Copyright Question: What are the rules for using others' images in guides?

My question is, are we allowed to use images from other sources (not ones we created ourselves) in our guides without asking permission first? Is simply disclaiming credit for the image enough, do we need to cite the source of the image, etc.?

You need to cite the source of the image.

StarFighters76 posted...

You need to cite the source of the image.

But we can use them without asking permission?

It is preferred you ask for permission first, granted that's not always easy to do.

The best bet is to take your own images. Just far less hassle that way. That being said, if you absolutely have to use other peoples' work for whatever reason, contact them first. Most times, if you're not making money off it, and you're giving them credit, you'll get consent to use them. If for some reason you can't contact them (contact info is out of date, they're anonymously posted, etc), giving credit where it's due will likely be enough, but it is always better to ask first if at all possible. The only thing that is absolutely unacceptable is to take the images without asking permission and not giving any form of credit to the creator.

I ended up just posting links to them (to the owners' sites) rather than embedding the images myself. Most of the ones in question are Ultimania scans, which I have direct access to.

The only downside to that is potentially future-proofing your guide. If the site goes down for whatever reason, the link will be dead. I'd suggest backing them up at least, or making your own versions. That way if the link dies, you can still put the important info in the guide.

Am I okay with just crediting the game company if I use screenshots I made myself for a guide? I technically didn't ask them for permission...

That's how I would do it, if it came to that.

For in-game screenshots I think a generic "all trademarks are property of their respective owners" boilerplate is enough.