Sarah's Flickr idea could work. Be careful with creative commons licences, though. There are many varieties, and plenty that reserve rights to the rights holder.
One other thorny issue I forgot to mention. You'll find that for images showing people, stock agencies invariably require model releases signed by every person identifiable in an image (and they interpret 'identifiable' very very broadly). They need these for the buyers of their images, who need them for many types of image usage. By signing a release, a model releases the image user from various legal liabilities. You'll probably need the same to protect yourself from possible legal action. (In the US and lots of other countries, for example, the law gives you rights to your own likeness and it - your likeness, I mean - cannot be used by others without your permission. Even in countries where likeness is not protected in this way, you can easily fall foul of various other laws by publishing pictures of people - e.g. laws protecting reputation. As a distributor of images, you have precious little control over the uses those images get put to.)
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sarah Purcell
Sent: 03 September 2009 11:49
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Free Stock Science Images?
Can I suggest using flickr in a slightly different way. There are
millions of pictures on there, and many users are quite open to their
images being used for non-profit purposes, especially if it gets them
a bit of exposure. Many are flattered just to be asked.
I would suggest setting up a flickr group, to which you can invite
people to add their photos. Make it clear that any photo you invite
may be used for whatever purposes you have in mind, and that by adding
it to the group the copyright holder allows you to do this. Then
search flickr for various keywords, and invite photos to your group.
Promote the group around the STEMPRA and PSCI-COM communities and ask
people to add their own photos.
Sarah
2009/9/3 Chris Stokes <[log in to unmask]>:
> I think I'm right in saying the best-known site for general free-of-charge stock images is SXC (or Stock.XCHNG) at http://www.sxc.hu/. Not sure how many science images they have. Probably not tens of thousands!
>
> However, as you're probably aware, you won't be able simply to copy all science-related images from SXC to your own site (on Flickr or anywhere else) and then make them available from there. The terms of the licences under which SXC makes its images available do not allow this. I may be wrong, but I suspect that you will need to do quite a lot of work beyond finding and copying images before you'll be in a position to offer the work of others to users of your proposed site. You will need the permission to do so from every copyright holder. Doing a deal with a regular stock library (even one like SXC that provides 'free' images) will no doubt cost handsomely. But the alternative of negotiating with thousands of photographers and illustrators might cost more. Have you thought of setting up your own agency!?
>
> Chris
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mary Arbuthnot
> Sent: 03 September 2009 10:19
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [PSCI-COM] Free Stock Science Images?
>
>
> Dear STEMPRA and PSCI-COM communities,
>
> Apologies for the cross-posting.
>
> I am creating a Flickr account for the Science Council to house free stock science images. I'd be very grateful if you could recommend the best places to find free scientific images - we're in need of a wide variety, including scientists at work in a multitude of environment and situations.
>
> Once I have amassed a body of images I will make the photostream available to the STEMPRA and PSCI-COM communities.
>
> Please could you email me offline at: [log in to unmask]
>
> Many thanks for your suggestions.
>
> Best Wishes
> Mary
>
>
> Mary Arbuthnot
>
> Researcher/Administrator
> The Science Council
> 32-36 Loman Street
> Southwark
> London SE1 0EH
> Tel: 020 7922 7888
> Direct line: 020 7922 7880
>
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