Copyright Infringement on Ideonexus
I think I’ve gotten really good at this since I started running with ideonexus full speed, keeping the daily posts stocked with photos I get from NASA, wikimedia commons, and other legitimate sources, like flickr creative commons photos.
However, I think it’s important to acknowledge that I did violate a photographer’s copyright in my 20071126 Science Etcetera post. In my rush to find a photo of a Mauve Stinger jellyfish, I went with a photo that showed up all over google images and wrongly assumed it was safe to use.
Richard Lord, a professional photographer, took that photo, and very politely e-mailed to let me know my mistake and ask for a link back. I’ve updated the original post to include the copyright info, but I also wanted to post this as a formal apology and to make my readers aware of my error. While I am a copyleft advocate, I do have total respect for copyright laws and the importance of people being able to own and profit from their ideas.
I also wanted to draw attention to Richard Lord’s work. Which is awesome. He directed me to this news story with photos (not his), about high tides swallowing roads and coming up to storefront doors in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Richard himself has some even more amazing and shocking photos online of rising sea levels and storm wall damage from the 10th of March.
As someone who who will soon loose his front yard to global warming, these pictures really speak to me.
Ryan,
In this day and age, it’s pretty easy to slip up and not give credit where credit is due. What isn’t easy is admitting to the public when you have made a mistake. I applaud your transparency on this issue and encourage you to stay this way in the future.
I’d also like to moment to commend Richard Lord on A) his fantastic photography and B) his demonstration of patience and understanding in sending you a polite e-mail. He could have easily launched a libelous attack from his website, sent nasty grams, or dropped a pack of ravenous lawyers on you. *coughRIAAcough*
-BMF
Comment by BMF — March 18, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
Shh, BMF, it is very easy to admit you were wrong on the internet. In person it is hard. Ryan, go to Richard’s house and apologize!
Comment by Nick Hamden — March 18, 2008 @ 9:23 pm
Nick,
You may be correct. Yes, I think Ryan should go to Richard’s house and apologize.
-BMF
Comment by BMF — March 18, 2008 @ 9:36 pm
Whoopsies! In the interest of staying transparent, I should let everyone know that I think I just accidentally flagged Nick and BMF as spammers.
: )
Comment by ideonexus — March 18, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
After many years of flagging mines on minesweeper, I finally know what it is like to be flagged myself.
I don’t like it :(
Comment by Nick Hamden — March 18, 2008 @ 10:35 pm