Copyright Violators

[taswira]

This is an unpleasant topic. There are several people on this forum who have copied several of my Disney cruise photographs from two of my websites and posted them on their own personal websites, WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. Obviously you did not read the copyright notice. I post these photos on my own sites for visitors to enjoy, but I am a professional photographer and my photos are copyrighted. I do not want to name names or post links to your copyright violations here, but you know who you are. Please REMOVE my photos from your websites. Thank you!

Shari

 

[AnnMorin]

I had never looked at it before, very professional!

Wouldn't it be easier to just email directly the people who used your photos and ask them personally to stop? (They may not read this post.)

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

Where is your web site I have never bothered to look but now I am curious????????

 

[taswira]

Ann - Several of the people do not have any contact info on their sites. They have their first OR last names and trip journals, but no e-mail addresses. I did e-mail one of them who <I>does</I> list contact info. In addition, I thought posting about the copyright violations <I>might</I> discourage people here from stealing not only from me, but from others here on the DIS. Just because something is on the Web does NOT mean it is free-use.

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

Just curious but what are they doing with the picture you took? Are they using them to promote something they are marketing or for Christmas cards? Or maybe they just admire your multi-talented work as a TA and Professional Photographer and your pictures added excitement to their posts? Maybe you should proud someone likes your work...........but I really don't see that happening...............so I am sure they will remove them.

Where are these websites are these anyways?

 

[taswira]

buzz&woody'smom - I PM'd you my websites. Even if people steal from those who are <I>not</I> professional photographers, as in ANYONE on this board who posts their photos whether good or bad, it is still <I>stealing</I>. These people who put my photos on their own sites are representing those photos as their own. They did not give me photo credit, and they did not ask for permission to use the photos. Plenty of people like my work and that is how I earn my living. Plenty of people also like the work of others on this board who post their pictures. Any way you look at it, it is a copyright violation when either graphic or editorial content is used without permission. Even though the pictures I post on the Web are lower quality versions of the originals, they are still MY photos. If you earned your living as a photographer and someone used your photos without permission, you would probably feel differently about "free use."

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

Shari-

To each their own opinion. You obviously have yours and I have mine. Now I would not know how to "steal" these pictures since I can barely post here and still have not figured out how to set up a count down clock.

But not knowing ALL of the circumstances and how these people are using your photo's I still stand by my theory if their intention was harmless and they wanted to add the pictures to their threads/posts because they like the photos and added to their exicitement then that is not "stealing".

But I am sure everyone here now knows that it is a no, no and not to borrow anyones elses photos if they have those type of computer skills.

They were fun photos to look at, thanks for sharing them!

Tiff

 

[AnnMorin]

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will all due respect please take a deep breath! I am sure no one meant to steal from you and poor BuzzandWoody's mom only asked a question.

It is possible you know that the folks you are accusing may have used their own photos. I have several pictures that I personally took that look EXACTLY the same as yours. That can happen when you go to the EXACT same place and stay on the EXACT same ship etc... my goodness my castaway cay pictures look the same as every other ones that I have seen whether it be on your site, Barbs, Dave's etc.. it is the same shot. (we all have good taste)

It is understandable to be defensive of your income and as I said before your site is quite professional. And the professional way to handle percieved copyright infringements would be privately I think.

 

[taswira]

I can appreciate your views, and I am sure that when these people used the photos they were not <I>intentionally</I> "stealing" and they thought they were doing no harm. However, this is not about "opinion." It is about copyright LAW. If all of these people had provided a way to be contacted from their websites, I would not have posted on this board. Since they did not (maybe <I>some</I> were afraid they were doing something wrong and didn't want to be pinpointed?), I resorted to posting here. Again, this was also in the hope that, no matter WHOSE photos someone wishes to use, perhaps they will have the decency to ASK before doing so in the future.

 

[tiptoen]

Shari

It should be easy to add a javascript to your page that will disable the right click feature on your images. This may be an answer to your problem.

Tip

 

[AnnMorin]

Great idea Tip!

 

[taswira]

Ann - They were <I>my</I> photos . . . same EXACT file names (They didn't even bother to change them!), file size, picture size, and all details of the photos. However, they did not LINK to my photo locations. They copied them to their own servers. Only ONE peson went to the trouble of changing the file names, but all the properties and the pictures were still identical. The question that was asked about what they were doing with the pictures of mine they took - Who knows aside from representing them on their websites as their own?

tiptoen - Several of my photos DO have the right-click feature disabled with copyright notice automatically appearing. However, there are many ways around this. I have other security features, but post so many pics (JUST for the viewing enjoyment of site visitors) that I unfortunately decided to <I>trust</I> people instead.

Anyway - This need not be a bigger deal than it is. I simply requested that the parties PLEASE remove my photos from their websites. I did this here because they did not provide their contact info.

