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Question:
How can I verify if an image I found in google has been copyrighted? and if not can I still use it?
Pretty much all the images you find in Google images are copyrighted.
Even if someone didn't file for a copyright, it is an image you did not create, so you don't have the rights to use it without getting permission.
If you can't find the person that can give you permission, then you shouldn't use the image.
If you want to find images that you can use, it's best to search through "royalty free" artwork sources and read their licensing agreements. Places like istockphoto.com and clipart.com sell lots of images for people to use.
Ditto exactly to what Rodney said, and I'll add a link for you to a post on how to get a one year subscription to clipart.com for free. You order a CD of clip art, pay for shipping, and with the CD comes a one year free subscription to clipart.com, and all the photos there. It works, I have the sub now. Good luck to you.
Although you might get lucky and find something that is public domain. I did a Roman War themed shirt for a customer once that Google turned up a site full of public domain images that somebody was kind enough to scan from books and post on the internet in the name of "research". The images derived from public domain educational books so it was free use. That was a lucky find!
Have to agree though... most of the stuff Google pulls you need to get permission or use at your own risk. Best bet is go to the source and ask for yourself. Google always shows you the path to the image source site.
Just a suggestion though. Might be better to hire an illustrator or designer to "match" with their own artistic interpretation. You'll be better off all-around.
Ummm, everyone should be careful in the "research" arena for using copyrighted images. Books and their contents, including images, are copyrighted. Using a copyrighted image for 'research' or 'educational' purposes is allowed, but not for commercial, financial gain. I've read and read on copyright, and I am not a copyright guru, but just siting the fact you understand it one way, and I understand it differently, is good enough reason for someone to see a copyright lawyer who understands the laws and sees it in action, or to do further research for themselves, so they have a thorough understanding of what they are getting themselves involved with.
I can say, for me, after reading your post, I might think I would be allowed to use images from "educational" books on a shirt, and that's not the case at all, from my own reading. It's worth much further investigation to find the exact right, as being wrong can be costly.
Well, the truth is in the U.S. any work that you create is copyrighted as soon as you create it. This has been the law since the late 1970's. If you ever want to win an intellectual property dispute case, however, it's very important that you register your work with the US copyright office. Even still, the fact is that an image someone posts on the internet, which they created themselves, is automatically their intellectual property whether it say's "copyright" or not. To lift it and use it for your own personal use without permission would be wrong, but to lift it and use it for commercial purposes without expressed written consent can get you in a heap of financial trouble.
Hey Guys thank very much for the information... It has been very helpfull in understanding some of the copyright laws... I guess I'm better off in having someone create the image that I want for me as Mr. Beatmaker has suggested, it's the safest and probably the less expensive way...
Last edited by colonid4990; July 9th, 2008 at 09:12 AM.
Reason: typo
Google Image in Photoshop 
Re: Google Image in Photoshop 
It works, I have the sub now. Good luck to you. 
