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07/09/2008 06:33:36 AM · #1 |
Okay...I just have to share this story with you all. And before anybody jumps down my throat about the thread title, I used to be blonde...but this young woman takes the cake.
On my website I have loads of galleries...of which the photos have a large, corner-to-corner watermark 'PROOF www.judigraphics.com' written over them to prevent theft. I have had way too many stolen not to. And these images are only 800 pix on the longest side, so they are certainly not designed to be printed from.
Anyway...today I get this phone call from this young woman wanting about 15 images from one of the galleries....all of herself. But she was complaining about the watermark and that she didn't want that on her prints. I explained why I had that on there and also that my prints do NOT have the watermark on them.
'Oh', she said. She then went on to tell me that she had taken 15 of my images and saved them onto her memory stick and took them to the local one hour camera shop and got them printed and was horrified to see that when she got the prints back, the large 'PROOF www.judigraphics.com' was still on there. She went onto complain that she thought the mark would have come off on her prints....go figure! I hung up and burst out laughing at the stupidity of it all.
I confronted the store and they said they initially refused the images because they were copyrighted and told her to get a letter of copyright. So she went away and then came back with a letter saying she took full responsibility for the copyright, of which she signed in front of them. The store then printed the photos. I told the Manager that in future they are NOT to print any of my images with the copyright on them. And to contact me when somebody does try to get them printed. Regardless of whether the store had obtained a letter, it was still an illegal act. But the fact remains that if this store blindly accepted the letter, knowing full well that they were not the copyright holders....then how many other stores would do the same. And if I hadn't been told about this...how many would go in claiming copyright ownership and had them printed and in the meantime got away with theft.
When I got back to the office, there was an email from this same young woman ordering all of the images in both a 6x4 and an 8x10...so I don't think she realises that what she did was wrong!!!
All in all....I cannot believe that this young woman stole these images, took the copyright, had them printed locally to where I live and then had the audacity to ring me up and complain that the watermark didn't vanish off them when she got them printed.
Now....once you stop laughing (cause I still haven't), tell me that this blonde ain't dumb!!!!
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07/09/2008 06:53:02 AM · #2 |
I got a pretty good chuckle out of that one...
It is amazing how some people treat work by others...I agree with you that she really felt she was doing no wrong. My guess is she thought that since the shots were of her, they were hers and she could do with them as she wished. Just be glad she was blonde and decided to come back to you to complain and give you the orders.
I just wonder if any of her other blonde friends will stop by to get photos taken..."You know that Judi the Redhead picture taker lady...well she ruined my pictures and only when I complained did she fix them so we could get them printed out..." |
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07/09/2008 06:53:51 AM · #3 |
Ha Ha that's classic!! Did the printer not manage to remove any of the watermarks?!? Maybe they should upgrade the printers!
I think there is a genuine problem with people not understanding photographic copyright and just assuming that if they can get it then they're ok to print it. I once had a customer say to me that they wanted to order the photobook option as that comes with 30 pictures and they can "just scan them and get them printed themselves". The fact they're upfront and tell you this means they don't understand the errors of their ways.
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07/09/2008 07:08:36 AM · #4 |
I'm continually amazed at how people do not think twice about stealing images.
I see it all the time.
I have adopted the attitude that if I don't want them stolen, I don't put 'em up on the web.
I simply don't have the time, inclination, or energy to go after some idiot who steals them.
I don't use a website to make a living from photography though.....8>(
Tough luck, Judi, it sucks.
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07/09/2008 07:21:22 AM · #5 |
ha ha, thanks Judi, I needed a laugh this morning.
I'm totally amazed that the store just required her to sign a form saying she was responsible for the copyright, nice way to cover your bum.
When I worked at a copy shop if someone wanted stuff printed, scanned or copied that "appeared" to be copywritten, we were supposed to get a signed letter from the photog on their own letterhead. I can't tell you how many times I had to educate customers saying, "I bought the magazine, book, photos, etc I own the copyright. Having the customer sign a responsibility letter isn't a bad idea but not sure that would hold up with the US laws...interesting.
Message edited by author 2008-07-09 07:22:21. |
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07/09/2008 07:21:22 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by Judi:
When I got back to the office, there was an email from this same young woman ordering all of the images in both a 6x4 and an 8x10...so I don't think she realises that what she did was wrong!!!
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Makes you wonder, don't it. But the fact she finally came to you makes me think she should realize what's going on. I mean, the prints from you were bound to be 10 to 20 times more expensive than from the first printer.
If they weren't I don't see how you could make any money off them. |
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07/09/2008 08:38:01 AM · #7 |
I am glad you all got a laugh from this crazy person. Oh well...it takes all types to make the world go round.
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07/09/2008 08:40:33 AM · #8 |
you have offended my blonde roots.
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07/09/2008 10:15:12 AM · #9 |
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07/09/2008 10:22:37 AM · #10 |
| My racoon streaks are a little put out too, I think that oh sparkles |
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07/09/2008 10:30:18 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by Judi:
'Oh', she said. She then went on to tell me that she had taken 15 of my images and saved them onto her memory stick and took them to the local one hour camera shop and got them printed and was horrified to see that when she got the prints back, the large 'PROOF www.judigraphics.com' was still on there. She went onto complain that she thought the mark would have come off on her prints....go figure! I hung up and burst out laughing at the stupidity of it all.
