I'm in the process of building the film section of my church's new website, and I'm wondering what you guys know about using images and copyright issues etc. Are there any restrictions on promo shots? Can you use any of the images from official websites. Where do you get your images from? Do you even consider copyright as an issue?

I'd really appreciate some advice here as I think our church would be reluctant to use images that aren't ours unless we've thought it through properly.

Matt

Well, points for attitude, to be sure!

I generally don't concern myself with stills taken from a movie, since anyone can grab them (i.e. I'm not using a camera and the stills are all out there).

I guess I consider a still to be within the "fair use" guidelines of (U.S. anyway) copyright law, just as quoting a paragraph or two of writing as an excerpt is fair use.

Honestly? I grab the image and slap it in there. Occasionally I'll hear from a photographer requesting a photo credit, which I'm always happy to give them. I've never had anyone demand that I pay him or remove the photo from the site -- but I would do either if instructed.