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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Do DPC have a responsibility to help stop piracy?
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01/21/2012 04:43:39 PM · #1
This whole SOPA/PIPA thing has got me thinking. Maybe for ribbon winners they could find a way of finding out if those ribbon winners have a legal version of Photoshop or whatever app they used to process their shot? Look at it as random drugs testing at the Olympics.

There was (and still is) a big hoo-har about watermarking images so they cannot be stolen off DPC - how about flipping that on its head and making sure illegal software wasn`t used to create these images? Surely those who get annoyed at their images being used without permission are using fully legal versions of Photoshop/Lightroom etc to create them. I mean, otherwise that would be incredibly hypocritical wouldn`t it?

Discuss.

Message edited by author 2012-01-21 16:44:14.
01/21/2012 04:52:29 PM · #2
everyone post there adobe serials on a public forum for others haha???

nice idea but,where do you stop serials for cameras lens etc... how do you do it?
01/21/2012 04:54:42 PM · #3
Originally posted by Giles_uk:

everyone post there adobe serials on a public forum for others haha???

nice idea but,where do you stop serials for cameras lens etc... how do you do it?


Not at all, its relatively hard to download a pirate copy of say a 70-200 f2.8L.

There is probably a way - for example, I could post a box-shot of CS3 here along with my receipt from Adobe (blanking out the serial number) - same goes for Lightroom - no one needs see the serial and its pretty much proof of purchase...

Also, I wasnt saying post it on the forum - just something DPC could implement so all you good honest photographers who just hate having their work stolen can prove you used a legit version of Photoshop - thats all. Pretty much in the same way you send in a RAW file to validate a challenge entry..

Message edited by author 2012-01-21 17:03:06.
01/21/2012 04:56:01 PM · #4
That's why I only use Elements, I can't afford the full blown Photoshop!
01/21/2012 05:02:48 PM · #5
i meant more stolen lens or cameras that have been bought unknowingly

re the box i bet very few have a box or the trial users who purscahsed online etc...

and its not in the rules of the site that you have to, so the site would have to offer a refund to everyone and then relaunch terms and agreement stating that the use of pirate software wasnt allowed a right nightmare
01/21/2012 05:05:09 PM · #6
I am often struck with the vitriol of some photographers when someone wants a free image but I see a shite load of slide shows from photographers with music that is... well... clearly not theirs and that they could never get broadcast rights for (although some artists like Moby do make some music available for some projects). Have a look at some wedding slide shows of local wedding photg and see how many tunes you recognise from the top 100 :-).... And yet I hate the RIAA (and organisations like it) and hope it dies as soon as possible...... So not sure where that leaves me - not on either side I guess.

Dunno what DPC could really do - and validating serials is not something adobe is brilliant at anyway (you think that copied software does not have a serial??), so would be almost impossible for a 3rd party [they could see common cloned serials obviously when more then one member has that same one]. It would increase the workload beyond what would likely be desirable for volunteer SC.
01/21/2012 05:14:19 PM · #7
For some reason, I had an idea that the general consensus would be against this suggestion.. OK< I`ll fess up, I know a few people are watching this thread and are thinking "I`m not sticking my head above the parapet here" - due to the fact they use pirated software - the reason I posted this was because of a situation that arose with one of my assistants who has had one of his photos `stolen` and used without his permission - he phoned me earlier tonight and was going mental saying he was going to sue them for a five figure sum etc etc... SO I replied," but your copy of Photoshop is pirated, so surely you dont have a leg to stand on?" The line went quiet for a few seconds and his reply was "Yeah, but thats different..".. "Why? You stole someones software and your using it to make money."

So, I posted this here to be a wee bit mischievous and see the reaction (thank Giles ;) - look, we know Photoshop is very very expensive and its far too easy to download it for free (for the record, until I went Pro my version of Photoshop AND Lightroom was pirated - my first legal copy was Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom 2, which I use to this day, but I update Lightroom everytime a new one is released) - but you have to admit the hyposcrisy of those who bitch about having their images stolen but happily use a stolen copy of Photoshop to produce it is rather funny/sad in equal measures.
01/21/2012 05:16:07 PM · #8
Photoshop is a tax write-off if you make money from photography, so I'd guess most people who get peeved at having images stolen have legit software. But you'd better also claim & pay taxes on what you make from photography if it's just a sideline. This could be a big whistle-blower movement. Maybe the government would fund it. The current PM of Canada is on a prison building spree.
01/21/2012 05:34:31 PM · #9
I'm sure many people have import photo gear too. The point you raise for people earning money from their photographs I agree with though.
01/21/2012 05:38:49 PM · #10
I have four different legal versions of Elements, and I'm still nowhere close to the price of CS anything......8~)
01/21/2012 05:40:35 PM · #11
I have no pirated versions of anything, nor does anyone else in my household.

