| Welcome
the the ravamped Give Credit site, for 2004. Why revamp? Because it is
felt that the message that Cathy Madsen did so well to get across to people
which started in 1998, although still a good one needed to be modified.
Back in 1998, the internet
and the majority of its users were still newbies, especially new to the
ways of what exactly copyright was and how it pertained to the web. They
were new to the fact that although they could find it on the internet that
that didn't necessarily mean it was in the "public domain".
Times have changed and so
should the Give Credit message, the message conveyed by Cathy: "Give Credit
Where Credit is Due...on the SAME Page". Of course back then it mainly
pertained to the use of graphics, linkware graphics. Back in 1998 and just
up to a year or two ago, the problem was that those who were kind enough
to give credit, were lumping their credit on one page, which would:
• take a long time
to load because normally credit was done using images (think pre-DSL and
56K modems) and
• if you liked a graphic
that you saw on the "about" page, how on earth were to find who the creator
was on the credit page, since normally it was just a image linkback.
However nowadays when you
surf the web, you will find that most people do in fact "Give Credit" and
it is normally found on the same page of what they are giving credit for.
Besides graphic credit, software,
fonts, models used in 3D artwork be it bought or freebie and even links,
etc are being credited.
So what should the GC domain
be about now? Now that people are more aware and appear to be doing the
right thing? Well I thought about it quite a bit, even to the point of
closing the site down. However, as I surf the web daily, I see more and
more people linking to Give Credit, not just giving credit to linkware
artists, but graphic artists, software creators and more.
The message although an old
one is still spread by a button back to this site. Even if the visitor
doesn't visit GC via the link, the "Give Credit" linkback image is still
being seen and filed subconsciously and hopefully they too have or will
follow suit when creating their own site(s).
If you are new to Give Credit
and want to learn more, please click the link below to continue on and
find out more about "Giving Credit where Credit is Due".
GUIDELINE 1
FINDING AND USING GRAPHICS
FROM THE WEB
So you want to know how you
too can do the right thing and Give Credit on your web pages? It's actually
quite simple and doesn't take up much space on your pages.
Here are some guidelines
I've gathered, I hope they help you do the right thing and Give Credit
Where Credit is Due...
First off, when creating
your site, please be sure that if the graphics you are using are not your
own (meaning created in a graphic program pixel, by pixel (or 3D) by yourself)
that what you are using is allowed to be used.
Most graphic sites today
will tell you if their images can be used. Some say "with permission" which
means of course you should email the artist/webmaster of the site first
before taking an image that caught your eye and request to use it on your
site. A lot of artists will grant permission, as long as you do not alter
the image, and of course you give them credit for it, on the same page.
However if you aren't given
permission to use it, please don't. The internet and 95% of the images
you find on it are not "public domain" no matter what you hear. An image
is copyrighted as soon as it is created, just because an artist has uploaded
a creation of their's on the internet, doesn't mean they are giving us
the right to use it.
The other 5% of the images
you see, are "public domain", but be sure to do your homework before downloading
them, to ensure they are indeed public domain. How? WHAT
DOES IT MEAN WHEN WORK IS IN "PUBLIC DOMAIN"?
Please, please, please be
aware of downloading images from sites with a disclaimer of "I do not know
where I got this image, please email me if you do so I can give credit",
or something along those lines. In most cases, they are not public domain
and obviously they were never given permission to use the images in the
first place since they do not even have a clue where they got them from!
Word of advice? If in doubt
about an image, do not use! To learn more about Copyright, please visit
WHAT
IS COPYRIGHT?
RULE 2
LINKING BACK
So you've got permission
to use an artist's image, that is great. Just remember, their permission
more than likely came with the clause of "no altering" which includes adding
titles overtop the image, resizing and or colourizing!
Also you've probably been
asked to provide a linkback to their site, afterall you were provided something
for free, no harm in providing them some free "advertising".
If the image is just that,
one graphic you can most likely provide a text link back like the following:
So and so image
used with permission, copyright Graphic Artist Extraordinairre
This can be done in various
places such as directly underneathe the image using small text (but readable
small text), at the bottom of your webpage in your own Copyright area,
or in your "sidebar" where you've given credit to other items you might
have used in the creation of your page.
If the image(s) used is part
of a "linkware" graphic set, be sure to read the artist's "Terms of Use".
Besides also having the same clause above as "no altering, resizing, and/or
recolouring" most linkware graphic artists provide a matching graphic to
link back to their site so it blends in with your page's design. Some even
allow just a text link back. But the key is to read those Terms of Use
or the Read Me file usually found in the zip files of the graphics you
downloaded.
Once again I say...If in
doubt, ask!
Please note and this is a
very important note. Download the graphics you have permission to use to
your server. Do not link directly to the graphics on the artist's server
as this is called "bandwidth stealing" and is very much illegal! Once again,
download the graphics to YOUR server, before using them!
GUIDELINE 3
NOT JUST GRAPHICS ANYMORE!
So you've got your graphics,
used with permission and are linking back. Doing great so far! But did
you know that linking back does not just pertain to graphics?
More and more creators that
are providing their work for free are asking us to link back. For example,
journaling/news softare such as Moveable Type or Blogger have in their
terms of use that you must link back to their site.
Just like using graphics,
the link back can normally be in graphic or text form (be sure to read
the Terms of Use!). Most creators that ask for a link back to them do provide
a graphic button in which to do so. Also, you may find if the software
you are using is popular, that there are tons of buttons out there for
you to use.
Normally, one links back
to software sites at the bottom of their page in their copyright section
such as:
Powered by Movable
Type 2.64 - MT Rocks my Socks :)
Or once again, you can link
back in a "Credit's area" on your page, listing things you used to create
your webpage. It could look something like this:
Site Credits:
Layout: Firdamatic
PSPTubes: Jane's Country
Tole
Powered: MT 2.65
Scripts/Hacks: Virtual Venus,
ScriptyGoddess, MTPlugins
You can do the above anywhere
on your page, I normally see it at the bottom or at the side.
RULE 4
SUMMING IT ALL UP
Well that's about it, the
following is a quick summary of how to "Give Credit Where Credit is Due":
1. Only use graphics
you have permission to use! If you don't have permission, don't use them.
2. Once permission is received,
be sure to link back to the artist, be it for one image or a whole set
of them. This link can be in form of a button or text. Be sure to read
the artist's Terms of Use to see which one they prefer.
3. Giving credit does not
just pertain to graphics anymore. Be sure to read the Terms of Use of any
software you implement in the creation of your website, be it journalling
software, small cgi/php/javascript snippets, etc. Some require a link back
to their site in exchange for your free use.
Linking back to graphic/software
and script sites can be done nice and neatly in a "Credits" area of your
page. Please note it should be on the same page that you have used the
graphics, software and/or scripts.
In summary, Giving Credit
Where Credit is Due is in essence common courtesy and a small price to
pay for the use of free items to create your webpages. Not every creator
requires a linkback, but if you have some room on your webpage, why don't
you provide a little acknowledgment for their hard work.
One other thing. Do you use
images/models created by others to create graphics for yourself or for
others? Please consider Giving Credit to those artists too, even if they
don't request it. Let other people know where you got that wonderful photo,
3D model/texture, etc - be it purchased or free, spread your links around,
make them available to others. |
