Using an image as a species identifier would be fine if you were to state that and supply a link to the authors original source upon permission. The main issue here is the act of using the image belonging to the original author without their permission or license. It is plain and simple image theft and illegal. It is no different to making a commercial and using a song without the artists permission or license. Just because you can find an image using a search engine like Google doesn't mean you can do what ever you like with it.
Petty? You obviously have not had too many of your images used illegally to be making a statement like that? As a photographer that sells licenses, I can tell you from first hand experience that image theft happens constantly. Don't get me wrong. I couldn't care less about Joe Blo downloading one of my images for personal use on their pc or sharing it on a forum etc but any image stolen and used without my permission or license for any financial gain is a loss of my rightful income and also an insult to my honest clients who have legitimate licenses. Thankfully the law has no problem seeing this and as such most cases are very easy to deal with. I have settled several cases in the last couple of years with a few overseas cases still to be sorted. A couple of which who are in for a rude awakening once my solicitor has the final identification details sorted. The moral is simple really. If it is not your image, don't use it without license or at least written permission. If you do, don't be surprised when one day the original author of the image sues.
Petty? You obviously have not had too many of your images used illegally to be making a statement like that? As a photographer that sells licenses, I can tell you from first hand experience that image theft happens constantly. Don't get me wrong. I couldn't care less about Joe Blo downloading one of my images for personal use on their pc or sharing it on a forum etc but any image stolen and used without my permission or license for any financial gain is a loss of my rightful income and also an insult to my honest clients who have legitimate licenses. Thankfully the law has no problem seeing this and as such most cases are very easy to deal with. I have settled several cases in the last couple of years with a few overseas cases still to be sorted. A couple of which who are in for a rude awakening once my solicitor has the final identification details sorted. The moral is simple really. If it is not your image, don't use it without license or at least written permission. If you do, don't be surprised when one day the original author of the image sues.
