. Above all, please remember that Flickr is community of people who deserve your respect.

We are here to bring awareness to copyright issue.
We are the Licensing Awareness Working (LAW) Group

STICKIES!
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Reference Library
Photographers' Rights: Web Resources
Photography Societies and Associations: Web Resources
Copyright: Web Resources
Licensing Your Work: Web Resources
Definitions: What Is Copyright? and other definitions
Property Releases and Other Property Issues
"Cookie Cutter" DMCA notice (based on 17 U.S.C 512(c)(3))


Yahoo!/Flickr Policy
Yahoo! Copyright and Intellectual Property Policy
Flickr Terms of Use
Flickr Guidelines
Report Abuse
Flickr APIs Terms of Use

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*The Licensing Awareness Working (LAW) Group. The administrators and members are not lawyers. As far as we know, none of us are trained in law, nor do we pretend to be knowledgeable about the law. Advice given within the context of this group, by either members and/or administrators of the group, should in no way be considered legal advice. LAW is simply a forum to express and share our opinions. If you have a legal question or problem, we strongly suggest you consult an attorney at law.