Picture theft??????

[soupdragon]

I notice when looking at my old postings that some of the pictures have been downloaded a number of times.
Does this mean people are using them as screen savers or something or is it just an internet thing every time someone views them?

[Beeej21]

How can you tell if your pics have been downloaded? Are you talking about just right-clicking and doing a "save as" function? Is that a feature of this forum or are you monitoring your pics via another software or something?

[Khaled]

I think that viewing your picture each time I visit your website is considered downloading ...
And you don't have to worry about theft as long as your pictures are not in full size..

[Big_B]

Do you mean your server logs? If so, they'll download every time the server cache refreshes

[soupdragon]

Go to the user CP.

Under Miscellaneous click on attachments.

It shows the number of downloads per attachment.

I would really like an answer to this.

[Khaled]

If you are not professional photographer and you're not showing your pictures in their original resolution, so what's wrong if people download them ? If you don't want people to download them, then don't show them at all, as simple as that..

Again, every time I click on your post, and your photos appear on my monitor, those photos get downloaded automatically into my broswer's cache... so if 10 people visit your post, then the log shows that your picture was downloaded 10 times, if one of those ten people refresh his/her brwoser, then the log would show you that 11 people downloaded your image ..

I hope that you understand what I mean ..

[Radioham]

Go to the user CP.

Under Miscellaneous click on attachments.

It shows the number of downloads per attachment.

I would really like an answer to this.

To see the picture every computer needs to download it first look in this file on your computer you will see what i mean.
hope this helps Steve
C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR NAME \Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files :lol: :lol:

[Beeej21]

I don't know for absolutely SURE on this, but I can only presume that the number of "downloads" has to do with the number of times a browser has to display the picture... in other words, how many times your picture/pictures have been viewed. I just cannot imagine 3000 people copying and saving some of my pics on their hard drives. But I CAN imagine 3000 people viewing those pictures.

But as I said, that is just my hunch and presumption.

[Beeej21]

lol... disregard what I just said... while I was typing out my presumptious post, Khaled and Radioham were doing a much better job of answering your question. :-)

[Radioham]

BTW if you can’t see this folder its because it’s hidden. You will have to open control the panel then folder options / view / hidden files and folders / then click box show hidden files and folders

[Andy_T]

Soup,

I did a quick check on my attached images.

Judging from the number of downloads, I would very much assume that the number shown is the number of views the picture got.

To give you an example ... here's a quick screenshot I attached to my reply for somebody searching for a photographic vest:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=31538&d=1128444674

I find it hard to believe that 160 people found that fine picture worthy of downloading for illicit purposes:wink:

Best regards,
Andy

[soupdragon]

I had my suspicions this was the case, the thing that throws me is, the number of views does not correlate to the number of downloads.
And no, I am not a computer whizz kid or a net head for that matter which is why I ask these questions.
Many thanks for the reassurances, I will however be browsing Scientific American & National Geographic just to be sure:)

[Big_B]

lol!

[peacock]

If you are not professional photographer and you're not showing your pictures in their original resolution, so what's wrong if people download them ? If you don't want people to download them, then don't show them at all, as simple as that..



Eerm no its really not as simple as that:lol:

[soupdragon]

Problem solved, I have deleted all my attachments.

[Curtis N]

Soupdragon,

While I think the technical question has been resolved, I'm not sure what you are concerned about.

When you post an image on the internet, you are basically inviting the world to download it. That's how the internet works. Sharing data is what the internet was designed for. In terms of copyright law, there are both legal and illegal things that a person might do with a downloaded image, but that's a topic or another thread, I think.

[soupdragon]

Soupdragon,

While I think the technical question has been resolved, I'm not sure what you are concerned about.

When you post an image on the internet, you are basically inviting the world to download it. That's how the internet works. Sharing data is what the internet was designed for. In terms of copyright law, there are both legal and illegal things that a person might do with a downloaded image, but that's a topic or another thread, I think.

Well to my mind that's wrong.
I post pictures mainly for critique or for others to enjoy who share a common interest.

I post them "here" for the benefit of forum members only (if there is any merit in my images)

I do not believe they are for free download or distribution and in fact when I visit "professional photographers" web sites they quite clearly state that they own them until such time you buy them.
And what's more at no point have I ever condoned anyone using my pictures for personal reasons or otherwise.

Asides the fact the bloody software writers thought it would be a good idea to bung up your hard drive with useless detritus every time you connect to the internet, I take umbridge at people believing they have some right to freely own my images.
And yes, I clear my stored pages every time I stop using the net.

And no I'm not a professional but that does not mean I don't spend a lot of time trying to produce technically and contentually good images, so if someone wants a copy of one of my snaps badly enough? they can ask me and I will send them a high resolution copy for free.

Damn freeloaders:evil: :evil:

[Skip Souza]

Problem solved, I have deleted all my attachments.
Well Soup, now we can't see any of the images in the threads that you started and many of the threads are a week or less old.
I understand you frustration regarding copyright violation. Perhaps you might try using a watermark.
I hope you can come to grips with this.

[Spirit]

I notice when looking at my old postings that some of the pictures have been downloaded a number of times.
Does this mean people are using them as screen savers or something or is it just an internet thing every time someone views them?

I just tested this out. One of my attachments said 64 downloads, so I went to the thread, then back to user cp and itsaid 65 downloads. Cleared my cache, did it again, 66 downloads.

It's the number of times the image has been downloaded to the temp internet folder for viewing in the thread.

