Hi folks,

I would like to follow-up quickly on Matthew's message regarding the  
image library.

On the topic of copyrights, I have three recommendations to make when  
uploading photos to the image library on SEATURTLE.ORG:

1) Apply one of the Creative Commons licenses to your photos  
(described on the upload form).
2) Apply the least restrictive license with which you are comfortable.
3) Whatever you do, don't leave the copyright fields blank.

WHY? Because your photos can do the most good by actually being used!  
Remove all ambiguity.

When someone uses one of your photos, setting a Creative Commons  
license let you specify any or all of the following:
1) whether you want to be credited
2) whether the photo may used for commercial purposes
3) whether any derived works from your photo must be distributed under  
the same license
4) whether your photo must be used as-is or may be altered

You also have the option to dedicate your photo to the public domain  
freeing it from any copyright restrictions.

In short, if you are not trying to make money from your photos then  
explicitly applying a license to your photos lets potential users know  
exactly what they are allowed and not allowed to do with your photos.  
If you want your photos to have the greatest impact then don't force  
people to contact you before using them. Set them free to be used by  
others to help spread the word about the beauty of sea turtles and the  
dangers they face.

And image library users should keep in mind that it is common courtesy  
to let photo authors know when you use their photos, regardless of the  
copyright. Make them feel good about their contribution.

Some food for thought.

cheers,

Michael Coyne
seaturtle.org

PS - if you have a large number of photos in the image library already  
and would like to apply a creative commons license to them please  
contact me off the list.  Let me know which license you would like and  
I can make the change all at once. My personal preference is for the  
Public Domain dedication where it is appropriate.


On Aug 5, 2008, at 3:15 PM, Matthew Godfrey wrote:

> Hi Folks,
>
> Following the suggestions of many on CTURTLE, Michael Coyne and I have
> made a new category in the Image Library of SEATURTLE.ORG called  
> "Plastics
> and sea turtles."
>
> See here:
> http://www.seaturtle.org/cgi-bin/imagelib/index.pl?cat=663&thumb=1
>
> We have moved some photos from other categories into this new  
> category,
> and we encourage everyone to upload more photos demonstrating  
> interactions
> between sea turtles and plastics, whether it is ingestion,  
> entanglement,
> injury, etc.
>
> Matthew Godfrey, Image Librarian - SEATURTLE.ORG
> Michael Coyne, Director - SEATURTLE.ORG
>
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