Local newspaper stole my photos, what should I do?

[BillBingham2]

There are two different approaches you can take. As stated above you can ask them to take it down. But another approach might yield a better long term result.

Perhaps you can call them, offer them better version under a copy right and try to develop a working relationship with them. You might give them a very low cost right to put on the interent in trade for say the ability shoot more pictures for them from time to time and a blurb (read link) to your site for sale. Might be leverage-able for a show at their brink and mortar site or a cafe near by.

Spin it positive, if it turns ugly and nasty then modify your tune a bit more after you know how holds their purse strings (not likely the folks who plucked your shots) and who you can call. Knowledge is power, get some knowledge, make some friends if you can and if not use your knowledge.

B2 (;->

 

[rpsawin]

Need some advice -
The local alternative arts paper in Seattle...

What do I do?

1. ask for credit and leave it be?
2. get more pissed off and seek legal action?
3. demand a job!?

any advice would be appreciated

Well, since it's Seattle I'd do the following if payment/photo credits are not immediately forthcoming:

Vote Republican in the next few elections
Drive a used Hummer
Eat at McDonalds for the evening meal

Make sure they understand that their bad actions have caused you to snap and suffer the above reactions....😀

Seriously, I think your best course of action is to contact them and give them the opportunity to do the right thing. While this means a great deal to you it's probably not even recognized as a problem by them.

Good luck and keep us posted,

Best regards,

Bob

 

[John Elder]

Nobody ever considers bringing criminal charges is this situation, and I think they should. I would threaten the paper with theft charges and or theft by deception (using the false name). After all the images are property and they have been stolen, and used without your permission. Will definitely give you more leverage against the paper. Further no defense attorney, worth his salt, is going to tell the paper it definitely is not theft.

 

[swoop]

You're not going to get a correction or post dated credit. Best you can hope for is the freelance assignment rate. Usuallly $15-$25 at local weekly papers and it's only $200 at the New York Times, so don't expect a fortune. Is the photo credit given to the reporter/writer? It's possible they provided the photo and the editors just assumed he/she took them. At small papers a lot of the reporters/writers provide their own photos. Find the email address of the reporter/writer and of the managing editor and send an email explaining you took the photo and it was stolen from your facebook, provide a link to the original and to the photo posted on their site. And they will clear it up. They would rather pay you the photo rate rather than deal with a lawsuit. And they'll likely change the credit online. But don't expect anything in print. Every inch of paper is a small fortune. It won't be wasted on that. And if it was hijacked by the reporter/writer, you've pretty much ended their career.