A Funny Thing Happened to two Photos of mine

[SolaresLarrave]

A funny thing indeed.

I never thought I was any good, so when I had two situations with photos of mine sometime during these last two weeks.

The first one, not a pleasant one, was to find out that someone, a certain Nicholas Navrozidis, ripped a photograph from my Leica M4-2 blog and posted it in his page. Here, it's the third one from the top.

http://snobberyfields.blogspot.com/2011/06/leica-m4.html

I sent him a note requesting him to take it down. So far, nothing. I'm tempted to send him one per day but he still can ignore the messages.

The second, I was asked to provide either permission or a fee for the use of a photograph of mine in a website. It's a photograph taken (go figure!) with my Leica M4-2 and posted in Flickr! a long time ago. Of course I'm flattered, and would like to know what to do.

Hence, my request for advice. What to do about Mr Navrozidis? Then, do I request a fee for use or authorize the use for free of my second photograph?

WWYD? Thanks in advance!!

 

[SolaresLarrave]

BTW, I recall someone having a similar issue, and there was talk about getting a lawyer involved because the actual photograph got used for advertising. Or am I getting mixed up with some other thing?

 

[charjohncarter]

All I get from the site is an offer to download a browser but if you click on 'continued unsuported' you get something but again it changes with each time you do it. If I'm off please inform me.

 

[Brian Legge]

It looks like its a non-commercial blog, grabbing photos he founds about whatever he is posting about?

If so, I don't know how much of your energy fighting this is worth. I'm sure I'll get slammed for this view - not protecting your work, etc - but if you have good pictures online, blogs are going to point at / use your work. Its inevitable. You can spend time trying to track them down and get the photos removed or you can focus on either the art of it, avenues that will likely lead to making money, etc. Chasing the infinite number of places photos can be reposted just seems like a hopeless task.

 

[DNG]

It looks like the images change every few minutes...
The Sidebar tab seems to give a credit to the photographers on his montage page.... BUT, he should have contacted you through your Flickr.... as you know..

Hope you can contact him, OR... The Blogspot webmaster?

 

[jordanstarr]

Yes, this topic has come up a few times. You can watermark your photographs so that if anyone "steals" them, you still have photo credit.

My personal opinion -let it go. It's not worth the stress. He's not claiming it is his, he's not making money off it, the information is informative...he's not doing anything horribly wrong (if anything wrong at all). If you've ever downloaded a song or bootlegged a program (say...photoshop?), it would pretty much just make you a hypocrite. This isn't a portfolio image of yours that he is portraying in a negative light, it's a simple shot of your gear.

The bottom line is, when you throw up your photographs online, this is the risk you take. If you don't like people using your images, don't post them. Or if you do and you really care, be smart about it. Copywrite protect it somehow or whatever. There's lots of options. Feel flattered and move on.

 

[richardhkirkando]

Send him a bill.

 

[Richard G]

Third from the top. But maybe specify it's the cityscape with the silhouette of the tree in front.* Third from the top can change. And the image can disappear altogether. Irritating. Nice shot.

*I have a 1930 Catalogue of the National Gallery (London). It's all descriptions, sufficiently detailed for an insurer, policeman or curator to identify what it is that is missing.

 

[---f]

move on, it's not a great shot anyways.

 

[back alley]

move on, it's not a great shot anyways.

just full of that christmas cheer, eh?

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Fireboy, I kind of agree... but I like it, and that makes it worthwhile. Richard, you're right, it's the city shot with a tree in the foreground. I like the composition.

Must admit that since he's only posting information about the M4 cameras, I should just forget about it. However, the guy didn't bother to read the entry from which he stole that photograph, so he doesn't know I took it with one of my M5 bodies.

I found he's in FB and sent him a note. I think I'll desist after this. It bothers me he didn't request it. I would have been glad to add his blog in my list of links.

What about the Flickr offer?

 

[Corto]

WWYD? whatever you want man.

 

[David Murphy]

I like the shot! Nice work. It's not epic, but it evokes the stark feel of a big city on a wintry day.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Email blogger.com and ask them to remove it since its on their servers. The Digital Millenium Copyright Act requires web providers to remove copyrighted content users post on their services if the copyright holder asks. I've done this numerous times when I've found bloggers and others using my work without permission.

 

[RichC]

I agree with Chris, if you get no joy from the blogger. I also fundamentally disagree with some of the posters here who seem to be shrugging their shoulders...

It's not so much that this particular blogger has done anything especially henious - but, rather, it's the thin edge (of an increasingly) thicker wedge. It's seen as increasingly OK to nick artists' work (photographs, music, etc.) - digital files are so portable! - that even major organisations are caught doing it.

If you shrug your shoulders and let it go, the situation will only get worse. Bottom line: abuse of copyright = theft.

I'd periodically hassle him/his ISP until something happens!

As to the website seeking permission: that's how it should be done! If asked, I usually give permission; free, if it's non-commercial use or the organisation hasn't got much money (but I do request an acknowledgement/link to my website); fee charged (rate varies, but bear in mind that repro fees are usually not high these days) if it's for commercial use or they can afford it.

Balance the fee (or no fee!) against the benefit of exposure: presumably, we all want to be recognised as photographers (well, I do!), and the more my photos are circulated, the better!

 

[Jamie123]

If you shrug your shoulders and let it go, the situation will only get worse. Bottom line: abuse of copyright = theft.

I disagree. This is not really a 'slippery slope' case and letting this one go will most likely not have any effects on the general situation regarding copyright. Even if we agree that abuse of copyright is theft (which I think is a often used statement that does more harm to the sitaution than good), there are still degrees. If you're a grocery store owner and you catch someone eating a grape you'll most likely just tell him off instead of calling the police. Why? Because it's simply not worth the hassle.

Same thing here. It's simply not worth to spend a lot of time and energy to pursue this. It will do the OP more harm than good.
There is certainly no financial gain and it will also not set any kind of 'precedent' that would discourage others from doing the same. At the most the guy will have to take down the image in question.

As with anything in life you have to pick your battles.

 

[jesse1dog]

If I read things correctly, which is often not the case, the photo was uploaded to the blog in June, and that is 6 months ago. OK that it is 6 months ago and not yesterday shouldn't make any difference and the world hasn't been too affected in the meantime because of the photo posting.
Chris has a point but in the circumstances I think there are more important things in life.

jesse

 

[Moriturii]

Easy, send an invoice, if he refuses to pay, send lawyers.

 

[RichC]

If you're a grocery store owner and you catch someone eating a grape you'll most likely just tell him off

Precisely. That's all I'm advocating. People need to know it's wrong - and it seems that "borrowing" photos (or songs) is increasingly seen as OK.

If I were a greengrocer, I'd be upset if increasing numbers of people thought it was OK to eat a grape!

 

[fireblade]

What Would Jesus Do? 😀
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...hey!! its christmas, im happy.