 

[mickman1962]

I agree with AnnMorin (I hate snow too). I can show you many pics I've taken that look exactly the same if not better then some of yours. The right click thing is easily bypassed or you could just watermark like most pros who are concerned with their work being illegally used, yet still wish to post on the web. Putting your work on a public place and expecting people (very few not the majority) not to copy it is very unrealistic. I'm sure the web has proven to be a great place to publicize your business for basically nothing. Every business suffers loss due to theft. The web is no different. If your losses outweigh your gains then take down your site.

 

[tiptoen]

Yes Shari

I am aware that someone with a bit of computer saavy can get around the right click disable feature. As far as that goes there is NO WAY to completely protect your images from someone that has the skills to get them. But for the average user some simple scripts will deter them. Good Luck.

Tip

 

[taswira]

Originally posted by mickman1962
I can show you many pics I've taken that look exactly the same if not better then some of yours. Every business suffers loss due to theft. The web is no different. If your losses outweigh your gains then take down your site.

That is why I mentioned OTHER PEOPLE HERE who have THEIR photos posted. I do not <I>claim</I> to have the best Disney cruise pics on the Web! I am primarily a wildlife photographer but I do sell some of my other photos. But this is not just about ME, it is about people taking photos from others and using them without permission. The people who are posting my pics on their sites are members of this forum. Maybe the other photos on their sites are not theirs either. Maybe they are YOURS. I was only directing this to the offending parties, who might also be using <I>your</I> fantastic photos and claiming them as their own. If anyone wants to continue this on the Debate board among themselves just to attack me, my request, and my meager effort to point out copyright law, feel free. I won't be responding anymore.

 

[my3kids]

For those who don't think it is a big deal....just try using one of Disney's copyrighted photos without permission, using one of them as your own. You better believe it is a big deal. While I doubt those who copied the files thought they were doing anything illegal, it also isn't something that people should dismiss as the owner complaining about something trivial. That's what copyright laws are for. Yes...it is one photographer putting her personal photos on a website. But... What if Universal Studies put still shots of one of their movies on a website and suddenly found them on another movie company's website essentially crediting themselves. It is a big deal, and I for one, (and maybe the only one,) think Taswira is right to ask they be removed.

Taswira....after reading your origional post, I searched for your website. Your photos are wonderful....you really captured the moment with the photos of characters at deck parties.

 

[inkkognito]

Disabling the right click is pointless when taking someone's photo is as easy as using the print screen button...doesn't even take a lot of computer savvy. I am a designer and developer of web-based training, and I always keep track of who visits, who links to the courses, etc. I have found our material copied in some odd places, even though we have a copyright notice on every page. Just about the only way to discourage it with photos is to put a prominent copyright notice on the photo itself.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Stewblue]

Given that violating Copyright Law is a criminal offense based on Federal Law, I'd say that taswira is actually being very reasonable in the initial post. Stealing a photo from someone's website is no different than going into someone's yard and stealing their plants. Because it is easy to do, doesn't make it right. This is one of the issues we deal with at work quite a bit and it has been difficult to help people understand the rules and risks. I think on the board, with the atmosphere of sharing tips, ideas, etc. it is easy to assume that sharing someone else's work (photos) is OK.

 

[kendall]

I do a lot of professional development with teachers around integrating technology into teaching. Copyright, proper citation of web-based products and fair use are huge issues.

Many people erroneously believe that if it is on the Internet, it is in the public domain, and they simply do not understand that it is wrong to copy. I also would say it is a cultural thing - our society copies CDs, records tv programs, and often makes "copies" for personal use. Once that copied information is disseminated (sold, published, even given away), copyright is violated. These well-meaning folks probably put the photo on their website because they enjoy it so much and it brings back fond memories of their cruise they want to share, and don't realize that they have violated copyright by doing so.

On a personal note, when my own children complete school projects using web-based text and photos, my kids are now in the habit of copying and pasting the URL in order to show the source of information as well as the date retrieved - proper citation.

The right click java script is one good idea. I haven't visited your site yet, so I don't know if you have a statement on your website regarding persmission (or lack thereof) to use photos and a procedure for contacting you. Do you have information on your website to sell you photos? If folks like them that much, make them affordable and sell in digital and/or print format.

You have every right to protect your copyright on your work.

I look forward to visiting your website and seeing your photos!

 

[AnnMorin]

Originally posted by Stewblue
Given that violating Copyright Law is a criminal offense based on Federal Law, I'd say that taswira is actually being very reasonable in the initial post. Stealing a photo from someone's website is no different than going into someone's yard and stealing their plants. Because it is easy to do, doesn't make it right. This is one of the issues we deal with at work quite a bit and it has been difficult to help people understand the rules and risks. I think on the board, with the atmosphere of sharing tips, ideas, etc. it is easy to assume that sharing someone else's work (photos) is OK.

Actually it is a civil offense ONLY if she can prove damages,, given your anaology of stealing plants the damages would be only the REASONABLE resale value (what a reasonable person was willing to pay) of the plants given that you could actually PROVE the plants were hers in the first place and if someone was willing to pay for them.

No one should steal/borrow or whatever someone elses photos,, but I honestly don't think there was any criminal motive here- I would frankly love to hear from the "guilty" parties!