Copyright – Hugh's Views & News

The latest Blogging scams

Recently, I encountered a concerning blogging email scam. It purportedly originated from WordPress, claiming that my payment details were incorrect in my account and included a link for me to click to rectify them.

I immediately recognised the email as fraudulent because the email failed to address me by name. All it said was ‘Dear WordPress User,’ But what alarmed me was that the same scammer went on to also send me the same email through the ‘Contact Hugh‘ form on my blog, neglecting to begin the message with ‘Dear Hugh.’ It’s important to note that I request anyone using the form to begin their message with ‘Dear Hugh,’ as this practice helps identify potential spam, particularly from automated spam bots.

I don’t know how the scammer obtained my email address, but it must have appeared on a list with some connection to WordPress. This is likely how they discovered I had a WordPress blog, although nowhere on my blog do I provide an email address. Anyone wanting to contact me must go via the ‘Contact Hugh’ form.

Although this was an easy scam for me to spot, I still feel bad for any blogger who falls for it. If you are unsure whether an email from WordPress is genuine, always log in to your WordPress account to verify any details. Never click on any uninvited links and never give an email address anywhere on your blog.

An image highlighting the word 'Scam' — Image generated using WordPress AI

However, more concerning was news of a blogging scam that involved using royalty-free platforms, such as Pixabay. Author, writer and blogger Jacqueline Lambert left a comment on my recent post, Where To Legally Source Amazing Images For Your Blog Posts.’ outlining how she was almost scammed by a company after using a royalty-free image from Pixabay on one of her posts.

I strongly encourage you to read Jacqueline’s insightful post ‘Bloggers Beware The Copyright Trolls – Even If You Use Royalty-Free Images‘ to glean valuable lessons from her experience. It is imperative to remain vigilant and not become a target of such scams that specifically seek to exploit bloggers.

I would also like to reiterate that downloading and publishing copyrighted images or photographs on your blog is strictly prohibited. Always verify that such materials are free for use. This also applies to reblogging blog posts from other bloggers that contain images or photos. If you share copyrighted images from another blogger’s post, you could be fined.

A plea to you – yes, you!

Despite my recent post addressing copyright infringement, I continue to observe bloggers (you know who you are) using images and photos in their posts without proper attribution regarding their sources. They probably believe that nobody will come after them for downloading and using copyrighted images, but I know of two bloggers who have been fined for doing so. Never believe that it will never happen to you.

Even if the images and photos are your own, I recommend that you indicate in your post that they are your property. If you don’t believe me, read Jacqueline’s post. As she elaborates, numerous companies are employing image recognition technology to scan the internet for unauthorised use of images and photographs, especially in blogging posts. Some bloggers have even been threatened with legal action and fines for using their own pictures.

The latest publishing scam

My thanks again to Jacqueline, who recently published a guest post by author Peter Barber about a publishing scam he fell for. Titled ‘Publish and Be Damned: How I Got Scammed, Learned My Lesson, and Came Out Fighting‘, Peter details how he fell head-over-heels for a scam many authors will probably encounter at some point in their writing lives. I urge you to read his post and learn from it because it could happen to you.

Are you aware of any current scams related to blogging or publishing? Please share details in the comments section. Have you ever fallen victim to a blogging or publishing scam? If so, what happened?

The featured image on this blog post is sourced from Pixabay. AI reviewed spelling and grammar errors.

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The majority of bloggers understand the importance of visual content. Posts that include images receive up to 70% more traffic than those that contain no images. However, there is one major pitfall associated with using images in blog posts, which I will address shortly.

Images not only enhance the appeal of our posts but also help us communicate our messages more effectively. However, a key question remains: where do you source your images and photographs for your blog posts?

Are you breaking the law by using images that are not your own?

I’ve become concerned by the increasing number of bloggers using images or photos without giving credit to the owner or specifying the source of the image. Many of these images have been obtained from the internet; some are copyrighted and not freely available for use. Bloggers using these images and photos are breaking the law.

