I was wondering if using non-copyrighted pictures of animals is legal if you want to modify them according to your needs that try to make money on that?

Will be waiting for any suggestions and please share your thoughts and knowledge!

In my opinion, If the image is non-copyrighted then you may freely use it

I've seen many commercial uses of animal pictures. After all mother nature don't need our money.

Just try to serve the nature a bit after you earn the money from the commercial use of the pictures. :-)

Erm... well this is my opinion.. i think that if it aint copyrighted to anyone then anyone could use it and it is animals as well so yeah probs

Technically any image, text or anything basically is immediately copyright of the person who created it, regardless of whether they display a copyright notice. I would still get the permission of the person who made the images before going ahead.

Hmm, perhaps Google can help: http://www.google.com/search?q=royalty%20animal%20images

If you're doing it for a school project or something that won't make you money, then I'd say just Google whatever animal you need. If you're doing something that the world will see, then I'd take rvalkass's advice and get permission from the owner.

I'm with rvalkass get their permission before you take it.If its something small like a diagram to show to your little brother or something than ok but on a website get their permission first.

I think he means pictures that he himself took, in which case, sure sell them. The copyright's yours. But if you mean from a website, ask the author first. It's their picture, after all. The thing about copyrights is, the instant the object comes into creation, it's pretty much copyrighted because it's your intellectual property. But if you want it to be officially copyrighted, you'll have to apply to the government and do some registration stuff.

how are you trying to make money using animal pictures any way? if you dont mind me saying