Copyright Question

[Gadget-Guy]

Have found a couple of my images being used on a design companys website and also on a printed presentation they have produced which is being distributed throughout the UK.The images in question were displayed on a public motocross forum but i never gave or was approached by anybody as for comercial rights or even to ask if they could use them.I have tried several times over the past few weeks to contact the design company but to no evail what if any should be my next step.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[coreypolis]

not 100% sure what the rules are in the UK, but in the USA you need to register the photos with a national copyright office immediatly. if you don't (within 90 days of offense) than you won't get lawyer bills covered or the chance at punitive damages

then hire and IP lawyer to look into it if you feel you need to be compensated

if not, then just send a letter demanding they be removed or they will be taken to court

[ssim]

As much as many people find watermarks distasteful, this is another example where they might have made them think twice about using them.

Perhaps you should pose yourself as a potential client to the design company so that you can at least get to talk to a real person. In some cases it is an employee that did this without knowing the full regulations. I had this with a series of shots of mine once and while it took awhile to find the right person to talk to, they came forward and offered me compensation and a letter of apology. They say they fired the person that apparently lifted my images but who knows for sure.

Be persistent. If you do finally get to talk to someone, don't go in with both barrels blazing. Position it in a way that they have done something immoral, if not illegal, and you are willing to work with them to find a mutually satisfying agreement. If you go in and threaten lawsuit right away, you will probably get little, if anything after you have finished paying a lawyer.

I'm not acquainted with your regulations in the UK so I can't help you with the legality side of things.

[Gadget-Guy]

Thankyou for the replies.