At 09:52 AM 8/15/97 -0700, you wrote:
>Photographs are copyrighted.

Photos are copyrighted, but it is an open question whether or not use as
wallpaper for personal use falls under the fair-use clauses of the law.

It *could* be construed to be the equivalent of photocopying a photo from
a magazine to hang on your office law, which is considered fair-use. On
the other hand, photocopying the entire magazine to give to a friend would
not, as the purpose in this case would arguably be to save your friend the
cost of buying a copy.

It's an open question.

Distribution of a photo commercially for use as wallpaper, though, is
clearly a violation.

Some folks - including me - explicitly give people the right to download
their web images for personal use as wallpaper and screensavers.

Others don't - and you should respect their wishes, whether or not the
law strictly forbids it.


- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, and other goodies at
http://donb.photo.net