Copyright issue anyone...?

[Douglas McMann]

Having recently been made aware of numerous "reverse searching" options for images, I had a try with Pixsy.com (other search engines are available) and specifically requested info from my 500px and Flickr accounts....

Well...

It appears a number of my photographs are being used for holiday brochures, Mapping websites, Blogs and rather surprisingly, the web page of a Polish Youth Orchestra....all without my permission....!

Should I feel annoyed or chuffed...?....should I delete my accounts which, scarily, are all set to prevent images being downloaded....

 

[John Allen]

Having recently been made aware of numerous "reverse searching" options for images, I had a try with Pixsy.com (other search engines are available) and specifically requested info from my 500px and Flickr accounts....

Well...

It appears a number of my photographs are being used for holiday brochures, Mapping websites, Blogs and rather surprisingly, the web page of a Polish Youth Orchestra....all without my permission....!

Should I feel annoyed or chuffed...?....should I delete my accounts which, scarily, are all set to prevent images being downloaded....

Are any of those images ones you sell as either stock photos or as prints? If not, then it seems like flattery. I can't tell you how you should feel. I've had too many people, mostly women, get really mad at me for doing that. How do you feel about it?

 

[Douglas McMann]

John,

None of the images are ones that I have ever put forward for selling, either as stock pics or as prints, so I suppose "flattered" is a an option to look at...

I suppose I've just become a bit complacent regarding the issue, fully believing my images were safe from this type of thing whilst in the hands of the "big two"...

 

[John Holland]

I have seen this several times - mostly the excuse I get is that they thought that since the image was in the internet, it was free. Or I get the excuse that they did not create the web site, they just paid someone to create it (i.e. so it is not their responsibility). In both cases I tell the offender they are incorrect (if they are US based - the copyright laws may vary in your country). If it is a commercial web site, I send them an invoice for the image usage. For the other sites, I request that they provide a link to my web site under the image. Those that do not comply, get a DMCA take-down notice.

All my images that I post are also registered with the US Copyright office (I do batch registrations several times a year). I also limit the size of the images that are posted - ok for web viewing, but make so-so prints (and I have a small watermark on the images along with intact EXIF data with all the needed contact info). That is about all you can do short of not posting the images at all.

The problem with taking anyone to court in the US is that you have to file the case in the Federal court system, and most lawyers are reluctant to pursue the case unless it is likely to generate a large settlement (and it is a long a tedious ordeal).