Copyright and photo theft
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I received a comment on one of my blogs from someone informing me they had ‘borrowed’ one of my photos. And I should go visit their blog to see it!
It says quite clearly in my T&Cs that
“I don’t expect anyone to steal my words or my photos”
and
“If you wish to quote something from here or use a photo on a non-profit making blog, please ask nicely, say that you will attribute me, and I may or may not say yes.”
In this case I probably wouldn’t have done. However, without even a credit or thank you on his blog, I was annoyed and offended and replied to his comment asking him to take it down.
Questions
1) What has anyone else done in the same situation?
2) Any bright ideas about what I can do should he ignore my polite request to take it down?
Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for any answers.
Roughseas
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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1) if you want specific help, you need to give us the specific URL of the blog post where the image is now, and the URL of where it came from.
2) lay a DMCA on him. Or do this http://manolofood.com/whine-journalism-and-how-to-bring-the-splashback/
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Thank you RC.
Here is my post, and the photo in question is the second one down. The young man with dyed red hair:
Here it is on the other blog by Jonathan Caswall:
http://bythemightymumford.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/ginger-licious-pride/Thank you for your reply, and the link to your post. It’s good, and if that’s what I need to do I will follow your advice. Appreciated.
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Since they are hosted here – visit the site / page in question – click on the blog name on the left top nav. bar – pick Report content – click button for copyright theft and follow the instructions – that is probably the easiest way to start
then if that does not work:
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Thank you very much for that auxclass. I’ll try that, and I’ll read the links as well before I do it. As with RC, thanks so much for a prompt response to an annoying situation.
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AC, the report content form sends me to the DMCA notice anyway.
I suppose I will have to leave a comment first, and then go down that route, as the WP advice is to contact the blogger first.
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@ RC
I’m still puzzled why he was stupid enough to tell me!! I don’t have T&Cs and © on my photos for nothing. If I’m not prepared to do something, then I wouldn’t bother spending time © ing the photos and writing up a a page of T&Cs. And more people should do something about it, instead of saying it doesn’t matter.
While I’m not a photographer by trade, I am a journalist and copyright is one of big issues. I’ll let you all know how it goes. It’s nice to know what I should do however and that I can do more than just saying ‘please take down my photo’.
Top class service from you both :)
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Well, maybe he’s really, really dim and your wording confused him? Or maybe he just wants to taunt you, in which case you’ve got him by the short and curlies, because WP.com takes copyright very seriously.
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Yeah, you’re right. Us journalists are terrible writers that’s why we get paid for it.
Good to hear that WP takes it seriously. Anyway, I’ve done the right thing, replied on mine and sadly wrote on his too (awaiting moderation).
Generously, I’ve given him the option of leaving up the photo, subject to a payment of one hundred pounds sterling, a link back to my blog and an attribution to roughseas.
Otherwise I’ve given him a deadline of my lunchtime, which should give him time to get his idle self out of bed (he’s MA) and deal with it. Then I file the DMCA.
It’s actually nice to know there is some support over this issue, I was pretty frustrated when I jumped out of bed and read his asinine comment, so being able to do something about it is great.
WP does include threats on their pages however. I take it my quotes above on my T&Cs, and the use of © on my photos are good enough to convince them that the photo in question is MY property and not to be re-used without my permission?
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When it comes to writing: I know a lot of journalists, being one myself, and some of them owe their careers to their editors and that’s a fact. When it comes to copyright notices, more direct is best, but some people know quite well they’re stealing and they just steal anyway and no words will stop them.
I’ve dealt with these guys for years. Just file the DMCA now. You are going to have to do it anyway. The classic thing is for him to come back and say because you have an RSS feed, you are syndicating your content and he can take it.
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OK, what have I got wrong?
Form not submitted — please check the following errors:
The value for Location of unauthorized material on WordPress.com is invalid. Please enter one URL (with http:// or https://) per line. -
Probably if you’re saying the IMAGE is what’s stolen, it needs the image URLs and not the post URLs. Try that.
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It finally worked. Clicking on the image URL just sent it back to me. Hey, I know where my blog is!!
I’ve got a number from Auto. They will contact me after they have reviewed my claim. Wouldn’t think it was too difficult. Copyright slapped on the photo? Photo goes back to my blog? We’ll see.
Will let you know, as you have been v helpful. Still wondering why he told me he had done it though! ‘hey I’ve stolen one of your photos, come see’ **** for brains or what?
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Great!
Yeah, there are some dumb people out there. And some who think it’s better to ask forgiveness than permisson.
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I’m pleased he was dumb enough to tell me (he didn’t bother asking for forgiveness but I guess he figures the Lord will do that for him) or I wouldn’t have known.
And thanks to the help on this thread I am a bit more savvy now about what to do. So not a totally negative experience.
Also you were right (why am not surprised?) Either the idle toerag hasn’t got out of bed or he hasn’t yet read my comments asking him to take down my photo. So I’m pleased I took your advice and filed the DMCA – just got to wait to see how slow/fast that is.
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Quick update,
I have received a reply to my DMCA:
Hi there,
Your DMCA Takedown Notice has been received and reviewed for completeness.
In accordance with the requirements set forth by the DMCA, we have disabled access to the material identified as infringing. Please note that we have notified the user who uploaded the material to provide them an opportunity to formally challenge this removal. If the user decides to submit a counter-notice you will be notified immediately.
Thank you,
That’s not bad, it took a few hours. When I first checked it was still up there, but when I refreshed, it had gone. Thanks Automattic, and thanks for the help on here. I’ve already written about it on my blog, but I will write a follow-up. I’m fast enough to criticise, but I’m also fast to acknowledge prompt and helpful action.
Thanks all around to everyone.
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You be welcome & good luck – much better than the thieves at Blogger. I have filed multiple complaints against the same site – they change a few words or pictures, leave the bulk of my Post up and blogger lets them back up – and the entire blog is just copy and paste from other sites
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I moved to WP from blogger a couple of years ago because I was annoyed with a few aspects, although not photo theft.
I do appreciate the help from both you and rc as I think this is such an important issue that many bloggers do not take seriously. They should.
I’ve seen a blog that was a copy and paste site, I should have thought to report it at the time, so in future I will, given the good and fast response from Automattic.
As I said, an excellent and fast response from two volunteers on here that have helped to resolve my problem.
And as a side point, Mr C has neither replied to my comment on my own blog or published mine on his. If there is anything further, I will add to this thread, as I hope it helps other people learn that you CAN do something about someone stealing your work.
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