Can you download & manipulate any photo you want from the Internet w/o committing a crime?

I just wanted to know the laws regarding the use of downloaded photos. If I download a photo of a person from Photobucket or MySpace, can I use it to make Christmas cards? I found a really funny Christmas picture of someone's family and thought it would make a great Xmas card. I was told by some that it was legal and others that it was not legal. I was told it was legal if I don't manipulate the photo and I was told it was only legal if I do manipulate the photo. Now I'm really confused and curious.

Can you download %26amp; manipulate any photo you want from the Internet w/o committing a crime?

You need to contact the owner first. Find the person's username or email address and contact them.

In the U.S., pretty much anything you post/make, unless otherwise stated, is your intellectual property. This could be modified through a ToS agreement. "By posting media on example.site, you are putting your submission under the Whatever License"

If you're looking for a picture to use in print or as a card or something, try Creative Commons, PDPhoto, or search the web for "free stock photos".

http://flickr.com/creativecommons

http://search.creativecommons.org

http://pdphoto.org

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en%26amp;q=%22...

Can you download %26amp; manipulate any photo you want from the Internet w/o committing a crime?

I think those photos that are prohibited to download they will not let you download. You will not be able to.

I once tried from our Road Runner home page it simply did not let me.

So I guess those that you will be able to download are not against the law.