Learning Center What is a mineral?The most common minerals on earth Information for Educators Mindat Articles The Elements The Rock H. Currier Digital Library Geologic Time

Minerals by Properties Minerals by Chemistry Advanced Locality Search Random Mineral Random Locality Search by minID Localities Near Me Search Articles Search Glossary More Search Options

The Mindat Manual Add a New Photo Rate Photos Locality Edit Report Coordinate Completion Report Add Glossary Item

Mining Companies Statistics Users Mineral Museums Clubs & Organizations Mineral Shows & Events The Mindat Directory Device Settings The Mineral Quiz

Photo Search Photo Galleries Search by Color New Photos Today New Photos Yesterday Members' Photo Galleries Past Photo of the Day Gallery Photography

Discussions

💬 Home 🔎 Search 📅 Latest

╳Discussions

💬 Home 🔎 Search 📅 Latest

Groups

Recent Images in Discussions

Improving Mindat.orgUsing Mindat photos in an article

7th Mar 2014 10:11 UTCDavid Parfitt

I am thinking about writing an article for Mindat, and I would like to know if it is OK to use photos from the Mindat galleries to illustrate the article?

Many thanks

David

7th Mar 2014 12:57 UTCTony Peterson Expert

Technically it may not be necessary to ask the contributor (an editor or Jolyon can answer that) but if you're going to use someone else's photos, you should seek their permission or at least let them vet what you write before releasing it. In the world of professional scientific publishing, the creator of an included photo could justifiably expect to be a co-author.

Tony

8th Mar 2014 02:28 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

Thay are free to use for Mindat articles, but common courtesy would require permission.

8th Mar 2014 04:49 UTCBruce Cairncross Expert

I'm also interested in this question. I recently had a student working on a mineral project and he wanted to use some of the Mindat members pictures, with due acknowledgement to the copyright owner and the mindat website. I got him to email the several owners of images asking permission but did not not receive a reply from one of them. We want to now present the results of his project at the upcoming IMA congress and we would need to leave the pictures out of his poster presentation which would be pity.

I am regularly asked for permission to use my mineral photos and provided I am acknowledged as the photographer, I have no problem with that - even if I am not asked! It's when my photos appear in some website/article/calendar without due acknowledgement that irritate me. To institute copyright infringement action against such usage is virtually impossible, particularly when the user is located in a foreign country. Even here in South Africs, it's not worth the effort.

Bruce

8th Mar 2014 05:52 UTCStephan Wolfsried Expert

Bruce,

I am not sure if I can help but if You like You can use my photos.

Stephan

8th Mar 2014 08:19 UTCPierre Rondelez

Hi Bruce,

If I can help with any of my photos on Mindat , I would be glad to.

Of course I do not know about the mineral project your student is (was) working on but still: tell him not to hesitate to come in contact with me if ever he needs specific mineral photos . I'll see what I can do.

This does apply for anybody wanting to use any of my photos of course, all I am asking is to be mentioned as the photographer.....

Pierre

8th Mar 2014 08:28 UTCBruce Cairncross Expert

Stephan / Pierre,

Appreciate your positive replies. I will check and see which specimen photos he need.

Regards,

Bruce

8th Mar 2014 15:38 UTCEd Clopton 🌟 Expert

Contributors to Mindat should consider using the Creative Commons Attribution License option when uploading photos. It's just a matter of checking a box on the Upload page.

From the "Upload Photos" instruction page on Mindat: "You specifically grant people the right to share and distribute your image or derivative versions of it for commercial or non-commercial use - as long as the original image is attributed to you, the copyright owner of the image." I have chosen the "Creative Commons Non-Commercial Share Alike License--Some Rights Reserved" option for all of the photos I have uploaded to Mindat. A link at that location leads to a page that gives more legal detail than anyone should ever need in case you are into fine print.

Of course nothing will stop someone from appropriating an image without asking even if you reserve all rights, but it will make life easier for those of us who try to play by the rules if you grant permission up front for non-commercial use.

8th Mar 2014 17:41 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

I would think that any photographer would be interested in more info about their specimen and would want to know what someone was saying about it in an article. The photographer might even have other info about the specimen that the article writer would want.

8th Mar 2014 18:23 UTCEd Clopton 🌟 Expert

The standard "All rights reserved" copyright notice isn't very inviting; to me it implies "If I'd wanted people to use it, I would have made it available. Bug off!" Maybe there should be an option to say "All rights reserved, but requests for use are welcome."

