Free for a small fee?

When it comes to the wide world of free content, you might be surprised to know that there are some hidden costs! However, this doesn't mean you can't get something useful out of the experience. Read on for more details.

So what exactly am I talking about? There is a price you pay when utilizing free knowledge and information if you don't have the right tools. For example, your phone may hold all sorts of fantastic bibliographies that relate to your day-to-day life or expertise, but these documents are hard to share unless you happen to know how your friend's phone works and their email address.

The truth of the matter is that free content can be a burden to the interested party, and with websites like archive.org, there is no better place to explore these issues than in a place where information is more easily accessible. With that being said, below are some tips to help you make the most of your free time:

Do your own searches by inputting relevant keywords (words related to your area of interest) including names and phrases, in different search engines. For example; "street photography" "flora", "trees", "distant light" or "country style". You may be surprised how many great images you find online.

Explore the "links" sections at the bottom of a site, like archive.org. They often have other websites that can offer more information or related materials, particularly if you're looking for something from a specific place and time.

Investigate the site's FAQ section to find out more about their terms of use. The rules for free content may vary across a variety of platforms, but some are quite flexible, especially when it comes to non-profit usage.

Read the comments on images or videos to find out where they are located and whether they are still available.

When you find something priceless, take a screenshot of it and save it for future use. This can be particularly useful for when you want to share an image somewhere like a website, without being asked for permission.

When you do find something that is of interest, either ironically (we all have used stupid tactics in the past) or genuinely out of pure interest, check its copyright owner to see how much detail they give their work (i.e.: who can access the content). To avoid any disputes you need to check their website thoroughly, ideally in advance of using it.

If you're using an image for "commercial" purposes, be sure to check if the copyright owner allows for it. In general, this means that you need to contact them and ask permission first – but some sites (such as archive.org ) have made their own permission statement clearer, so you can see at a glance whether it is okay to use or not.

You may also wish to subscribe to the follow-up emails (or RSS feeds) of certain websites in order to get a heads up on any new content that may be of interest. This is especially useful if your free content subject is time-sensitive, such as news articles or social media groups.

Avoid using any free content, especially if you do not have permission to do so – as you are doing them a disservice. For example, if a historic figure like Leonardo de Vinci is "dead" and buried in a tomb, it would be disrespectful to disturb his peace with your phone.

Remember that anything can be shared online and nothing is ever lost forever (unless something goes wrong with the internet connection). The best way to avoid problems is by asking permission before sharing anything online.

And remember, be honest if you're re-posting someone else's free content somewhere else. This can be in the form of a link to their own website, or simply credit them if you're re-posting the content under your name. Some sites like archive.org have specific rules on this and won't hesitate to have your post deleted or post deleted. And that would be sad indeed.

Have fun, and don't forget to share what you've found with others!!

BONUS: Did You Know? *You can get a full text PDF of any article on archive.org by copying the URL (web address). This is good if you're looking for something specific, or if you're just having trouble remembering the name.

*You can get a full text PDF of any article on archive.org by copying the URL (web address). This is good if you're looking for something specific, or if you're just having trouble remembering the name. Do your own searches by inputting relevant keywords (words related to your area of interest) including names and phrases, in different search engines. For example; "street photography" "flora", "trees", "distant light" or "country style". You may be surprised how many great images you find online. Explore the "links" sections at the bottom of a site, like archive.org. They often have other websites that can offer more information or related materials, particularly if you're looking for something from a specific place and time. Check out their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section to find out more about their terms of use. The rules for free content may vary across a variety of platforms, but some are quite flexible, especially when it comes to non-profit usage. Read the comments on images or videos to find out where they are located and whether they are still available. When you find something priceless, take a screenshot of it and save it for future use. This can be particularly useful for when you want to share an image somewhere like a website, without being asked for permission. When you do find something that is of interest, either ironically (we all have used stupid tactics in the past) or genuinely out of pure interest, check its copyright owner to see how much detail they give their work (i.e.: who can access the content). To avoid any disputes you need to check their website thoroughly, ideally in advance of using it. If you're using an image for "commercial" purposes, be sure to check if the copyright owner allows for it. In general, this means that you need to contact them and ask permission first – but some sites (such as archive.org ) have made their own permission statement clearer, so you can see at a glance whether it is okay to use or not.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is always best to ask permission before sharing any content online. These questions are not meant to be a definitive list, and the answers may vary depending on what the site owner is most concerned about. Some sites will just not allow for "non-commercial" sharing, which is understandable given that their business models require revenue from advertising. Other sites may be more flexible in their terms of use – but check your specific site's rules before using its content without permission – or else you run the risk of getting yourself into trouble.

When in doubt, think twice before you share anything online.