Just a reminder

That the sources you use must be open source and be provably so...
Infringment of copyright is a serious issue, one which is stated in the psc rules

"Q: Can I use copyrighted material in my entries?
A: Not unless you contact the proper owners of the image and obtain permission. Contact them first, you may be surprised at how many will give you the OK."

Not only this but also the distrobuters of the image. (Let them know of your intentions and if they agree to the use this use it constitutes a contract. allowing you the rights to use the image 0in the contest.)

Here is an example of a contest which was won by such a breech.
http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/119029/stone-balls.html


Article A (Stated source): http://www.wallpaper.net.au/wallpaper/abstract/Abstract%20Chrome%20Balls%20-%201024x768.jpg
Article B (TOU): http://www.wallpaper.net.au/termsofuse.php

Highlighted aspects:

Paragraph 1 - line 3:

"All images belong to their respective copyright holders. Wallpaper images can be removed on request from the owner."

Paragraph 2 - line 1:

"All wallpaper images on this website are for personal use only. Personal use includes (but is not limited to) displaying the wallpaper images on your personal computer and storing downloaded wallpaper images on your personal computer."

(Basically it dooesnt extend to use in a competition.)

To summerize. Had there been a prize the other site may be entitled to a share in it and definatly the copyright holder.

In this case there was no prize, except the person in fourth is deprived of third place which would show in thier Portfolio...
and likwise for 2nd and 3rd.

But if the site wishes to create a legal situation they are well within thier rights to do so.



So if your using sources here are the things to watch for...

- Check the TOU (Terms of use) Look for specific reference to open source.
- If you like an image and the TOU states for personal use... but you really like it... Nothing is stopping you from recreating a likness of it using photoshop as of course then it would be all your own work and provably so and then intergrating that into the source. (Just make sure you mention any likness may be coincidental just incase.)
- If you contact the origional owner and they say yes. No problem.
- If they say no then thats tough you will have to make do without that image, as said before recreating the necassary componants is ok. As long as you can prove you did it.

meh

we are aware of this already..

there's a shit load of copyright free picture sites on the web, if you're concerned about it, use them, most of us have didgital cameras, try using them, not enough .ppl doing that!

for me, everything I find on google is for everyone's use especially for such a non commercial thing like PSC

word, except for chopped pics found or illustrations or very good photos

run! it's the copyright police!

Splodge has a point (it matches the one on the top of his head ):

Use yer digital cameras when you can. Much more control and thus better integration potential.

And a small point myself (no jokes please!): this is one reason I like this site MUCH less than a couple years ago. We (at least to my knowledge) didn't fight over so many PETTY points of THE LAW then - there were no frickin PRIZES and the only EGO CRAZINESS we dealt with was getting our voting average up.

The commercialization / exploitation of this site is MEH!

MEH! I say!

(*okay - I'm done. Thanks for your attention. Please return to your cubicles and continue creating your masterpieces*)

I dont see the big deal there... I often used low res royalty free or RM pics from Getty, Picture Quest or else in my PSC works without asking anything to anyone. It was before I knew sxc.hu. I did it to have fun, exposing their work, without doin any money with it (prizes weren't even here back then)...

When you don't have ADV and the contest is up at 8:00, each second count if you really want to have a chance for the win. You think I'll send an e-mail and wait for the obvious approval or even a deny for such a funny purpose? I should have, yes. I didn't, no. Ban me now.

Ya know what the best part of all this is? Susan's balls got over 50 votes! Just goes to prove that sometimes less is more. I wouldn't take my vote back either. I still really like her balls.

Ya tryin' to say, I have big, shiny balls??

I think 'had' is the word of the day sweetie. You've been castrated!... The mob took your balls!

good fer you!

Some balls are held for charity
And some for fancy dress
But when they're held for pleasure
They're the balls that I like best
My balls are always bouncing
To the left and to the right
It's my belief that my big balls
Should be held every night

singing day for shaman today!!