8th Mar 2014 20:05 UTCJohn Sobolewski Expert

To me, Mindat is a place for discussing minerals and helping promote mineral collecting by freely sharing information. Whenever I remember to do so, I always check to use the Creative Commons Attribution License option since it encourages that sharing of information. Unfortunately, sometimes in my haste I forget to do so. I therefore suggest that it be made the default (ie be the first item on the copyright list) to require people not willing to freely share their information to check one of the more restrictive options if they so wish. John S.

8th Mar 2014 20:24 UTCVolker Betz 🌟 Expert

Hi

just my two cents to that subject.

As a photographer I like to havea little control how my pictures are used. I would prefer to be asked, because I just do not want it used in a context I do not like to support e.g anything esotheric or very speculative.

Volker

9th Mar 2014 07:55 UTCStephan Wolfsried Expert

For me photos are a kind of intellectual property and if third parties like to make use of them they have to ask.

It is a kind of respect to the work producing those photos and people who claim public use may not have a real understanding of what is behind producing a good micro photo.

I did never refuse one single request but I want to have the control of what happens with my photos and the only hing I want to have to make sure is announcing the source.

I am not depending on earning money with my photos but some of the the good photographers posting in mindat may do so.

Each scientific abstract which refers to any sources has to announce the spiritus rector. I see no reason why not to proceed likewise on mindat.

It is by the way corresponding to law, at least in Germany.

Stephan

9th Mar 2014 16:09 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager

" Unfortunately, sometimes in my haste I forget to do so. " - The program is set up so that your last selection is stored in a cookie. So if you allow mindat to store cookies on your computer, the copyright type is carried forward from what you entered the last time.

In general there is no problem using someone else's photo in an article ( it probably would not be a good idea to use other people's photos in an article about poor quality photographs or how misinformation gets spread around). but it would be a good idea to give them photographic credit either on the photos or in an acknowledgements section.

10th Mar 2014 00:13 UTCTony Peterson Expert

I would echo Wolfsried's sentiments. To be sure, a photo here is often art, but it is always information; it is something I have 'said', and for my purposes, I use copyright to remind others that they should employ proper attribution if they want to repeat the 'statement'.

But I'm under no illusion that a copyright prevents others from privately using Mindat pics as desktop backgrounds, screensavers, etc.......I would number among the very guilty.......I especially like Stephan's photos ;-)

Tony

13th Mar 2014 03:57 UTCRock Currier Expert

All the Best Minerals articles as a general policy use only images in Mindat's image bank without asking each individual poster for permission to do so because it is accepted by all who upload images that anyone using the images for mindat purposes only that they agree automatically for those purposes. For not mindat uses the normal copyright applies which may be different for every image from being a public domain image to the copyright held by the uploader. I retain the copy right on the images I have uploaded for a variety of reasons. For those images taken of British Museum of Natural History I retain it because It gives me and them some control over the use . I have of course granted them full use of all of the images of the images I have taken of their specimens but also don't want them drifting around the world without at lease some vetting mechanism in place. I can however think of no instance that use of any of my images has been denied, but considering some of nut cases that wonder on and off mindat from time to time I can think of perhaps an instance or two when my permission might be denied.

13th Mar 2014 05:13 UTCBruce Cairncross Expert

As a mineral photographer, I echo the sentiments of the messages posted so far, i.e., copyright permission should be obtained to use someone else's photographs. I would not appreciate my pictures appearing in some dodgy article or website as it would imply I support whatever content is being presented! My original query posted related to my student trying to get permission to use some photos posted by Mindat members. He therefore followed protocol but did not get replies to his request. Perhaps this was due to a complete stranger asking for usage. He also had to drill around the Mindat website to find the email addresses of the owners of the photos. It might help if there was a simple way to get a link from the photo to the copyright owners contact details, provided the person asking permission is legitimate and has registered with Mindat in order to request such information.

Bruce

13th Mar 2014 06:59 UTCOlivier Mével Expert

Good idea Bruce for easy way to contact a member.

As a matter of fact i take advantage of your early post to send back a message about Dioptase sent 2 months ago. Eugene Reynolds proposed to get your expertise if you will.

The post will appear in the morning.

Thanks from France to S.A.

Olivier

13th Mar 2014 10:25 UTCDebbie Woolf Manager

Email address are private information unless the member has opted to display that info on their homepage.

13th Mar 2014 10:27 UTCRock Currier Expert

Perhaps a PM button could be added to the menu on the full page image.

Mindat.org is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 26, 2024 19:52:40

Go to top of page