Can you copy/steal/ripoff these?

[Lefty Ray]

As most longtime members of this board know, I have a big problem with internet image theft. I shoot a lot of CD covers for bands (3 Grammy nominations and 1 Grammy winner so far) and their live performances. I primarily shoot Tejano music artists and bands which is mostly located in Texas. In the past I have posted images here, but they have had pretty heavy watermarks all across the image. Even this did not deter some thieves. I disabled the right click "copy" option, but again this is bypassable if you know how.

Just recently, I have switched to a slideshow format using Adobe's Lightroom. I want to know if you can copy/steal/ripoff these images on the following link. I know that you can do a "Print Screen" copy, but that is NOT what I am interested in. Let me know what you can do.

Lightroom has an option to add a copyright line on the bottom left of the images, but in this case I did not included it. In the past most thieves just cropped it off which lead me to add watermarks across the entire face of the image.

http://www.leftyray.com/live/

[Chet]

Yes I got this image.

/_MG_8438.jpg

And can easily take all the other images. from this file. group

[Tommy]

Yes... I can take them...

just a little proof without getting into too much detail on file locations, and how it was done. PM me if you want the details on how I did it (really quite simple)...

For your image of "Oscar de la Rosa from La Mafia"
File name: _MG_8819.jpg
Size: 567px × 850px
Your copyright notice from EXIF: © 2008 Lefty Ray Chapa, www.leftyray.com

[Tommy]

Yes I got this image.

details removed... ;)



Yeah... that's what I did... only I didn't want to post all the details right in the public thread... lol...

[Chet]

Yeah... that's what I did... only I didn't want to post all the details right in the public thread... lol...


Okay I took out the details. Maybe edit my quote.

[Lefty Ray]

Thats what I needed to know.

[narlus]

just curious Lefty, who are stealing the photos? fans? media outlets?

[Lefty Ray]

Promoters mostly. If they need a photo of a band for a poster for an upcoming dance, they tell their poster designer "just find one on the internet." I have tracked thieves from Tucson, to South Carolina, to Ohio. I had one magazine use an image of mine with the watermarks on it. Even the State fair of Texas was a culprit.

[narlus]

ah, then yes...that sucks.

[Tommy]

Promoters mostly. If they need a photo of a band for a poster for an upcoming dance, they tell their poster designer "just find one on the internet." I have tracked thieves from Tucson, to South Carolina, to Ohio. I had one magazine use an image of mine with the watermarks on it. Even the State fair of Texas was a culprit.

Have you contact them all and demanded payment?

[Palladium]

What I've been using is a 2 line text across the image.

top line Large and in Bold

Do No Reprint / Repost

second line smaller
Photog name and or website

[tommykjensen]

As most longtime members of this board know, I have a big problem with internet image theft. I shoot a lot of CD covers for bands (3 Grammy nominations and 1 Grammy winner so far) and their live performances. I primarily shoot Tejano music artists and bands which is mostly located in Texas. In the past I have posted images here, but they have had pretty heavy watermarks all across the image. Even this did not deter some thieves. I disabled the right click "copy" option, but again this is bypassable if you know how.

Just recently, I have switched to a slideshow format using Adobe's Lightroom. I want to know if you can copy/steal/ripoff these images on the following link. I know that you can do a "Print Screen" copy, but that is NOT what I am interested in. Let me know what you can do.

Lightroom has an option to add a copyright line on the bottom left of the images, but in this case I did not included it. In the past most thieves just cropped it off which lead me to add watermarks across the entire face of the image.

http://www.leftyray.com/live/

The ONLY 100% sure way to prevent anybody from stealing yoyr photos is not to put them on the internet. Anybody saying that they can protect the images online 100% is lying.

[Lefty Ray]

Actually stolen image revenue is pretty high for 2007. I have a huge email list so when a new event is posted, I send a note out. The people on my list know they will be rewarded if they spot a potential unauthorized use of one of my images. This has worked out pretty well.

Most promoters when caught, pay up. Their alternative is to recall all of their posters across town and reprint them plus face an injunction putting a hold on their event.

Images on myspace are also a problem but there is a process where the myspace people will pull the image. Just recently the fan club president of an all female band posted 6 of my images on their myspace site. They were removed.

Below is an example of what I used to do, but whenever I posted one of these here in this forum, I caught hell and had to explain the "why" every time.

http://www.leftyray.com/Images 2008/Stefani Montiel_ 8520.jpg

[Chet]

The ONLY 100% sure way to prevent anybody from stealing yoyr photos is not to put them on the internet. Anybody saying that they can protect the images online 100% is lying.


I agree with this statement.

[johnms88]

you can also right click and "print" to file. The print option is still available when you right click.

[René Damkot]

I know that you can do a "Print Screen" copy, but that is NOT what I am interested in.
(bolded by me)
Why not? Print screen accomplishes the same as downloading the image for all practical purposes...