The saddest thing is that all my stuff is legit and I still have no idea how to use it>

Ray
01/21/2012 06:09:26 PM · #12
Come to think of it, Adobe has a software rental scheme on the go now, which is pretty good. At least for Adobe After Affects, which I was trying out in my endless search for some decent video editing software. Back to VideoPad for now.
01/21/2012 06:50:00 PM · #13
I say we start a dpc union and any new validation rules need to collectively bargained.

01/21/2012 07:07:13 PM · #14
my boss bought my CS5 or i wouldn't own it. sadly i don't really think it's worth the money unless you are making a lot of money from it.
01/21/2012 08:43:58 PM · #15
My CS5 is legit. Student discount, so purchased via download. No box.

I think it is hypocritical to demand respect for your copyright on your images, when you do not respect the intellectual properties of others. Adobe may charge too much for Photoshop. I think they do. But would you go to the car dealer, and say " You want too much for this car, so I am just going to take it."?

Perhaps the person who stole your images simply thought you were better off than they, and you were charging too much...
01/21/2012 08:45:47 PM · #16
Originally posted by o2bskating:

my boss bought my CS5 or i wouldn't own it. sadly i don't really think it's worth the money unless you are making a lot of money from it.


Lightroom does most jobs very well.
01/21/2012 10:29:48 PM · #17
I've always believed that a good portion of those folks that pirate expensive software do so only because they can't afford it at the time. I won't lie, I used a pirated version of Photoshop (and Windows XP) for a few years. I felt guilty about it, but had used a legit version in the late 90's. I was young and felt I couldn't live without it. As I became more financially stable I purchased legit versions.

It's a bit like how the big computer names donate computers to schools. Sounds super generous, but it's an investment for them. Eventually those kids grow up and buy whatever they are used to using (usually). I went from Microsoft Paint to Photoshop 5 in the 90's. It was a huge jump up and I got hooked. Using the pirated version kept me from looking for an alternative; basically kept me on their hook. They got my money eventually.

Edit to add: I never sold anything I created with my pirated software. I made it a priority to go legit before I began selling my work.

Message edited by author 2012-01-22 01:48:33.
01/21/2012 11:38:56 PM · #18
It's all a game anyway. Let's say you use a pirated copy of PS. While using that illegal copy of PS you find someone stealing one of your photo's and get mad and demand they pay you for it or you will sue.

Same goes for when you use a pirated copy of PS or any software. When you get caught the owner demands restitution. They want you to delete it or they will sue you.

It's not a crime until you get caught.

Lets put a twist on your scenario. Let's assume you come across one of your images online and contact the web owner demanding he take it down and send him an invoice for the use of it. What would happen if these "theives" were to write back and say, "I will take it down but I will not pay you this outrageous fee without going to court first. Also, I have contacted Adobe and asked them to make sure that your editing software is not pirated." I bet a few photog's would drop the subject.
01/21/2012 11:50:35 PM · #19
DPC has a responsibility to double check grammar in their forum titles;)
but yes SEG has a good point
01/21/2012 11:58:40 PM · #20
(The grammar is correct for British English. It differs for American English.)
01/22/2012 12:14:12 AM · #21
Originally posted by Melethia:

(The grammar is correct for British English. It differs for American English.)

at the end of the day, only one may stand correct ;)
01/22/2012 12:53:36 AM · #22
Do we distinguish between the property rights of individuals and those of corporations? Oops, I nearly forgot: in Amerika the corporation IS an individual. Fly da flag.
01/22/2012 01:21:23 AM · #23
Originally posted by Melethia:

(The grammar is correct for British English. It differs for American English.)


My (British) co-worker would say, "What's the language called, English?"
01/22/2012 02:07:42 AM · #24
I don't have much software but what I do is legal.
1. I purchase a wacom tablet years ago that allowed me to purchase Photoshop CS3 for $299. If not for that I would not have been able to afford it.
3. I have Photomatrix pro with plug in, again legal.
4. I'm currently trying Lightroom 4 beta for free. It's a free trial until the end of march. If I can't afford it at that time, I will delete the trial.
5. I have NeatImage free software. It only allows you to apply noise reduction to a small portion of a large photo. So I have to use NeatImage after I have resized my photo.

The bad part is I don't even use my Wacom Tablet anymore, I don't know much more about of Photoshop CS3 than when it was purchased, when I use photomatrix I seem to over process, and NeatImage would not help me at all on a photo I wanted to print.

With all that said 90% of my entries would fall under basic editing!


01/22/2012 02:43:33 AM · #25
Originally posted by SDW:


5. I have NeatImage free software. It only allows you to apply noise reduction to a small portion of a large photo.


Neat Image is free? What do you mean small portion of a large image? Can you do an 800px image with the free version?
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