Jakebrake wrote:
I purchased a print of that iconic day when I visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, VA several years ago. I scanned it, converted it to B/W and have been using it off and on as my avatar since joining UHH. It is a scan of my property, does that exclude me from using it? You know, I'm not going to get into a pissing match with you over my avatar. If you have a problem with it, I'll just pull it.
I seem to have annoyed you, which I did not intend to do. For that I offer apologies. Please take my comments in a positive sense as an attempt to answer your initial question. I have no problem with you using the image as your avatar, I see it as a mark of respect in so many ways. I have no desire for you to stop using it, so please do not "pull it!"
However, purchasing a print does not legally make the image your property, nor does it transfer rights for you to reuse it. This is the point, which underlies this discussion. It is about the transfer of rights to reproduce another person's work. Buying a music recording, in any format, does not usually transfer rights to reproduce it, even for backup purposes. It generally does not transfer rights to re-record, perform or publish the material. Just because you paid for a print does not normally give you any rights of ownership over the image or rights to reuse the image, unless it is officially in the public domain.
To revisit your original question, I certainly do not think you are in trouble, but in the case of using this image as your avatar you are not just using it on your personal computer in the privacy of your own home, you are 'publishing it' in a public forum which is a little different. So far as I can tell, you are not trying to misrepresent anything, nor are you trying to profit from it. I perceive your use to be both a mark of respect and honorable. However, your use may infringe strict copyright law. That said, I doubt most people would care or wish to protest.
I would suggest that you add the following line to your sig:
Avatar: "Old Glory Goes Up On Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima” by Joe Rosenthal, © Associated Press"
By doing so you provide credit, and appropriate references and show your respect to all. That should address both the reasons why you wish to use the image and also keep you out of any trouble.
For those interested, perhaps familiar with the image but do not know its history, it may provide enough information for them to learn and appreciate the sacrifice that the image represents.
I offer this comment with respect, and no desire for any kind of contest. Best wishes.