Images and Image

Several members of Invisible Poets showed their nastier side recently. They are all off looking for another poetry group now. 

My post about use of images, poets' over-reliance on their use, and the dangers of using copyrighted images went down like a stone balloon with some members. Perhaps I touched a nerve. I was called arrogant, narrow minded and a few other choice epithets. One even asked me who had made me 'the poetry police.' 

These are of course, all what we call ad hominem attacks in the philosophy world. Or in sporting terms... they were playing the man rather than playing the ball. I love a good debate, but when it comes to personal abuse, I don't tolerate it. Invisible Poets is founded on respect and care, and these individuals crossed the line. 

My points were twofold. 

Firstly I questioned the reason why some poets felt compelled to add images to their poetry (some are repeated selfies and other even less relevant, but spectacular images) when in fact good poetry has the capability to entrance with its words alone. In the words of one of our members, many images seem like click-bait. Other members said they scroll past the images because it puts them off reading those poems. 

My second point, perhaps even more importantly, was that many poets in the group are using copyrighted images. They clearly haven't checked to see if they can use them, and in doing so they run the risk of a lawsuit by the owners of the copyright. One person even remarked to me about 'my purist views'. I replied that they are actually legal views.

Let me make it clear. There are legal consequences. 

You should assume that nothing on the Internet is free-to-use unless it is clearly labelled as such. Most images, photographs, artwork etc are the property of someone. There have been several recent court cases where individuals have been sued successfully by the likes of Getty Images and the New York Times. The damages awarded are not small. If you use images without permission, or simply purloin them without thinking, you could be in serious trouble. It is not good enough to post an image and then state: Credit to the rightful owner or similar. This not only demonstrates that the poet has no idea where the image came from, it also shows their ignorance and laziness. Worse, it shows that they really don't care at all about their theft of someone else's property. 

I was trying to convey this warning to our members, but several were abusive to me. They didn't want to be told by anyone how they should behave online. This kind of incident certainly causes the bad ones to show their true colours. 

Here's some good news. There are plenty of sites where you can obtain and freely use images, photographs and graphics. Unsplash and Pix4free are very good sites to use for non-copyrighted materials. Another way to find free to use images is by using Google search and selecting Images. Next go to Tools, and select Usages Rights. Find Creative Commons Licenses and then you can check the free-for-use licences of images available. 

Finally, let me repeat it here for anyone who cares to listen: If you must use images, please make sure a) you own them yourself b) they are licensed for free use, or c) you have permission from the owner of the image. 

Steve Wheeler

Image used under a Creative Commons Licence

 

Why some poets use Artificial Intelligence

In my previous post I explored why some people behave badly online. As a psychologist, it fascinates me, but I guess I have an insight into online behaviour from twenty years of academic research. I would argue that this makes Invisible Poets one of the safest online poetry groups in existence. This... and the fact that we also have a computer science expert on our moderator team...now, how many other poetry groups have that?

You see, one aspect of bad online behaviour, and indeed bad poetry behaviour, is the fact that some individuals resort to using artificial intelligence to write their poetry for them. As if this was not bad enough, they then have the gall to claim it is their own work. They are quickly found out and subsequently ejected from Invisible Poets. We use various software to detect AI generated poems, but we don't always need it. AI generated poetry is not that hard to detect. When we spot an AI poem we then delete the post and if necessary (especially for repeat offenders) we eject the 'poet' from the group. They are often simultaneously banned from several other affiliated online groups. 

Why is posting AI generated poetry such a crime?

Firstly it's dishonest. If you use AI to write a poem and then post it to a group with your name attached, you are deceiving the members of the group. Those who do this are firstly touting for responses, likes, comments etc. Maybe they do so because of some psychological inadequacy. More likely they do it because they are lazy or untalented. They do so because they want a short-cut to being recognised by the poetry community. Sadly, many poets are taken in by the deception. 

Secondly, it's plagiarism. If you use an AI model to write poetry, you can be assured that what it is really doing is trawling the web and finding work written by poets, which it then captures and uses in its construction. That's essentially stealing from poets some of whom may rely on their writing to earn their living. 

Thirdly, it's a terribly shallow way to produce poetry. Often the AI model doesn't construct a poem in a way that makes it emotional, or full of soul. That's because the AI model has no emotion or soul. The work tends to be shallow, unconvincing, and certainly predictable. The end rhymes suck. The meaning is often lost because then end rhymes are forced. There is often no meaning or direction in the poem. It is bland and uninspiring. 

There are numerous tell-tale signs that a poem has been written by AI. I won't bore you with details here, but when our Admin and Moderator team spot a poem that seems to be AI written, they are often correct. 

Why do people resort to AI generated poetry? My view is that they are either lazy, or lacking in any literary or creative talent. They are simply jumping on the bandwagon to see if they can gain some quick influence. Some have actually published entire books of so-called 'poetry' that has been completely written using AI. That's not just dishonest and lazy, it's also probably fraud in some legal contexts.

So if you are tempted to use AI to write a poem, don't do it. You'll be found out. You'll be ejected from the group. And you will be embarrassed when you are called out.

Steve Wheeler

Image used with a Creative Commons Licence

Copyrighting Poems On Social Media

I’ve written a poem and posted it on Instagram and Facebook. I’ve put it out there, but want to make sure Copycat Carl don’t claim it as his own! Just how DOES copyright apply to poems that are posted on social media?

First of all… DON’T PANIC! If you have recorded a poem in writing, it is automatically protected by copyright as long as it is an original work. Simple enough.