[Lefty Ray]

i mentioned that because i knew that it is possible and was looking for other methods

[Radtech1]

LEFTY RAY,

Take a look at this thread:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=402680

Where we discuss a relatively cheap ($50.00) program called "Image Freeze"

Here is what is does (from their website):


When a browser accesses a web page, the first thing it does is download all components of the web page (html, graphics, flash/shockwave files, streaming media, etc.) into an area on your hard drive commonly called the 'browser cache'. Then the browser reads the html and assembles the pieces so you can see the web page as intended.

Since the browser cache is a physical portion of your hard drive, not only can your browser use it, but you can access it as well. In fact, I've used this exact technique to grab not only html right click protected pages (before I learned the exploits), but also grabbed flash/shockwave files that interested me as well (for my personal enjoyment mind you, and I always asked if I could have a copy).

When an Image Freeze protected web page loads, instead of the graphics being downloaded, a small computer program called a "Java Applet" is downloaded in its place. The applet is then executed, which fetches the picture to show in your browser. The beauty of it is the graphics being protected never reach your hard drive, only the applet is there. Dive in all you want, all you'll find for your trouble is an applet file.

The applet also protects against other forms of causal copying, including:

The right mouse click/save as method

Most methods of copying to clipboard (except screen captures)

Saving local copies of web pages

Printing the protected graphics to your printer.

So, it replaces your actual photo with a Java applet that displays the photo. The applet - and not your photo - is stored in cache. "Right Click" is disabled but only when the mouse is over the image. That means that "Right Click" can still be used every where else on your website, for navigation purposes, and so on. It's just that they can't "Save as" or "Print Picture" or otherwise copy/download/save/hotlink or print your photos.

Now, when you read my original thread, you will see that the response can be best described as "general outrage". You would think that there was something sacrosanct in the right click. Me, I think that if right click is still there purposes other than stealing then the program gets it quite right, actually.

Decide for yourself, but it might be what you need.

Here is their website:

http://www.imagefreeze.com/IF_ENG/index.htm

[tommykjensen]

So, it replaces your actual photo with a Java applet that displays the photo. The applet - and not your photo - is stored in cache. "Right Click" is disabled but only when the mouse is over the image. That means that "Right Click" can still be used every where else on your website, for navigation purposes, and so on. It's just that they can't "Save as" or "Print Picture" or otherwise copy/download/save/hotlink or print your photos.

You forget to mention that it is STILL possible to make a screen capture. I proved that when you posted the thread initially and they admit it too. Its not worth $50 in my opinion.

[Radtech1]

You forget to mention that it is STILL possible to make a screen capture.

Tommy,

Within the context of this thread, that is a non issue. Reading the OP's concerns, you will discover that he is aware of the "Print Screen" function, and is not concerned about that. He is interested in what ELSE can be done to hijack his images:

I know that you can do a "Print Screen" copy, but that is NOT what I am interested in.

And further, reading MY post, you will discover that the program itself makes no claim against "Print Screen" theft.

The applet also protects against other forms of causal copying, including...

Most methods of copying to clipboard (except screen captures)

So, you can see, I didn't "forget" to mention that. It would have been redundant, given that the Image Freeze text itself says that.

Either way, from the program's own text to the OP's intentions - your concern is unfounded.

Rad

[tommykjensen]

Either way, from the program's own text to the OP's intentions - your concern is unfounded.


I am mentioning it to those that read your words

It's just that they can't "Save as" or "Print Picture" or otherwise copy/download/save/hotlink or print your photos.

and interpret that as print screen is not possible either. You write that after the quoted text from the delopers so it sounds like the miracle cure to stealing photos.

Other than OP reads this and they migth care about print screen and thats why I wanted to make it clear that that program does not protect against screen capture.

[Radtech1]

I am mentioning it to those that read your words
It's just that they can't "Save as" or "Print Picture" or otherwise copy/download/save/hotlink or print your photos.

and interpret that as print screen is not possible either.

That would be quite a stretch of interpretation, being that the sentence you quoted has to do with the "right click" function - specifically, when NOT mousing over a protected photo, the right click button is fully functional for navigation, etc - but when ON a protected photo, THEN the thief cannot use it to "Save as" or "Print Picture" or otherwise copy/download/save/hotlink or print your photos.

Since none of the browsers I use (IE, Firefox and Opera*) use the right click button for the purposes of generating a "Print Screen" command, then, (again) your concern isn't really on topic, is it?

Rad

*Chrome or Mac Specific users: Does your browser have "Print Screen" as one of the commands for the Right Click button?


Also, Tommy, since neither I, nor the program's author claimed it protected against a "Print Screen" capture, and even the OP is unconcerned about it, then why are you slamming the program? WTF? In my first post, I even took an even keeled "Decide for yourself, but it might be what you need." approach, I did not say that it was the end all and be all and that it protects against everything in the universe including syphilis.

Really, you are hammering it for not doing something it never claimed to do.

If you know of a better program, that does protect against a "Print Screen" capture, well now is your time to shine. Let us know what you've got.

[tommykjensen]

If you know of a better program, that does protect against a "Print Screen" capture, well now is your time to shine. Let us know what you've got.

I don't and I have never ever claimed I had anything that could do that.

I have always said here that it is impossible to proctect photos against theft.