It is Friday and Fridays are for fun. The point of the Friday fun thing is that I write about most anything and in this case it is fun for me and maybe not so much for you. Theft is not funny but if you are me you have to have a sense of humor about everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING.
The first photo is stolen the most. It is easy to spot because of the vignetting and the drop shadow frame. It is on Flickr and I have tagged it "most stolen". I have found it in the lobby of the Rossmor building. Some of the residents use it to advertise that their unit is for rent. I have found it on a few Realtor web sites and it is on the MLS in a couple of places. I never really liked the photo because of the perspective, and because of the way the top of the building is cut off. Every time I see it I cringe. I now have a better photo of the place but I am not telling where it is. You can take your own &^%$#!! photo.The Rossmor photo is Creative Commons that means anyone can use it but . . "You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work) "
Our MLS does not allow for photo credits so that means you can not put it in the MLS. You can use it on your web site and give me a photo credit and link back to this blog. Chances are your web site doesn't get any traffic and no one will see the photo or the credit anyway but what the heck. .
This photo of Mears Park is not stolen as often as the one above . . . or maybe I have not found them all. I have found it on a few web sites and there is never any doubt that it is my photo. It was taken last year and the park does not have the same flowers in the same places each year. I also used HDR processing on it which really makes it unique. When a friend saw the photo on a web site he told me that he was sure it was mine because the wood chips are in the same place.There are some who instantly recognize my work and send me a note when they find one of my shots on someone else's web site.
I share many of my photos and usually ask for a photo credit. The Mears park photo is copyright. When I find the photo on the internet I send a cease and desist email. In the email I ask the thief to immediately remove the photo. Usually they do and I don't have to take any other kind of action.
For the Realtors who steal them . . and I have to say there are two of my photos of the Rossmor on another agents web site and in the MLS right now . . you need to know that I don't share my photos with direct competitors. I have taken photos for some of my competitors but I charge for the service. Camera lenses are expensive and I like mine to pay for themselves quickly.
If you are using some of my photos right now please contact me. Like I mentioned above I know where some of these are right now and the cease and desist letters are ready to go. For non profits I usually just say yes when they ask to use a photo. For businesses I usually say no unless they want to pay for them, or give me a link or . . . we can work something out, but you can't just take them because that is wrong.
This was fun to write. See you on the internet and have a great weekend!
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T, not only did you have fun writing it. I had fun reading it. I wish it wasn’t happening to you but I’m glad you can keep your usual wit about you. I recently dealt with the same type thing on my Harrison Ford photo. Fortunately I also have friends who keep an eye out for me. The crazy thing is, I would have probably agreed to allow usage if they would have just asked up front! Hopefully more people start understanding that.
Grrrr… Sometimes people just kill me. You were very gracious to only send a C&D.
But like Dale said…that was fun to read.
Well like Bob and Dale I enjoyed the read, and loved the way you described knowing they were your photos
We do know which ones are ours, and I know with my land photos I have seen them umpteen times on the MLS…grrrr is right 
Well put!! We have that happen with our photos quite a bit. Only with our people that distribute them have often signed an agreement that they will not re-distribute, sell or publish unless they have received the correct release from our organization. I’m always amazed at how many people will just scan a photo out of our publication and fling it all over the net. Unfortunately, with a non-profit historical society something like that is literally stealing potential dollars that fund our collection maintenance. Isn’t infringement fun? Take no prisoners!!
I believe there is software available that scours images on the web pixel by pixel to determine if your photos have been misappropriated. Is anyone else aware of this technology? I can’t remember where I found it.