[Skip Souza]

Excellent scientific method. I guess that solves the question of image theft. Unlike many of you guys, no one would want to steal my images. I would almost be flattered if they did ;-)

[soupdragon]

Thanks skip, I feel much calmer now, that said I have just sunk half a bottle of red after a long day at work.
If a picture paints a thousand words? my next post is gonna take some reading:)

[Big_B]

Glad you're feeling better :)

[Belmondo]

I have met the enemy, and he is us.

Many of our problems are solved by just asking the right questions. Good job, gang.

[Spirit]

Excellent scientific method.

Hahaha! Thank you! ;)

[Bama]

I just tested this out. One of my attachments said 64 downloads, so I went to the thread, then back to user cp and itsaid 65 downloads. Cleared my cache, did it again, 66 downloads.

It's the number of times the image has been downloaded to the temp internet folder for viewing in the thread.

Hi there,

Agreed. but the actual number of times a picture is downloaded will never be known, thus, the original question in my IMHO still stands.
Posting a picture here will mean that it can be downloaded anytime anybody wants to and you might never know.

Regards
Bama

[tommykjensen]

Agreed. but the actual number of times a picture is downloaded will never be known, thus, the original question in my IMHO still stands.
Posting a picture here will mean that it can be downloaded anytime anybody wants to and you might never know.


Yes that is the way internet works.

[elTwitcho]

Well to my mind that's wrong.
I post pictures mainly for critique or for others to enjoy who share a common interest.

I post them "here" for the benefit of forum members only (if there is any merit in my images)

I do not believe they are for free download or distribution and in fact when I visit "professional photographers" web sites they quite clearly state that they own them until such time you buy them.
And what's more at no point have I ever condoned anyone using my pictures for personal reasons or otherwise.


Downloading is one thing, distributing them is another. If someone takes your picture and starts posting it on their own website or printing it in their own calendar, that is distribution and it is quite obviously copyright infringement. However, downloading to their computer is something else because guess who is the one distributing that image to their computers... YOU ARE! By posting it on the internet, you are distributing that image to everyone who feels the need to download it, becausen it is physically impossible to view a picture without first downloading it. If having the image on their hard drives is a problem for you, then stop distributing it to their hard drives and don't post it online.

[R Hardman]

Perhaps you might try using a watermark.

Also there are other digitally embedded watermarks that can be tracked by tracking software across the internet. But at a cost per x amount of images if your really that worried. For me I have the proof that the image is mine if I have to go that far. I have the original image plus the exif data that includes the serial number of MY CAMERA!

[Spirit]

Hi there,

Agreed. but the actual number of times a picture is downloaded will never be known, thus, the original question in my IMHO still stands.
Posting a picture here will mean that it can be downloaded anytime anybody wants to and you might never know.

Regards
Bama

You mean "saved". When you load a webpage, it downloads ALL information (pictures included) to your hard drive, and stores it in a temp folder.

So I don't really understand what you're saying, seeing as I answered the question in your original post.

Does this mean people are using them as screen savers or something or is it just an internet thing every time someone views them?

The latter.

[muffy]

Is there any settings that can be done so that people can't do that "right click, save as" option to download our photos?

[tommykjensen]

Is there any settings that can be done so that people can't do that "right click, save as" option to download our photos?

Don't bother spending time on that because it won't make any difference at all. The second anybody views the photo it has already been saved on the viewers pc in the folder temporary internet files.

Also don't bother wrapping the photo inside flash, that is just as easy to break.

Bottom line. If You don't want anybody to be able to save a copy of Your photo You should not post it on the internet.

So instead You should just make sure that the photo You post on the internet is in a size/quality that cannot be used professionally or commercially.

[muffy]

Don't bother spending time on that because it won't make any difference at all. The second anybody views the photo it has already been saved on the viewers pc in the folder temporary internet files.

Also don't bother wrapping the photo inside flash, that is just as easy to break.

Bottom line. If You don't want anybody to be able to save a copy of Your photo You should not post it on the internet.

So instead You should just make sure that the photo You post on the internet is in a size/quality that cannot be used professionally or commercially.

And what size would that be recommended?

[tommykjensen]

I use 800 on longest edge.

[muffy]

I use 800 on longest edge.

800pixels?

[Big_B]

yup

[Spirit]

Is there any settings that can be done so that people can't do that "right click, save as" option to download our photos?

Even if that could be disabled, "print screen" and paste in photoshop works the same way. As does "view source".

I tend to go a bit smaller than 800x600, but only because it's easier for non-high speeders.

[muffy]

gezz....so thats no way to protect our pictures except not posting it huh..........

[Big_B]

Basically you have two choices. 1. Save a relatively small, low quality file so it isn't worth their while. 2. Put a copyright logo on the picture.

Do whichever works for you but I wouldn't loose too much sleep over it :)

[EOSAddict]

Problem solved, I have deleted all my attachments.

Kinda defeats the object IMHO....

[Spirit]

Kinda defeats the object IMHO....

lol! Indeed.

[jfrancho]

I had something to say, but I didn't want anyone stealing my words, so now I'm silent.

[soupdragon]

Only the blind see the truth.

[Tlee05]

i heard if some one has downloaded your image anyways they are copyrighted to you even if they are of band so you could always take legal action hehe. You took them they are your's.

But i would be happy if people downloading my work.

[jfrancho]

Everything you need to know about US Copyright: http://www.copyright.gov/