COPYRIGHT BASICS

1. Please do not post anything without a copyright if it is required. There are exceptions to the rule such as flowers, pixel creations, and any artist works that do not require a CR (such as Creddy Teddy), some clip-art. 

2. "Artist Unknown" or any variation is not an acceptable copyright. If you are unsure as to how your tag's CR should read, please consult the artist's Terms of Use on their site.  A Google search will point you to the site you need, or you can consult the links below.

3. If you are unsure about an image or tag you have, please do not use it in Siggy Friends.

4. The following sites might be helpful to read up on.  Again, make sure you are getting CURRENT INFORMATION, it is up to you to do that:

http://groups.msn.com/CopyrightCorner/nonopage1.msnw

http://groups.msn.com/CopyrightCorner/onlinepermissions.msnw

http://purpleraindesigns.co.uk/Yesyes.html

The above links are the most widely used, and have the most extensive lists of artists who are okay to use as well as who is NOT to be used. 

5. With regard to tubes and misted images:  it is not permissible to put the tuber or mister's name on your creation..even if their TOU tells you to.  The tuber and mister did not create the image in most cases; therefore, they do not own the rights to the image.

6. To save you some time, here are some that are absolutely not permitted anywhere:  images from movies, cartoons, books, magazines, TV shows, commercials, sports teams...you get the idea.  Huge no-nos are Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Mattel.

7. Certain artists belong to CILM, AMI, Sticker Chick, The Fairy Society. In order to use these artists you must purchase a license, and the # you are given MUST be on your creation in the format they specify.  A Google search will help you to locate the sites for these groups.

SIGGY FRIENDS MANAGEMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DELETE, WITHOUT WARNING, ANY TAGS OR BACKGROUNDS THAT DO NOT CARRY THE APPROPRIATE COPYRIGHT. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS PERSONALLY; IT HAS HAPPENED TO ALL OF US AT SOME POINT.  IF IT IS DONE, IT IS DONE FOR YOUR PROTECTION AS WELL AS THE GROUP'S PROTECTION.  MOST OF ALL, WE RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF THE WONDERFUL ARTISTS WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO CREATE!