Metal Reviews

Sorry if what follows seems stupid, but if I had a wider knowledge about the subject I wouldn't be asking delucidations around the net, would I?

I need some clarification about copyright information for using pictures you find on websites; Google pretty much classifies them all as copyright protected, but the source sites most of the time offers zero info in that respect. I'm asking this because a lot of bands which feature "extreme" artwork (like the Clandestine Blaze / Deathspell Omega split, for instance) never include info about the source of their pictures, and I don't believe they have all been taken by the bandmembers themselves. Yes, we need some sick pics, since this is part of the package of a pretty extreme (musically and lyrically speaking, nothing fishy going on, you pervs ) project.

I need to know because all the bands I play in are unsigned and self-financed, and the last thing we want to happen is to be sued because someone discovers we used his/her/its artwork without permission.

Note: those who visit the Metal Archives forum might notice this same thread can also be found there. I'm not spamming, I just wish to gather as much information as possible about the subject. Thanks.

I'd be really wary of using something you found from Google image search on your album cover. Chances are it's copyrighted by someone somehwere. Better to be safe than sorry and all that jazz. Maybe try finding a public domain picture site.

That's what I thought. The problem is, free photo sites just offer landscapes and nature photos of the corniest kind; besides, most of them are free only in theory - if you want to actually use the pics for your own purposes, you're entitled to shed good cash.

What baffles me is that the albums I had in mind do not mention artwork credits anywhere in the booklets, let alone copyright issues. Where the hell did they find those?
I don't need gory shit, just disturbing imagery (like the common graves show on the Clandestine Blaze / Deathspell Omega split, or the catacombs on the Krieg / Morte Incandescente split).

Do what Devin Townsend did for his last solo album; find something on DeviantArt ( http://www.deviantart.com/ )and ask if you can use it. Most of the people there aren't looking to make living off their art, so they probably won't ask for money. It might be nice if you sent them a copy of the album, though.