Copyrighted material as avatars

Hi, everybody!

Just a suggestion, I don’t want to upset anybody.

I was thinking that we, as royalty free authors ourselves, and in order to practice what we preaches, shouldn’t be using copyrighted images as avatars, unless we have the rights o permission to use them.

I guess I saw some avatars with famous people/characters within, or maybe some users have some resemblance to famous people, haha.

Furthermore, Envato’s team should take care of this in order to make the marketplaces even more serious.

And authors that choose their avatars and manage their profiles with responsibility shows theirselves more reliable.

Just a thought.

My brain says yes but my heart says no

1 year after it was time to change Avatar

my rico said I can use a picture of him and he has no problem with that. don’t know other people avatars.

But (one time) hey, internet functioned always like this, one used whatever he liked as avatar and I don’t think there was someone from those that own the copyright on that image who have something to say against till now. But there’s always a first time in everything. You never know with the lawyers, what they come up with it.

But (second time) it appears you missed the big point here. Avatars like avatars, what about going around themeforest and looking around at what pictures use the authors for preview in they’re templates.

I’m here when you come back, tell me what you found out

yio said
I was thinking that we, as royalty free authors ourselves, and in order to practice what we preaches, shouldn’t be using copyrighted images as avatars, unless we have the rights o permission to use them.

Yes, the more number of avatars looks ripped from famous figures / brands, there will be less respect towards the authors / marketplace or even licencing. In ActiveDen, I couldn’t see such things happen but this happens in Audiojungle or other marketplaces?

Just recently seen Keenu Reeves image in the activetuts+ tutorial, hope it is within permission!

I always want a custom avatar for myself.

Sure let me get right on it. C’mon. To NOT practice what we preach we’d have to be using the avatars in illegal fashions. It’s not like we’re claiming rights or ownership of these avatars. The only thing we’re claiming rights to is our files. And for real… gimme a break. I’m not selling my avatar. GOSH !!

Forget avatars, just about every theme demo on themeforest is using copyrighted images.

To NOT practice what we preach we’d have to be using the avatars in illegal fashions.

Actually, grabbing images off another website and using them is a copyright violation and using them illegally.

In your defense, due to the size of the images you could argue “fair use” but since avatars are not used as commentary, parody, news reporting, research or education, you’d have a weak case.

Just something to think about.

I was mistaken for Orlando Bloom the other day. But that’s me in my avatar and I have my permission to use my photo. eh.. But yeah and believe me, on other forums it’s much much worse, with all the celebrities, nude pics, more animated gifs, disturbing shots, huge images as signatures and advertising within.

Firsh said
I was mistaken for Orlando Bloom

Lol, was thinking the same a few months ago