My first stolen photo - I feel so proud :)

noxcuses1 wrote in post #12091924
So you're saying someone stole your photo and your happy about it?

The truth is I really don't care. As far as I can tell, Photopaises uses images uploaded by members. They're not making money on that photo. I could ask them to take it down, but where's the gain in that? If people like the photo, then all well and good.

Congrats

BioSci wrote in post #12089710
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

No it isnt. In this case its theft. Having YOUR images taken this way isnt a badge of honour!

A couple of posts earlier Noexcuses1 asked if you are happy and your reply that you dont care.

Well I would suggest that other photographers do care. We work hard enough as it is trying to earn a living and protect the copyright on our images without some muppet telling the world he is "proud" that someone sees fit to take his images in this way.

Grow up and come back when you display a mature attitude to the photography professional as a whole.

SoonerPride316 wrote in post #12091936
Kind of a double edged sword. I would make them stop but the publicity is nice

Publicity without payment has never put food on anyone's table and I like a burger in my belly more then a pat on the back.

Gary_Evans wrote in post #12096055
No it isnt. In this case its theft. Having YOUR images taken this way isnt a badge of honour!

A couple of posts earlier Noexcuses1 asked if you are happy and your reply that you dont care.

Well I would suggest that other photographers do care. We work hard enough as it is trying to earn a living and protect the copyright on our images without some muppet telling the world he is "proud" that someone sees fit to take his images in this way.

Grow up and come back when you display a mature attitude to the photography professional as a whole.

Very well said. In fact it's the best post in this thread.

^^^^ +1

Letting people get away with theft shows them that they can do it without repercussion and that they can do it whenever they want to whoever they want.

So if someone stole your car out of your drive way, you'd be flattered because they thought your car was nice enough to steal?

I feel that I must apologize for my earlier posts in this thread. I mean no disrepect for the professional photoghraphers here whose excellent work is their livelihood. I fully support their efforts to protect their property rights, and I share their condemnations of the unscrupulous individuals who would profit from theft of their work. The point I was trying (unsuccessfully) to make was that in the case of a web site using photos submitted by members to show off the wonders of the world, not sellng either photos or tourism, I was initially pleased to see one of my images was deemed sufficiently interesting that it was posted. If the site were profiting from my image, I would have been incensed. I would also have submitted a DMCA letter demanding its removal. Given that the image has been available on the internet for at least 15 years, I'm not surprised to see that it has been spread around. It's the first time that I've received any kind of notice that somebody liked my work.

That being said, I'll go back to lurking on the Business forum and continue to learn from what I read here. Thank you, everyone, for your forebearance.

BioSci wrote in post #12108341
I feel that I must apologize for my earlier posts in this thread. I mean no disrepect...

Are you sure you are not working for TinEye to get the word out? .
I had never heard of that site, but I have been playing with it this past weekend. It is pretty cool!

I was flattered the first time that someone used my photos without permission too. I had taken several pictures of a famous Caribbean singer at a festival in Brooklyn one year. The next year before the same festival I saw a website promoting it using mmy pictures. I had posted those pics on a Caribbean music website and someone used them without contacting me. I was proud that they liked my pictures so much and used them.

Well you guys that are happy with theft are... as one would say... scrubs. Scabs? Basically you are so appreciative that people will validate your photography that you're willing to throw away your rights.

Take a step back and see what they're doing. If they really cared about your photo they would pay you for it.

Perhaps it's time to ask the opposite question: if someone isn't willing to pay for it, are you willing to let someone use it for what amounts to no economic gain?

Most photographers are not professionals, and would gladly do so. Within this particular subforum many people might feel differently, with good reason.

Pariel wrote in post #12109516
Perhaps it's time to ask the opposite question: if someone isn't willing to pay for it, are you willing to let someone use it for what amounts to no economic gain?

Most photographers are not professionals, and would gladly do so. Within this particular subforum many people might feel differently, with good reason.

Exactly.

Some of us make our living in other ways and photography is "just" a hobby - or support for our other hobbies.

That said, I did use TinEye over the weekend and found a blogger using one of my images with an attribution to another site/photographer altogether.

I requested a correction and a link back to my site. So I went from a "stolen" image to a valuable back-link with a quick, politely worded email.

Unfortunately it would take months or more to chase down the hundreds of other "stolen" images. Many of my shots have been used in various online magazine articles and galleries (like this one) and they tend to get grabbed from there. Worse yet, they usually aren't even very good images!

To respond to you "professionals" on the site. I actually don't mind when someone wants to use one of my photos that I have posted in a public forum. I know going in that anyone can right click and copy the picture. Anyway they can only use the pictures on the Internet since it was way to small to print a clear copy. I do shoot for pay and do everything possible to protect those full sized images. I think that we all know that once you post on a public forum, Facebook, Twitter or wherever, someone else can possible take the picture and use it how they want to. I do agree that it is not right to use someone elses pics without permission, but I'm also flattered when I see someone use anything that I was not trying to sell and had posted online.

NYC2BGI wrote in post #12110570
To respond to you "professionals" on the site. I actually don't mind when someone wants to use one of my photos that I have posted in a public forum. I know going in that anyone can right click and copy the picture. Anyway they can only use the pictures on the Internet since it was way to small to print a clear copy. I do shoot for pay and do everything possible to protect those full sized images. I think that we all know that once you post on a public forum, Facebook, Twitter or wherever, someone else can possible take the picture and use it how they want to. I do agree that it is not right to use someone elses pics without permission, but I'm also flattered when I see someone use anything that I was not trying to sell and had posted online.

Okay, so you're flattered that someone likes your work "so much" that they're willing to steal from you. If they liked it they would have contacted you about it.

That's like saying you're glad your coworker stole your homemade lunch because it's a compliment to your (or your spouse's) cooking.

It also takes away from the possibility of someone hiring you based on the knowledge that you took that picture they saw and liked on some webpage.