Surprise! Getty Images Gifts the Web 35 Million Photos to Embed for Free

[[Coi] Mr.CLuBBeR]

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, though if you post a copyrighted image without the owner's consent, it can actually be worth more than that. Much more. One of the most difficult parts about running a frequently updated website or blog is finding amusing images that are legal to use (hello, Creative Commons!). However, it's about to get a lot easier thanks to Getty Images, the world's largest photos service. In a surprise move, Getty Images is freeing up around 35 million photos from its collection spanning over a hundred years so that websites and bloggers can post them without getting smacked in the face by a lawsuit.
These images will not contain a watermark, though people who post them will need to use Getty's Embedded Viewer tool and abide by the company's Terms of Use.
"You may only use embedded Getty Images Content for editorial purposes (meaning relating to events that are newsworthy or of public interest). Embedded Getty Images Content may not be used: (a) for any commercial purpose (for example, in advertising, promotions or merchandising) or to suggest endorsement or sponsorship; (b) in violation of any stated restriction; (c) in a defamatory, pornographic or otherwise unlawful manner; or (d) outside of the context of the Embedded Viewer," Getty Images states.
Images that are free to use can change at any time, and if they do, users agree to remove images upon request. That said, the process of finding and posting a Getty Image is rather simple -- all you have to do is type in what you're searching for on the Getty Images website. Once you find an image, click its embed icon from the search results or image details page, copy the embed code, paste it into the source code for your website, and publish. While there won't be a watermark, there will be a footer underneath the photo giving credit (and linking back to) Getty Images.
Image Credit: Flickr (Rodrigo Senna)
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