I’m about to put this thread about using pictures without attribution to bed. I wasn’t going to say anything else after my last post until I read John Connell’s blog entry follow up on the issue.
First, let me say publicly that I accept John’s apology. I know that he didn’t mean to cause any harm. John wrote to me that he took the photo down, which even though wasn’t what I requested (I just wanted attribution), it was his choice and I honor that.
Now, onto my thoughts. The way I’m seeing it laid out on his blog post about what happened, it’s as if using CC photographs is a “tricky issue,” that you have to be careful and that the issue of whether putting a link to a photograph is enough is something that should be debated.
I’m sorry, but I just don’t believe that there needs to be any debate on whether to do this or that or whatever. It comes down to just…just doing the right thing.
John also stated that he linked to my flickr page through the photo. In terms of linking to someone’s flickr page using the photo, not everyone who visits a blog clicks a thumbnail.
Also, Tess Watson, who I’m assuming is a friend of John’s, commented on the issue on my blog, stating that she would be “most flattered if anyone used mine with or without credit.” This type of comment normally wouldn’t cause me any concern, but, with all due respect Tess…aren’t you a teacher? If one of your students lifted a passage and placed it in a report without stating where its from, would you be as accepting of that type of behavior?
So, instead of starting a dialogue on the ins and outs of attribution when one uses someone else’s work on a website, I’d like to ask two simple questions:
1. What’s so wrong with simply putting the first and last name (or username) of the person who took the photograph or produced the work of art (or text)?
2. Why would someone not want to put that person’s name next to their photo?
Comments (2)
I’m in total agreement with you on this one. Without a credit, it looks like the photo is part of the creative content of that website. Even just a username can allow someone to contact that person through flickr or find the person online if they are interested in contacting the photographer.
Isn’t the whole point of creative commons the credit issue? What is the incentive for people to use a creative commons license if the users are unwilling to give a credit?
Intellectual property is a very touchy area, especially in cyberspace. Basic ettiquete is important. Just put the bloody name or username and the link to the site where you got the image and get on with it.
When I built a Russian web site for a government agency years ago, I would actually contact the Russian photographers and get their permission first before considering using their image.
It’s simple respect.