Copyright itself gives you the exclusive right to distribute, reproduce, perform, license, and display ORIGINAL work, including poems, songs, etc… This ownership is limited to among other things, the “fair use doctrine”, which states that others CAN use your work in a limited way for uses related to criticism, commentary, news reporting, non-profit teaching, scholarship, or research.

Also, copyrights do not last forever! The moment you post on an unrestricted social media platform… your work is considered published. In the United States generally speaking, copy written writings created after 1977, will last for the life of the author (or last surviving author of a joint work) plus another 70 years. I’m other countries it varies, but generally copyright continues not less than 50 years from publication or from the death of the author. Some may even be 95 or 100 years according to the country of location.

Of course, you can formally apply for a copyright in the U.S. through www.copyright.gov., with the standard registration being $65. 

In the U.K. and other European countries, the form of instant copyright is also generally accepted. This universal protection is guaranteed with the presence of an author’s name or website name, or even the name of an organization, a business, or a corporate name, Also needed is a current year or year range, along with a statement of ownership such as “All Rights Reserved”. This is important: NAME, YEAR, and STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP!

Also in most cases, poetry with published by a book publisher, the publisher administers the copyright for the author, but the author maintains their ownership rights. Those signing a publication agreement should check that carefully.

Jay Sizemore stated in a 2020 article that putting the “©️” symbol is a bit redundant. Placing “All Rights Reserved” with your work is better.

 If you share the work on social media, you are giving the social media platform the right to distribute the work for you. But you still are the owner. The date you post it will be considered the date of the copyright.

There is so much to copyright law… much more than a blog can handle. Just DON’T PANIC! As soon as you put it out there and no one else has, and you have name date and statement of ownership, you generally have what you need.

If I have missed anything, please feel free to add it to the comments below!! I do hope this has been helpful to you. Good luck and many successful postings to you!

Matt Elmore

Image by: Unsplash

Resources:

https://www.copyright.gov/

https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-difference-between-an-American-and-European-approach-to-copyright-law

https://medium.com/the-pom/a-message-to-online-poets-83c805c411f1

https://www.liveabout.com/copyrights-and-social-media-issues-397821

Using copyright free images in poetry

OK, here's a follow up on Charlene Phare's excellent post about using images to complement your poetry. One thing that leaves me cold is when poets share an image on Facebook (other social media platforms are available) and don't bother to acknowledge the source. Some may write 'credit to the copyright owner' or 'thanks to Google' ... but this is simply lazy, and could end up in a lawsuit. 

Look, I'm not exaggerating. I have heard of people who have used copyright images and have later been successfully sued in court. Getty Images are one of the most active litigators in this area, but there have also been private individuals who have successfully sued those who use their copyrighted images without permission or acknowledgement.

Let's start with a fact: All images on the Internet are copyright (owned by someone) unless otherwise stated. That means if you use an image belonging to someone else without their permission, you are stealing their property. That means that you need to be very careful about the images you use to complement your poems. Some avoid using images altogether just to avoid this pitfall. Some would even argue that poets trade in words not images, but that's a debate for another time. Here's the bottom line: if you really must use an image, then please, please check to see if you need permission first. 

Charlene shared some free image sites in her previous post, which I have personally used, and there are many great copyright free images waiting there for you to choose from. Even if you do use copyright free images, there is usually a clause that says you still need to acknowledge the photographer or designer who owns them. Check out for example, Creative Commons (CC), which lays out several universally accepted rules for you to follow. 

But wait for it... here's probably the best and easiest method for obtaining copyright free images on the Web. Go to Google. Select images. Search for anything you wish (in the screen capture above I have searcher for Paris). The images it shows you are not copyright free. Now click on Usage Rights on the right side of the menu. The box that drops down gives you the option to select Creative Commons licences. Go there and every image Google displays next will be copyright free. Hint: Do check that the image you select is indeed licensed under CC before you use it. Sometimes a rogue image might be listed that is in fact copyrighted. 

I hope this short blogpost helps you to navigate the minefield of web images and photos. Keep writing, and ... don't get sued!

Steve Wheeler

Using Images to Complement Your Poetry

As poets, many elements inspire us. However, did you know that pictures are subject to copyright for the life of the picture? Using pictures from the internet can be an infringement, especially if you are using them for commercial use, such as attempting to create book covers. You will not only find the picture will be distorted, but you could find yourself with legal problems. I stay safe by using the links provided below, or I take my own pictures.  

I am inspired by the world around us. I listen to conversations whilst out and about. Also, have you ever tried listening to music as an inspiration? Just writing the first thing that enters your mind. It’s amazing how a piece of music can sound so different from all the other times you have heard it.

I hear you asking: What’s the difference between taking pictures from my phone or a camera? 

A camera gives you more definition. It will provide you with a higher resolution of at least 300 dpi. A mobile phone (even with super duper lenses and all whistles with bells) gives you just 72 dpi. That’s great for the internet, but when it comes to printing a large format image such as a book cover, you’ll want it to look the best.  

We all know how much effort we put into our writing process. It’s the same for photographers. They share their work that they have worked hard to create. I don’t mind anyone using my pictures, but if they are specifically copyrighted then it’s polite to ask for permission to use.

I also use official copyrights for my poetry, such as: ©️2023 Charlene Phare

This provides a way for you to track back to your original work, should you find yourself a victim of plagiarism.

Personally I use free resources to find images, Pixabay is a great place, I use the Copyright sign for my own photography.

I have used a little trick in the picture that accompanies this blog, see if you can spot what I did.

Free resources for inspiration: 

https://pixabay.com/

https://unsplash.com/

Image ©️ 2023 Charlene Phare photography