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(show all questions)
(show all questions)
- Open source? Creative Commons? What's that all about? Close
- Keeping the Geograph website operational requires many people to donate their time or resources, and we want to be sure that the website is a resource free from commercial exploitation in future. To that end, the site software is available for re-use under the terms of the GNU Public Licence (GPL).
Also, we require all submitters to adopt a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike licence on their photographic submissions.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
Under this licence the photographer keeps the copyright on their images but grants the right to anyone to copy and/or distribute and/or modify the image and its attached metadata, provided they give credit. This right to reuse the image may include someone printing and selling the image on Ebay or elsewhere.
On submission, contributors licence their images at one or more specific sizes. Once a licence is granted it is irrevocable, as that image and licence may legally have been downloaded and used elsewhere.
In a nutshell, we wanted to build a true community project that won't leave a nasty taste in the mouth by getting sold for shedloads of cash and taken away from the people who contributed. These licence terms ensure that the site and content can never be "taken away" from you. See Freedom - The Geograph Manifesto http://www.geograph.org.uk/help/freedom
(Developer? http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/Geograph-for-Developers)
· Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer! - I would be interested in using Geograph content, is that possible? Close
- All images are licensed for re-use under a Creative Commons Licence, see licence details by viewing a full size image. Also look for the "Find out how to re-use this image?" link under each image on the main photo page, which outlines easy ways to re-use the image.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/faq.php#opensource
Are you a developer?
... maybe looking for ways to access images outside the website?
http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/Ways-to-view-Geograph-Images
and more info about our API: https://www.geograph.org.uk/article/Geograph-Image-APIs
Please get in contact if you have an idea for re-using images, beyond what's available via the feeds above. In all likelihood we can provide a feed to suit your requirements.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/contact.php
- I'm an artist and would like to use a scene from a geograph in a painting. Is that acceptable? Close
- It depends on how closely your painting resembles the photograph. I can't see any problem with using the information gleaned from any Geograph picture to inspire your painting. On the other hand, if you were to trace the photo and paint it over, you should credit the photographer for their contribution.
If you are in any doubt, just email the contributor (there's a link under the main picture) and ask them; I'm sure most will answer in the same way. You could offer to take a photo of your finished painting and send it to them as a thank you - many would appreciate that.· Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer! - Can I use photos in publication? Close
- All photos are Creative Commons (CC) licensed. That means you can use them for free for any purpose as long as you credit the photographer individually and state the fact that the image is CC-licensed. You can find suggested wordings for both print and electronic publications if you click 'reuse this picture' under the photo description on each photo page.
If you need a higher-resolution version, there may be a CC-licensed version available by clicking the 'more sizes' link (if present) to the top right of the main photo. Alternatively, you can contact the photographer through their profile page (click their name on the photo page to get there) and ask if they are willing to give or sell you a copy under a separate licence.· More information on this topic... · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer! - Can I use a Geograph-er's text along with their pictures? Close
- The Creative Commons licence applies to the text supplied with a photo as well as to the photo itself.
If you are copying their text, it should be credited.
(Asked by robinstott and answered by barryhunter on the forum http://www.geograph.org.uk/discuss/index.php?&action=vthread&forum=18&topic=13068&dontcount=1&page=0#1)
· More information on this topic... · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer! - Why must I agree to allow commercial use of my image? Close
- Running this site costs money, particularly over time as the storage requirements are quite large. Whilst those costs were initially met by generous sponsorship from the Ordnance Survey, more recently the site has been dependent upon donations. Granting commercial use allows anyone who runs the archive in the distant future to explore other options for generating funds, such as sales of montage posters.
Granting everyone those same rights actually protects the site community from exploitation), but do bear in mind that we only retain a screen-quality version of your image, and that under the terms of the Creative Commons Licence, you must be credited for any use of your image.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/help/freedom· Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer! - Can I use someone else's text in my description? Close
- It's usually best to paraphrase information from other sources and then add a reference (or hyperlink) to those sources. If you want to quote something verbatim, you need to ask the author for permission to use it and to re-licence it under the Creative Commons licence - which essentially means they not only allow you but the whole world to use their text, provided credit is given. If you have their permission to re-use their text, you should still acknowledge that it's theirs.
It doesn't matter if the text you wish to quote is from a commercial printed work, a website or just a handwritten note the original author wrote just for your information.
(Inspired by a question asked by Jon2 and answered by barryhunter on the forum http://www.geograph.org.uk/discuss/index.php?&action=vthread&forum=18&topic=13068&dontcount=1&page=0#6.)
· More information on this topic... · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer! - Can I ask for a fee if someone would like to use my images in a publication? Close
- By uploading an image to Geograph, you agree to license it under a Creative Commons licence. This allows anybody to use your image for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as they give credit to you. They don't have to ask your permission before doing so.
The standard 640x640 pixel size is too low resolution for the vast majority of commercial uses, and it is not uncommon that Geograph-ers are approached by publishers or the media for a higher-resolution version for printing. If you agree to supply one, you can ask for a fee if you like. Basically, you're granting them a separate licence to use another (higher resolution) image. It is up to you to negotiate the licence terms and remuneration you want.
Of course if you choose to license a higher-resolution version under the CC licence alongside the standard size picture, then people are free to use that as well.
