ISSUE:
Does a computer owner who stores an image as electronic information and provides that electronic information directly to a user violate the copyright holder’s exclusive right to display the image?
Does a computer owner who in-line links to or frames a full-size image not infringe the distribution rights of the image’s copyright owner when the image is displayed on the computer screen of a user?
RULE:
The use of copyrighted images in thumbnail search results can be fair use, even if the use in commercial in nature.
A computer owner who stores an image as electronic information and provides that electronic information directly to a user violates the copyright holder’s exclusive right to display the image.
A computer owner that in-line links to or frames a full-size image does not infringe the distribution right of the image’s copyright owner when the image is displayed on the computer screen of a user.