jcboy3

No. First, fair use allows you to copy and use nearly anything for personal, non-commercial purposes. Second, if you pulled the image from source web page, then the mere fact that you viewed it on your computer meant that it was distributed and you already downloaded it.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

Trust me... National Geographic has more important things to worry about than your screen saver.

James Slick Loc: Pittsburgh,PA

Using a photo as personal desktop wallpaper or lock screen back ground (to me) is like recording a TV show, OK for your own use, but if you sell the recoding, or upload it to YouTube, No OK.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

This is one reason that the ONLY pictures I post online (Facebook, my own website, or any other publicly available area) always have my copyright displayed in the corner and also imbedded in the metadata. While it is nice that someone else wants to display my work, I want credit for the shot, the time spent processing, etc. It is truly unfair of another person to browse the internet looking for photos to steal from photographers. While many may not make a living of their endeavors, they certainly deserve credit for their work. The people that steal photos off the internet (however innocently they claim to be) are no better than the person that goes into Macey's and recharges their perfume atomizer from the displays, goes into Walmart and munches on the grapes and produce (or opens a bag of chips to munch on as they shop and then leaves the bag unpaid for in isle 7). These people are stealing whether they want to admit it or not. Why don't they just hook their garden hose up to the neighbors faucet or run an extension cord to the neighbors outdoor outlet and power their house. They are also, often, the first ones to complain, if they have to stand in a line or wait their turn for an event.

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

Good on you! You speak for most members. Some people don't have any morals. It seems that word no longer exist and I suggest they look it up in a dictionary.

UXOEOD

Well stated, and completely correct.

The OP knew, and knows what you are saying.

The reason for his initial post wasn't looking for opinions or answers, but he wanted validation that his behavior is .... shall we say culturally approved. The human mind is a funny thing, we know what is right, and what is easy/convenient and we are too often lazy. We take the short, easy, convenient route, become uncomfortable internally, and then will justify our behavior with all kinds of wonderful mental acrobatic endeavors. And then, when those efforts don't allow us to be completely comfortable, we run off and ask perfect strangers to validate our behaviors. Also we become extremely defensive, and quick to explain people who won't validate our questionable behaviors as some kind of evil, mean, and over-judgemental asses.

I wager even the group of little bastards here in Lexington who run about in the middle of the night breaking auto windows to steal spare change, and GPS's justify their behavior as right and correct. Saw a gentleman yesterday, in Kroger parking lot leave his cart just a couple of feet from the cart cage. When I moved it into the cage with mine, he felt the need to explain he was "creating jobs". "They have to hire someone to pick up and move the carts, after all!"

I guess graffiti artists are really just "job creators", someone must scrub the stuff off!

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Thank you. I am thrilled that someone would save one of my images.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

As long as it will not leave my computer, I don't worry about it. As far as photos I post, well, the internet being what it is, I don't consider anything I post to be my exclusive property at that point. But then, this is just a hobby for me. If I was a pro I'm sure I would feel differently about the whole thing. As it stands, if someone likes any of my photos enough to copy them, then go for it! Would be nice if you told me, but you certainly don't have to ask!

dixiebeachboy

If you are posting to social media or the ugly hedgehogs you should know once you post your own work available for review it can be downloaded and used by anybody that sees it if you don't want it used don't post it

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

You'll be hearing from my lawyer!!!!! LOL

tbetress Loc: Skippack, Pa

Please don't slam me on this one, but if you put your photo on a public web site for all to see and NOT have it set to private, shouldn't you be a little skeptical that someone might download it and use it for their own 'personal' use. Not commercially like selling it, etc.

I too feel you should ask for permission, but I also realize when I post something that it is on an electronic media accessible to almost anyone at anytime that they may download it / screen capture it / etc.

Just to make it clear, I would hope someone would ask permission and never use it commercially without permission.

I'll put my helmet on !!!

Bob Boner

I agree.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

==================

I do the same thing... The (C) copyright and my name "splattered" on it. Even My Own 'screen-savers'... :-)

And Yes... If you do like it = You may use it for a screen saver.

(Download)

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

And those that drop litter that costs the council thousand of pounds/dollars to employ others to clear it up and when services are cut those same people complain. We could go on and on, but we wouldn't. Yes, it is all about making excuses, but we are not having it.

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

Thank you LFingar for the objective non insulting advice. I'm somewhat sorry I asked the initial question, because I have been called everything from a thief, come out of the attic, slimy and equated to someone who hooks their garden hose up to their neighbors faucet to water their lawn. Consequently I have deleted all of the photos I have 'stolen' (approximately 30) from my hard drive and only kept boberic's lovely flower image as my lock screen, and installed a picture (that I took) of my grand kids as my screen saver. Problem, and controversy solved!

BTW, I like and appreciate the last sentence in your signature line; "no permission needed to edit and repost any photo I post". I thought that was what the forum was all about. Sharing photo's, advice, opinions and thoughts. In the future I will indeed ask permission before I do anything for my own personal non commercial use. Thank you.