Many Geograph-ers are happy to give high-resolution versions for free for charity or community publications while charging a commercial fee from other organisations. Commercial providers of education (materials) seem to be a borderline case for many.· More information on this topic... · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer! - How do i close my account? Close
- Short answer: you can't. But please read on...
You can't revoke the Creative Commons licence you have given The World when submitting your photos, and we would like to ensure as best as we can that you continue to get credit for your images wherever they are used. If you stop submitting, your existing photos remain visible and credited to yourself for this reason.
If you would prefer no longer to be identified as the photographer of the photos you have uploaded, you can change your real name in your profile http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile.php?edit=1to show a pseudonym, or you can ask us http://www.geograph.org.uk/contact.php
to anonymise your account. In either case, your decision is reversible should you change your mind - which of course we do hope!
· More information on this topic... · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer! - Can I submit a photo taken by someone else e.g. a friend? Close
- If your friend asks you to and for some reason cannot create their own account then that's fine provided they understand the Creative Commons licence. You should credit them as the photographer when submitting.
See related article: Photos not taken by submitter· More information on this topic... · contributed by Penny Mayes, Jun 2017 · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer! - What's the ideal size for an image submitted to Geograph? Close
- All images shown on the general photo pages fit within a 1024pixel-square area. If they are bigger than that when uploaded, the site software will reduce them to fit into that frame. If they are smaller than 640px, the moderator is likely to request a larger version.
Optionally, you can upload a larger version of the same photo and license that larger version with the same Creative Commons licence (unlimited free re-use by anyone for any purpose as long as credit is given) as the main image. To do this, select the largest image size that you are happy to contribute when prompted by the submission dialogue after uploading your photo in step 1. Geograph will produce the standard 1024px image as well as this higher-resolution one according to your request.
Site users can access these larger images by clicking on 'more sizes' above the main photo on the photo page.· More information on this topic... · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer! - Can I upload pictures I have inherited from a deceased relative? Close
- You can, as long as you now hold the copyright in the image, which will be the case if you've inherited them. During submission, you will be asked in step 4 to confirm the Creative Commons licence. You should untick 'I am the photographer' and enter the name of your deceased relative there. The picture will then show on your profile but will be credited to your relative. Alternative, you can change the credit after submission by clicking 'change image details' under the photo and then 'change credit' after your name.
If you are sure that you hold the copyright but there are several possible deceased relatives which could have taken the picture, you can submit them under a name such as 'Smith family archive'.· More information on this topic... · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer! - I have an interesting old photograph/postcard, can I submit it to Geograph? Close
- If you have taken the picture yourself, or you have inherited it from a deceased relative and are certain of the copyright history, the age of the photograph is of no consequence.
With regard to old postcards or photographs without provenance, although the photo may well be out of copyright it is incompatible with the Creative Commons share alike licence and cannot be accepted on Geograph.
If you have taken a current view of the same place and would like to link it to the old photograph you can submit the recent shot here and upload the old photo to the media repository http://media.geograph.org.ukor a photo-sharing site like Flickr and link to it there in your description.
· More information on this topic... · contributed by Penny Mayes, Aug 2011 · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer! - I need to remove a picture I uploaded, is this possible? Close
- Once you have pressed the "I agree" button your picture is in the system and subject to the Creative Commons Licence.
If the picture has not yet been moderated, you can requested for the image to be rejected, and you will be asked to give a reason. To "self moderate" in this way you click on the "Change Image Details" link under the picture: you should see an icon for "reject".
Once the picture has been moderated and accepted you will probably need to give a very good reason for the image to be removed from display. Images may be removed from display if they were taken illegally, or, for example if a landowner objects to a picture taken from a place without public access. This process of removing from display is sometimes referred to as "vaulting" as a copy of the picture remains in the "vault": a file storage area.
See also "I have licensed an image larger than I intended, can I remove it?" http://www.geograph.org.uk/faq3.php#93· More information on this topic... · contributed by Roger Jones, Oct 2011 · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer! - How can I show a picture on the forum? Close
- If you want to show a thumbnail of a picture from the Geograph collection, just copy and paste its URL (web address) between a pair of square brackets: [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1234567] or just its id number between a pair of triple square brackets: [[[1234567]]].
You can't generally show pictures from other websites, but you can link them so people can click the link to view the picture elsewhere by using this syntax: [url=http://www.example.com/pic.jpg]anchor text[/url] where 'anchor text' stands for the text people click to go to the picture.
If you've got a picture that adds value to the point you're making but it's not suitable to upload it to the Geograph collection, you can upload it to the Geograph media server http://media.geograph.org.uk/. Once uploaded you can show it in a forum thread using the [img]http://media.geograph.org.uk/files/....[/img] syntax. Use the 'direct link' URL from the upload page for this. This works for png, gif and jpeg formats. If the image is wider than 640px, it'll automatically be shrunk to fit.
This technique is best used for supporting material such as out-of-copyright photos that you can't license under the Creative Commons licence, user-generated maps or graphs showing statistics etc. It should not be used to create signatures, smileys or avatars or other recurrent images, which aren't used on the Geograph forums.· More information on this topic... · Edit this answer (Open for editing by anyone) · Provide an alternative answer!
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