Are my photos being ripped off? - DPChallenge Forums

01/06/2006 11:52:59 PM · #26

Thanks!
What bothers me isn't the handful of photos that have been nicked from myself, it's the considerable number of other photos that have presumably been stolen from quite a number of different photographers, and I'm not quite sure what to do about that.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

01/06/2006 11:53:45 PM · #27

That's the pits, Bobster, and to add insult to injury he appears to be lying about it. :-(

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

01/06/2006 11:56:11 PM · #28

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

I'm not quite sure what to do about that.

You said you were doing a web search when you ran across your stolen images. If you recognize any others, you can probably find a credit or two to alert the photographers. Once two or three photogs contact this guy, he'll have to rethink his actions.

Message edited by author 2006-01-06 23:56:30.

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

01/06/2006 11:57:45 PM · #29

Yeah, I'll have to put some time aside for that. But I doubt that even a dozen photographers will change the way this person runs their site. There's no reason from their point of view why they would have to.

RobertPlantFan

01/07/2006 12:01:07 AM · #30

You know, all you had to do was email politely before going on and on about it here. As you see, I emailed you back right away. And I've been collecting photos for a long time and have a huge archive of them. I suggest that if you don't want your photos (anyone for that matter) showing up in other places that you make sure they are watermarked and or locked so that they can't be moved. I believe the photos that are in question came to me from a donor email. I post them and then if the photographer runs on them they tell me who they are and I change the file name on them. If you will further peruse the gallery, you will find photographers credited in the description of the albums, on the actual photos, and also in filenames. The filename routine is so that if a person is searching for a photographer by name on the site they will find them. I appreciate that you wish to be a caretaker of your photographs, however, I think also that a little courtesy is in order. Posting the content of a private email on a message board is the height of bad form. Normally I wouldn't even do a post such as this but this seems to be the method you wish to take this up. So if you are the owner of any photographs on my website, then by all means contact me and it can be taken care of (as it regularly is). However, the rest of the photos are between me and the respective shooters.

Thanks,
Have a nice evening!

Oh, by the way I'm a she not a he. I guess that makes me a scumbaguette...

Beagleboy

Canon EOS-30D

01/07/2006 12:03:16 AM · #31

LOL!

Better check you sources from now on, girly.

justin_hewlett

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

01/07/2006 12:13:42 AM · #32

Originally posted by RobertPlantFan:

Not to come down hard on you or anything...but why do you have it written on your site not to have others "borrow" your images when they're not even yours? You make it sound as if there's a copyright on them attributed to you.

Message edited by author 2006-01-07 00:16:52.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

01/07/2006 12:15:36 AM · #33

To be fair, I do think she has handled things well AFTER the fact. So let's just move on. I know Bob has some legit beefs and the warning does seem hypocritical, but I see no fault in how she's carrying herself now.

DjFenzl

01/07/2006 12:18:19 AM · #34

Originally posted by RobertPlantFan:

The burden of attaining copyright on the photos is on YOU. It's not ok for you to infringe on another's copyright (claiming your own ridiculous copyright on the picture) and then just claim ignorance. You are breaking the law.

Beagleboy

Canon EOS-30D

01/07/2006 12:18:29 AM · #35

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

I think you're right. As long as she removes Bob's photos. I think she may have to re-word the copyright thingy she has on her galleries page to clearly state that the images are not hers.

01/07/2006 12:22:58 AM · #36

I don't think you're really in a position to lecture me about bad form.
I like people to enjoy my photos, and watermarking them takes the pleasure out of them IMO. Like I said, my problem here is that your website is quite aggressive in it's no stealing policy which struck me as hypocritical. Without that I wouldn't have been anywhere near as bothered.
I'm going to be interested to see how many of your photos are being used legally.
At the very best, I hope that you take more care crediting your sources.

01/07/2006 12:28:26 AM · #37

Just to add... I agree that normally it's bad form to post a private email on a forum but I actually do think you handled that email very well and I posted it here to stop people sending you aggressive comments to your website. Also to show that you responded very quickly and appropriately. Not quite sure about that since, but there you go.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

01/07/2006 12:36:46 AM · #38

Originally posted by Megatherian:

Precisely! It's still theft whether the images are locked or not. Fair use may come into play, but you can't very well add a copyright warning when you don't even heed your own warning!