Some bloggers believe they will never be caught using copyrighted images and photos. They argue that their blog is too small for anyone to care. Nobody will come after them. However, I am aware of a few bloggers who have been prosecuted and fined for downloading and using copyrighted images and photos on their blogs.

It may also not have crossed the minds of some bloggers that there are serious consequences for using images and photos to which they do not have the rights in their posts. Hence, this post.

Where do bloggers get their images from?

Some bloggers, including myself, use stock photo websites that provide images and photos for free. However, even some of these can incur costs if the images are only free to use for a limited time or require the user to give full credit to the owner, along with a link to where the image was sourced. Always read the small print before using any images or photos that are not your own.

Here’s an example. The following image is from Pixabay, a website that offers a wide range of free-to-use images and photos.

An image of a desktop computer keyboard with the 'Copyright' trademark on it. — Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Notice that I have given credit to the person who created the image and where I obtained it from. The image is free to use, and although the content licence summary states ‘Use Content without having to attribute the author (although giving credit is always appreciated by our community!).’ I always include an attribute along with links to the source of the image.

Always check the content licence summary before downloading an image or photo from the internet and using it in a blog post. Ensure you follow any rules around the use of the image.

The perils of using copyrighted images

While it might be tempting to use appealing images from the internet, downloading and using copyrighted images and photos can result in serious legal trouble. Here are some risks to bear in mind:

Legal Consequences

Using copyrighted images without permission can lead to copyright infringement, which may result in potential legal action against you. This may result in hefty fines, the removal of your post, or even the closure of your blog, not to mention damage to your reputation.

Image Attribution Challenges

Even when images are shared with the intention of being used by others, understanding the precise attribution requirements can be confusing. Each source may have different rules, and failing to follow them can put you at risk.

Quality Concerns

Some free or low-cost images can often be of lower quality, which can damage the professionalism of your blog. Conversely, high-quality images usually come at a price, highlighting the importance of responsible sourcing. However, they can eat into your media space unless you reduce the size, which may then affect the quality.

The Perils of Reblogging

If you reblog a post of another blogger that contains images and photos, don’t think you are safe from prosecution if any of those images or pictures are copyrighted. You, too, could be fined for resharing images or photos that are not free to use, even though all you did was reblog the post. If you are not absolutely certain where those images and photos originated and whether they are free to use, don’t reblog the post.

Availability of Alternatives

Fortunately, there are many alternatives to using copyrighted images. Consider the following options:

Stock Photo Websites: Sites like Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay offer free images that are often licensed for commercial use.
Creative Commons: Use images that offer a Creative Commons license, ensuring you follow any stipulations regarding attribution or modification.
Original Content: Creating your own images can be the most reliable way to ensure your visuals are unique and free of legal concerns.
AI: Make use of the AI image creator on WordPress. It’s easy to use, although it doesn’t always come up with something relevant, especially if you don’t provide a clear enough description of what you want it to create, but I’ve found it very useful.

Summary:

In conclusion, sourcing images for your blog posts is an essential aspect of content creation that warrants careful consideration. However, be aware and always check if images and photos that do not belong to you are free to use!

The simplest way to avoid copyright issues with images and photos is to always use your own.

Please read this important yet alarming post by Jacqueline Lambert, ‘Bloggers Beware The Copyright Trolls – Even If You Use Royalty-Free Images,’ about a scam targeted at bloggers who use royalty-free images.

I want to open up the conversation and hear from you. What resources do you rely on for images? Do you have any favourite stock photo sites, or do you prefer to create your own visuals? Have you tried the WordPress AI image creator? What did you think of the images it created? Let’s discuss the various avenues we can explore to source images, and perhaps you’ll discover new options along the way.

The featured image in this blog post is taken from Pixabay. AI checked spelling and grammar mistakes.

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