Ugh, is there anything I can do about someone using my photos without crediting me? - YouLookFab Forum

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Ugh, is there anything I can do about someone using my photos without crediting me?

Irene

Veteran

So, this is pretty stupid but it's just bothering me a lot right now. Some days ago I used one Google's tools to track my photos on the internet. Up to now there was only one photo of mine that had been used on the web. It went viral (you know, one of those facebook photos with a sentimental text over them like 'If he asks you for time and space, give him a watch and a rocket'). I didn't know the source of the whole thing, and it was too much out there anyways. BUT no face was visible on it, and it had a huge watermark on it. Plus, the quality was awful.

This time around, however, a blogger has used one of my photos to add to her post (she writes short stories). And you know what, been there, done that myself. So I kindly commented on that post, told her she wrote very nicely and said I was honored that she had chosen one my photos for her blog, but that I would like her to credit me, even if it was only with my name (artistic name). I was extremely polite and nice.

Well, I tracked the blog down today again: turns out she not only didn't credit me, but also deleted my comment. Of course she is still using other people's work too without crediting them.

This just made me angry. I mean, really. What the **** is wrong with people?

This is her blog: http://set-mefre-e.blogspot.com.es/
It's the photo of a girl lying on the floor, Snowhite like. That's actually a close friend of mine. http://irinabright.blogspot.co.....-post.html

I've thought about reporting the site, but I'm not sure it's such a big deal that blogger will actually care about this.

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Archer

MsMary

Veteran

I might be tempted to keep posting my comment. Like, every day. Or multiple times a day. Re-post it as fast as she can delete it.

That would probably be the wrong thing to do, but I would be very tempted to do it.

Astrid

Veteran

I would at least try to do something about it, even if they don't follow it up. You were polite and friendly and she has rudely ignored you and didn't take the picture down either.

ETA

MaryK, love it.

Irene

Veteran

MaryK, I thought about that too. Damn, I'm SO mad!!!!

Astrid, might report the site too.

ETA

Left another message, let's see what she does.

Anonymous

I can understand why you're so angry. As a pianist and vocalist, it has always bothered me when people illegally download music instead of purchasing it, or photocopy music instead of buying the sheet music or songbook. It's stealing, and it's wrong. No one has the right to steal your work! You should do something about it, if possible.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Clearly, we run into this type of thing with YLF.

Irene, it would have been better to contact the blogger privately about your request, as opposed to writing a comment on the post. I'm not surprised that your comment as deleted. And never be defensive or annoyed in your interactions with bloggers. State the facts calmly and logically - you will always have more impact that way.

YLF photos of me pop up all over the show - especially on ebay and on sites in foreign languages. Often, there is very little that can be done about it. I ask permission to use the photos of others just because it's polite, and I would prefer people to ask us too. Often people ask to use our photos actually - but sometimes don't credit the photo with link. *sigh*. It is what it is.

Irene

Veteran

Angie, you are right that I should have contacted the author privately (it just didn't occur to me). I was very nice though, and polite. I even said I was flattered and that her texts were good, and tried to make her understand saying something like 'I'm sure you wouldn't like it if someone posted your texts as their own', but in a non-menacing sounding way. I'm starting to think maybe the texts aren't hers either (yes, that has happened to me, too, and the particular text was really, really bad), but who knows.

I'll try sending her an e-mail though, see if she likes it better that way.

I'm sorry it happens to you, too, and I bet much, much, much more often. What truly bothers me is not so much that they used it -she's using it for personal purposes, and I don't think she gets that many visits anyways- but the fact that she didn't credit me AFTER I politely asked her to, nor did she credit the new photo she added on her recent post after me telling her that that was the right thing to do.

I've done this and more in the past. I just didn't know any better. But what I do know is that if I had ever been contacted by the author of a photo asking me to credit them, I would have, without any doubt (I would have also been really embarrassed). You like a photo, great, just acknowledge the author. It's not that difficult, and it shows that you respect them.

ironkurtin

Veteran

When I see the picture it has your information on it. Perhaps she considers that credit enough?

Irene

Veteran

IK, if you mean the watermark, it's a new addition from two hours ago. The image she features on her site doesn't have a watermark because I don't like them.

