Using source images from Google images etc for art

[omegapandor]

I'm just wondering how OK it is to take generic (not intentional art) images off websites and substantially modify them in photoshop.

I figure if I plan on selling a product that uses that art, I better go with royalty free stock images. But if i'm just posting a game on kongregate/newgrounds or something, then it may be alright. My current plan is to take generic pictures I find on places like google images (pictures without copyright notices in them, particularly), vectorize them (make them look all cartoony), maybe combine with other images, and then pixelate them slightly so that they have an old DOS look.

As far as selling something goes, I suppose I could just try asking for permission before I go out and buy stock images (I have trouble finding good free ones). . .but then most people just steal images from somewhere else, and I may never get to the bottom of that rabbit hole.

What do you guys think so far?

Thanks.

 

[DubDubDubDot]

My current plan is to take generic pictures I find on places like google images (pictures without copyright notices in them, particularly)

All works have an automatic copyright, so you can't rely on it being marked.

Getty does not mark their photos, and many people have found themselves in hot water for unknowingly ripping them from Google Images from a site that licensed the photo. Getty has image recognition bots that surf the internet looking for violations and then you get a large bill if one is found. So the absence of a mark just provides a false sense of security for infringers.

Yes, a lot of people just rip photos off..... but there are also a lot of hobbyists doing their thing online. If you are serious about this, do it the right way.

SpiderPic.com is a new service to find the cheapest stock photos. I haven't used it much, but it looks promising.