Watermarks

I did a quick search but didn't seem to find anything.


So I was roaming around Facebook today and ran across a fellow photographers work. The thing is, I found it in someone else pictures. Watermarks and all. Someone asked where the work came from and the user with the images said that they "Print Screened" the images off the photographers webpage.

Now, I know that the photographer had taken these at a specific event in the attempt to sell them back to the riders. (It was a horse show.)

I know that most use watermarks for deterring people from doing such things or advertising, but if I watermarked an image does that act as a copyright? Is there legal action that can be taken for these types of events?

It just seems like such a waste for someone to go through all of the watermarking and such, if it isn't going to stop anyone anyways.


And insite into this would be great.

You really cannot stop someone from stealing your images if you post them online.

Its not right and the violator could be held accountable. If the original photographer had registered those images there could be a hefty check involved.

Depending on where in the world the original photographer is can also be a factor.

I think you have to look at those things are free advertising (as long as the watermark is kept on the image). I have a friend whose photographer posted super-low rez images on his website for clients to choose from and my friend, being the low-life that he is, screen-captured the images and put them on his facebook. The images, because they were posted at low-rez for the purpose of preventing exactly what my friend did, look absolutely terrible. And the watermark on the images don't say, "these are low rez, there are higher rez available.. really, trust me I'm good" Instead the watermark, say the photographer produces low-quality work.