Although recently I had two requests to use pictures, one from a student, and one from someone writing a uni text book. Of course I granted them, because it’s nice to be asked.

I mean if someone downloads a picture of mine and uses it as a desktop, I really don’t care if they don’t ask (and wouldn’t really know). It’s when people start using them in things that quickly expand passed personal use that it becomes really really annoying.

Especially Carson, which considering the area they work in should know better.

I respect this kind of mashup culture, but very few people seem to accept that copyright still holds on the web. Mind you, who can blame them: it’s part of the pirate culture that we’ve all helped create. I don’t even mind that most of the time; it gives people more freedom to make interesting things. Somehow, I find it more jarring when a big company (or a big blog) does it though, like has happened to you here.

Clearly, they weren’t thinking properly. I’d be annoyed as well.

They took it down when I complained, but it seemed very cheeky to use something written down at the event, with no indication it would be seen by anyone else, as marketing copy.

To be honest I think I’d also be a bit annoyed if I appeared in one of the photos on the page I linked to, even though I think CW took the photos themselves. I’m used to appearing in friend’s Flickr feeds etc, but there’s something about appearing unwittingly in promotional material that feels dirty.

I’ll fuzz out the other images, too, to be on the safe side.

Thanks!