01/07/2006 01:00:06 AM · #39

RobertPlantFan has been sending some emails trying to sort this out.
What she says is that most of them are credited by their filename. I've taken a look, and the photographer's names are really not at all clear in the filename and I don't believe this is an effective way of crediting photographers.
I can see that a lot of care has gone into building the website, but I find it hard to believe that professional photographers are happy with being credited in this obscure and hard to read way.
Like I've said in previous posts, it's not the handful of my own photos being used that's bothered me, it's the possible misuse of a community of photographers' work. I also find it hard to believe that the BBC are happy with their photos being used in this way but I will have to take RobertPlantFan's word for it that this is okay.
I have perhaps responded very heavily to this but like I've said I felt it was justified by the aggressive anti-stealing sentiment on the website which I feel is inappropriate bearing in mind that the photo credits are VERY obscure and that the site's own branding is very heavy and that my photos weren't credited or checked to see where they were from.
I do think that this thread could be a very positive way for RobertPlantFan to show more respect and appreciation for the people who are actually supplying the photos.

01/07/2006 01:28:25 AM · #40

Erm... I did, she replied, I replied, I posted it here, she posted here, and here we are!

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

01/07/2006 01:29:38 AM · #41

BTW, perhaps the scumbag bit might have been uncalled for. Sorry!

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

01/07/2006 01:34:43 AM · #42

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

Erm... I did, she replied, I replied, I posted it here, she posted here, and here we are!

You're right... I hadn't read all the way through when I posted that.

~Terry

jpeters

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

01/07/2006 03:10:57 AM · #43

I have to say that this person's idea that if your image isn't locked or watermarked then it's up for grabs is absurd. That's like saying if your car isn't locked it's okay for someone to steal it, or if you aren't wearing a hockey mask it's okay for someone to punch you in the face.

I'm sure she is just trying to pay hommage to an excellent singer, but if I were her, I wouldn't post anything without the expressed permission of the photographer.

Riponlady

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

01/07/2006 06:30:28 AM · #44

Not only has she stolen your photos, she has killed a thread according to the profile! AAAaargh!

Seriously, Bob, this is decidedly wrong and I agree I can't see the BBC allowing infringement of copyright in this way. She ought to be very careful else she is going to end up with a nasty bill or worse!

Well done for sorting it out and letting people know.

(and I loved your pics - definitely some of the best there!)
P

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

01/07/2006 07:52:33 AM · #45

BobsterLobster,

It looks like any image on that webpage can be printed on Shutterfly, Fotokasten, Photoserve, and Photoworks by anyone who wants. You might wish to contact those vendors for a sales report, and explain the situation. I'm sure they have a strict policy on copyrighted photos, even if the web page owner does not.

Granted, the resolution is preventing large prints but still...

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

01/07/2006 08:37:05 AM · #46

Why is it still on the website?

Message edited by author 2006-01-07 08:37:27.

deapee

Kodak V803

01/07/2006 08:46:51 AM · #47

You're going about it the wrong way. You need to WHOIS the domain. Either contact the listed contact, or contact the person who runs the SERVER that his files are hosted on. Let that person know that anyone who knowingly hosts stolen files on their computer is also responsible...give him a link to his picture, and then one to your picture. I guarantee you they will shut his site down or delete the picture(s) in question. I've done it before...it took all of 4 hours from first e-mail until the picture didn't exist...and that was one of those larger picture sharing sites I got into it with.

deapee

Kodak V803

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

01/07/2006 08:48:24 AM · #48

here, send this:

TO:

RE: //www.infringingurl.com

It has been brought to my attention that you have photographs displayed on the web site referenced above and the images are my copyrighted materials that you are infringing upon.

I attempted to reach you by telephone in an effort to resolve this matter amicably.

By posting this material, you are, and continue to be, for as long as the material is posted, violating my copyright.

I have never authorized your company, individuals or representatives who work for or on behalf of your company, nor you, with the right to display my copyrighted materials on your website, and your company could be held liable for multiple infringement claims.

The infringing images are:

//www.infringingurl.com/mainpage/image1.jpg
//www.infringingurl.com/subpage1/image6.jpg
//www.infringingurl.com/subpage3/image3.jpg
//www.infringingurl.com/subpage8/image2.jpg

This is a serious matter, and I hereby demand that you cease and desist from further display of the images posted on your website, including hyperlinks to any other images on servers which may be under your control, or under the control of another, but which appear on websites which you control.

Know also that I am sending a copy of this letter to your ISP. Please immediately remove the infringing material, and respond to this email stating that you have removed the material from your website. I reserve the right to seek relief in the form of damages (statutory, punitive, or otherwise) and further equitable resolutions, should you fail to remove this material.

Thank you for your immediate and considerate cooperation on this matter. Should you wish to discuss this matter further, I can be reached at (202) 555-1212.

DISCLAIMER: I am not an attorney, use this as a basis for your own correspondence, personalized to your specific circumstances, but which ensure you are following all local and state laws that apply.

mandyturner

Canon EOS-5D Mark II