I just thought, who is going to use my photo when there are so many other amazing photos out there?

Heh.

ETA: Also, it's funny how she has achieved to protect EVERYTHING on her site from being copied/saved. How did she manage to do that on lightbox view is a mystery for me, I've been trying that for months. You can't right click anywhere, so it's not possible to see the original link either (provided she didn't save the photo first and then upload it herself).

Gigi

Veteran

I don't have any suggestions for you, Irene, other than to say that I don't blame you for being ticked off. I work in publishing, and I am very in tune with copyright. Those pictures belong to you, and NO ONE has the right to use them without your written permission. Even if they're not making money off the photo, they still don't have the right to use it.

Plagiarism on the Net is frustrating in a practical sense too...when I am looking for information on something and get various websites popping up in a search engine, it is annoying to see that several of them have the *exact same* text. What a waste of my time! No one seems to have any standards or integrity anymore.

deb

Veteran

Did you notice she does not have any comments on any of her posts? I thought that odd.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I was mad at myself for clicking on her link and adding to her web traffic, so I left a comment saying it's sad that she has to steal photos.

Grr. Is there some kind of site administrator you could complain to? It's Blogspot, after all.

Irene

Veteran

Ok, ok, as much as I appreciate your concern, Rae, because I do, let's just not bully her lol (although I think she kind of deserves it, but oh well).

Deb, I don't have many visits on my own blog (and have blogs with no visits at all). It happens when you do not follow other people, comment on other blogs, promote your site everywhere and are not that good to begin with. It's not that strange. She probably just uses it to express herself and show her friends, which I find perfectly legit. But now that you mention it, it's weird that not even friends have left a note.

Gigi, I know! And what's the point in copying the exact same text from one site to another. If you are not going add new info, do not publish it in the first place, it's stupid and useless!
Most people do not know (I didn't know in the beginning either) that once a photo is taken, the person who took that photo is the owner of that photo unless a contract states otherwise. Watermarked or not watermarked. Registered or not. But most people see a non-watermarked image and assume it's free to use. Damn, but I told her that wasn't the case and she ignored me. There's my problem!

A long time ago I found an entire fanfiction of mine published on another forum as if the poster was writing it. People were congratulating that person for the text (and the story was pretty bad lol). I don't know why they did it though, I mean, why take the credit for something you haven't done. What's the point (unless you are getting paid). At least I know people are not assuming this girl is the author of the photos, just the author of the texts (I hope).

Looking around the site I've found photographers complaining that their photos are stolen by other photographers who want to improve their portfolios (yes, for real). Instead of improving their own skills, they take someone else's photo as if their talent came along. Now, what do they do when a client asks a photo just like that one on your portfolio, that I don't know :S

ETA: And I've decided that if she still doesn't change this after me and Rae posting again, I'll let it go. She's not worth my suffering.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

This is pretty much an epidemic. I've learned to accept that anything I put on the web can be lifted and reused by someone else. In my own weird mind, this is part of why I don't take professional-grade photos of myself for WIWs. It's enough to find my photographs of inanimate objects like rusty trucks and icebergs out there via Pinterest, Tumblr, etc.

I think contacting the blog owner is the only real recourse for something like this. If they were using your images to sell something on a commercial site, you'd have grounds to go after them for compensation.

I did have to contact a portfolio-hosting site last year when I discovered another "photographer" was using one of my photos in their portfolio. Boy, was I steamed! I reported them to the hosting company, and the company took that user's profile down. It was one of those sites targeted to professionals, like Behance. So it does seem like some providers take this seriously.

Sorry you're experiencing this. It seems all a part of being a creative on the web these days. I know writers and designers who have been ripped off too.

Anonymous

Janet's right that anything on the web can be lifted and used. That doesn't make it right, though. It's a shame that some people can be so dishonest.

chadya

Veteran

tacky,
can you report her use to the hosting company as noted upthread,

Glory

Veteran

Very frustrating. I actually cannot get into either site when I click.

Archer

Veteran

Rae's right about the fact that we are now giving her a bigger audience - what she is doing is working. Irritating as I would find it too - sympathies.