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Finding Pictures In The Public Domain
Uncovering public domain pictures is like finding buried treasure for info-preneurs. Chances are, if you're trying to find the perfect graphic for your infoproduct, you've been frustrated with the fine print of most photo purchase sites. Indeed, the legalese of their terms of use can almost deter you from the sites altogether. Many photo sites disallow using a photo for commercial purposes or charge extra fees for the number of downloads, etc.
Finding public domain pictures is like uncovering a “free-for-all” for your business needs. But it’s likely that if you’ve tried to find graphics for your products, you’re frustrated with the almost indecipherable terms of use for the photos. Indeed, the fine print legalese can almost deter you from the sites completely. Numerous image sites do not allow you to use a photo for commercial purposes. They may even charge fees for the number of downloads.
Come inside the vast world of public domain pictures! I’m talking clip-art, photos, illustrations, paintings, cartoons - images galore - totally copyright free.
You will be pleasantly surprised at the vast number of pictures in the public domain that can be used in your ebooks, on your sites and blogs - absolutely free - even if you’re using the photo in a product for sale.
One favorite site of mine is StockXCHNG - a mega gallery with more than 350,000 top notch stock pictures by thousands of photographers and artists. Each photographer can set their own terms of use, but most of the pictures are freely available. Some photographers will ask you to contact them by email if you’re going to use their pictures in your work for the satisfaction of knowing their photos have been published.
The United States government includes hundreds of public domain images on their websites, and they are happy for you to use them! The majority of these photos have been taken by professional photographers, which gives your product that extra special touch. Not every picture you see on a .gov or .mil site is in the public domain, but most government sites will have clearly posted information about what on their site is free for public use and what’s copyrighted. If you’re wondering if a certain photo is available, just email the owner of the website. They’re used to answering questions related to public domain materials.
If you find a book or magazine printed in the United States in the years 1922 or earlier, the photos inside are typically public domain pictures and can be used in your products.
If you’re ever in doubt about the legality of a particular graphic, don’t use it. Copyright lawyers are easy to find, and the owners of the material can bring charges against you for taking their content.
It may take a little research to find the perfect public domain picture for your product, but you’ll have no fees and no legal worries about using the material commercially. Why pay for photographs when thousands are freely available for your use?