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This is the part that completly cracks me up. I can't believe anyone was actually THAT stupid!! Glad you cover your bum and good for you for having a word with the printers :) |
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07/09/2008 10:37:57 AM · #12 |
Thanks for the smile.
I agree that image copyright is a very little known concept to the average person on the street. It's not something that kids get in their school experience, but they should at least be taught the basic principles in school.
I think that is the most logical option, if there is going to be any change in the way most people view copyright images that are in their hands.
Good for you for watermarking the images Judi.
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07/09/2008 10:49:55 AM · #13 |
| another unfortunate result is that after she's made 5x7's with 800px web images ... she's eventually going to show someone who knows something about image quality and it's going to make you look really bad. |
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07/09/2008 10:52:28 AM · #14 |
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07/09/2008 12:03:57 PM · #15 |
| People never cease to amaze me, thanks for the good laugh this morning. |
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07/09/2008 12:14:47 PM · #16 |
A man came up to me recently, introduced himself has the president of the local camera club and said he admired my work. So much so that he had taken one of my images off of pbase, blown it up, framed it and presented it to the retiring head of the town library. ugh, it was a 640px file. I would have given him a bigger file if he'd had the sense to ask. He was bald but must have been a blonde.
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07/09/2008 12:29:51 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by doctornick:
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yeah, what he said...
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07/09/2008 12:31:15 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by emorgan49:
A man came up to me recently, introduced himself has the president of the local camera club and said he admired my work. So much so that he had taken one of my images off of pbase, blown it up, framed it and presented it to the retiring head of the town library. ugh, it was a 640px file. I would have given him a bigger file if he'd had the sense to ask. He was bald but must have been a blonde. |
I honestly have no idea what I would say in response to this.
Probably, "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?" |
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07/09/2008 12:33:58 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by karmat:
Originally posted by emorgan49:
A man came up to me recently, introduced himself has the president of the local camera club and said he admired my work. So much so that he had taken one of my images off of pbase, blown it up, framed it and presented it to the retiring head of the town library. |
I honestly have no idea what I would say in response to this. |
"Would you like me to call the Federal Marshall now, or do you need a few hours to put your affairs in order?" ;-) |
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07/09/2008 12:39:43 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by emorgan49:
... ugh, it was a 640px file. I would have given him a bigger file if he'd had the sense to ask. |
Not quite as bad, but I took a photo of a coworker. It came out all right so I emailed him a 800px file. He wrote and thanked me. Later I went by his office and he had a 8"x10" printout of it framed on his desk! It looked terrible, of course. |
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07/09/2008 12:39:48 PM · #21 |
| emorgan -- afterthought. He didn't claim the picture as his, did he??? |
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07/09/2008 12:41:51 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by Judi:
When I got back to the office, there was an email from this same young woman ordering all of the images in both a 6x4 and an 8x10...so I don't think she realises that what she did was wrong!!! |
Hmmm, by that point I'll be she had figured out that if she wanted the photos, she'd have to pay. The good news is she liked them enough to go through all that. :-) |
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07/09/2008 12:51:37 PM · #23 |
I need to have a talk with the printer here in my local Wal-Mart. I photographed a reception not too long ago which was 2 week after the wedding. The mother of the bride presented her photo album to her, which was all the purchased. Then, she proceeded to give out dozens of 8 X 10s to some of the family and party.
Later she went on and on about how wonderful the pictures she copied at Wal Mart turned out!
She was so open about it (and about how cheap it was).
Message edited by author 2008-07-09 12:53:42. |
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07/09/2008 12:58:37 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by cynthiann:
I need to have a talk with the printer here in my local Wal-Mart. I photographed a reception not too long ago which was 2 week after the wedding. The mother of the bride presented her photo album to her, which was all the purchased. Then, she proceeded to give out dozens of 8 X 10s to some of the family and party.
Later she went on and on about how wonderful the pictures she copied at Wal Mart turned out!
She was so open about it (and about how cheap it was). |
I dont think places like Walmart/Target/Walgreens... etc.... care too much about the copyright law. I see people ALL the time scannning and printing photos at these places and no one ever even questions it.
I know that I sold a photo CD a few months ago and the lady had no problem getting the photos printed at Walmart without a copyright release (she did have one, but never was asked for it.)
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07/09/2008 01:03:01 PM · #25 |
Originally posted by gwe21:
Originally posted by cynthiann:
I need to have a talk with the printer here in my local Wal-Mart. I photographed a reception not too long ago which was 2 week after the wedding. The mother of the bride presented her photo album to her, which was all the purchased. Then, she proceeded to give out dozens of 8 X 10s to some of the family and party.
Later she went on and on about how wonderful the pictures she copied at Wal Mart turned out!
She was so open about it (and about how cheap it was). |
I dont think places like Walmart/Target/Walgreens... etc.... care too much about the copyright law. I see people ALL the time scannning and printing photos at these places and no one ever even questions it.
I know that I sold a photo CD a few months ago and the lady had no problem getting the photos printed at Walmart without a copyright release (she did have one, but never was asked for it.) |
NOT the case at my Wal-Mart. I have to show "proof" to get snapshots of my kids printed. :/ |
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