Another Image theft question

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pmac

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peter
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Yes
Okay...

I recently decided to take my camera with me when I went airsofting(like paintball) there are loads of guys taking pictures and videos, who post them online and even one very very successful you tube poster.

Anyway there has never been anything said about taking photos on site and there allowed usage.

I recently posted some on my Flickr page and linked that from my/there face book, within days I noticed that a lot had been stolen and reposted on there own face book pages. One guy even asked for a copy to then tell me it was okay as he had ripped it from Flickr himself.

The site I play on has there own shop and now do a free online magazine, when flicking through I noticed they had a page advertising that you could submit your pictures to be shown and the main picture in there advertisement was mine..though I hadn't given them it and they had again probably just taken it via Flickr.

I'm about to ask that all my pictures be taken down and removed where they were taken without my permission. My main question is do the site have any rights as I was on there land(though I payed) as I know the owner will probably try and be a smart ass and say that I was on there land and had linked to the over there face book page(I linked never actually posted the images).

Thanks
 
pmac said:
My main question is do the site have any rights as I was on there land(though I payed) as I know the owner will probably try and be a smart ass and say that I was on there land and had linked to the over there face book page(I linked never actually posted the images).
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Then answer (not very helpfully), is it depends.

When you go onto private land, pay for entry, etc, there (should) be a set of associated terms and conditions - basically stating what you get for your money, and what you can and cannot do.

This can include restrictions on photography, though this may be just a 'no commercial use' restriction.

I'm not sure if you could include a clause along the lines of "any photos taken may be used by the sites owner as they see fit", perhaps someone else knows?
 
Your not doing the most you can to protect your images any I'd suggest you go to your settings and change the download option (the top option on this page) http://www.flickr.com/account/privacy/ to you only as it is anyone can download a copy of your images
 
Faldrax said:
This can include restrictions on photography, though this may be just a 'no commercial use' restriction.
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Even if there is a restriction on photography on their site, they have no rights to use your photographs even if they were taken without their permission.

p.s. it's infringement, not theft.


Steve.
 
MWHCVT said:
Your not doing the most you can to protect your images any I'd suggest you go to your settings and change the download option (the top option on this page) http://www.flickr.com/account/privacy/ to you only as it is anyone can download a copy of your images
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That doesn't stop anyone from right clicking and saving picture.
 
MWHCVT said:
Yes it does, at least on any browser I use
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You realise that if you can see a picture it's already been downloaded onto your computer, don't you?
 
DemiLion said:
You realise that if you can see a picture it's already been downloaded onto your computer, don't you?
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Yes but 99.999% of the general public don't, let alone how to find them on there hard drive
 
MWHCVT said:
Your not doing the most you can to protect your images any I'd suggest you go to your settings and change the download option (the top option on this page) http://www.flickr.com/account/privacy/ to you only as it is anyone can download a copy of your images
Click to expand...

Thanks i did have it set too me only,but opened it back up so someone could get one of my pictures and must have forgot to re enable it.

The whole thing is quite funny as. One of the images was used in a free online mag.. As an image showing that you could submit pictures to be shown in there mag. During that day the site owner and mag publisher had been telling me about issues he had been having with another shop using his copy righted/trademarked names and iteams.
 
DemiLion said:
Or 'View Code' etc etc! :)
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The point however that you've totally missed however is that it doesn't hurt to make sure that you at the very least close the gaps in protecting your images that ARE under your control :bang:
 
Sounds quite petty. You went to an event, took some pictures, now people involved in that event have shared them amongst themselves. What did you think was going to happen when you uploaded them?

Nobody is trying to earn anything off them, they're just being posted elsewhere.

I just checked your Flickr, and honestly, the photos are really good - it's not surprising people shared them. Honestly, what do you think the purpose of Flickr is? It's a photo sharing website.

This should be a non-issue.
 
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Petty it may be, but its rather the principle of it all.
There are other photographers who do charge for similar pictures, but that isn't the point. Even the site owner said I should be selling them.

I'm not expecting to be payed at all. I'm just rather miffed that so many people have found it okay to copy/take the images and use them for them self without even asking.. Especially for the use in the magazine which is done by a supposed photographer and the site owner. Both who should know better.
He would be the first to jump on someone for taking an image from his site or using his copyrighted/patented items or designs.
 
But the problem is that you've put them on Flickr. It's a photo sharing website. I know that's a loose term, and I'm not suggesting for one minute that it means one is welcome to take your images, but it does somewhat limit their value if you're willing to place them on server space you don't own, for anyone to see. It kind of sets a tone.

I used to have a 500px and a Flickr account, and I deleted them both. Now I only host my images on my server, because I don't want things like this happening. Or at least try to limit it.

At the end of the day, principle or not, it seems like you're being a bit of a spoilsport.

I know that forums like this can taint your view, but this really isn't "image theft". You have photographed an event, uploaded the shots to a public image sharing resource, and the people featured in those images have subsequently used them, along with the company who hosted the event. All at no profit to anyone. It's pretty reasonable. Don't get me wrong, I near on slit throats when people steal my images, but you need to know when to be annoyed and when to not give a ******. This is one of those times when you need to do the latter. You've essentially added a negative spin to what really is very nice work. Seems a shame.

If you don't want this to happen, delete your Flickr account, or put a strongly worded copyright blurb under every image you post.
 
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Whist I can see your point, as others have said anything put on Flickr can be ripped off.
Rather than create a scene that could get a bit ugly tell the owner that you have seen he's using your images and could he credit you. you could also push for a freebee if you feel like it.
Also if your images are likely to be used put a watermark on them, that way at least people will know they are yours.
 
Why not have a chat with the site owner and turn this to your own advantage.

Educate the site owner and explain that they can't just take photos to be used in a magazine, but offer them photo direct from you in return for site access/payment/etc.

Yes it's wrong that they have used your photos, but going i heavy handed will probably get your/any photography banned from their site. Offer a compromise, free photos for their mag and they direct people whishing to purchase the photos from you.

If you are sharing them on flickr, then watermark them. Still won't stop people pinching them though.
 
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