Creative Commons Images: Black or White?
If you’re a contractor or a sub-contractor in the web industry you will probably have run into the contentious issue of creative commons images. While clients may have some photography to pass over to you it’s more often than not an unpolished resource taken on average equipment. That leaves you the options of stock photography from iStockphoto or Getty Images, for example, or what I personally consider the murky world of creative commons images. In my experience, the pressure usually gets weighted toward the free creative commons images that can be easily grabbed by designers from sites like Flickr.
My concerns about using Flickr images are perfectly valid once you have a scroll and try a few searches. It becomes quickly apparent that most people aren’t even aware on Flickr that their images could be used in a commercial environment. Yes you can probably legally use images of their children at the beach or someone’s beautiful photograph of a farm area - but ethically? Are you trying to tell me that every parent with a child on Flickr has granted you the license - I’m talking morally - to use their home photos commercially? I’m not talking about the legal right, I mean in the real world of human beings.
I don’t know why nobody seems to get this issue. Are we, as a civilisation, reduced to the generalised acceptance that something legal is therefore right? Can anyone who reads this even accept that most people who upload images to a resource like Flickr simply don’t read the terms of service or pay attention to their privacy selections?
No, in my personal opinion, Flickr is not the free resource for creative commons stock photography that will save you the few bucks that should be spent on professional stock photography. And, if you’re going to use those images then at least contact the owners and ask permission, supply the correct attribution and make sure they’re in total agreeance with what you’re about to use their work to promote. Would you like to find your partner’s photograph as a banner on a porn blog? People deserve the same respect that you’re expecting for yourself.
The option that most often works for me is to keep a stock photography resource of my own original work. On most low-end work this resource gives me enough to work with, but my next step failing that is to visit a professional stock photography resource. The only time I have used Flickr as a resource was under the duress of the person I was subcontracting for, and it made me feel dirty. In my opinion, Flickr only became an option to save a few bucks. Simple.
So, before you go grab everyone’s creative commons photography, give some thought to the grey part of that enterprise. Ask yourself if you’ve been entirely ethical with the photographer and the subjects in the work. Contact the original owner.
I needn’t point out that the Flickr account owner may have stolen the image and just uploaded it, either. It’s something to think about when you’re putting your own personal reputation as a designer onto the table. Who does own the work?
Food for thought. It’s not as black and white as legal or illegal usage. Three billion images on Flickr equals an awful lot of ordinary people who deserve better from our industry.
