Stolen Photo by http://www.bluepulz.com/

[polsteam]

clever and very proper move.   good solution.

if they are not kind enough to even reply, apologize and reverse their wrongdoing (by removing pics used illegally) - they deserve this...

regards,

Peter

[miraflores]

Thanks Peter for giving me the notice.

This evening I received a mail from Helsinki, they write e.g.

We of course have not intentionally used any material not copyrighted to us or any material not freely available.
The pictures in question were copied from the internet from free domains by our webdesigner.
Most pictures on the website are taken by me personally or by the crew.
There was no intention to use material without permission.
Our webdesigner strongly denies removing any copyright stamps from any pictures.

I send them sample from the original fotos and links from the fotos were uploaded here, with my watermark.

Regards
Juergen

[Guest]

miraflores wrote:
Thanks Peter for giving me the notice.

This evening I received a mail from Helsinki, they write e.g.

We of course have not intentionally used any material not copyrighted to us or any material not freely available.
The pictures in question were copied from the internet from free domains by our webdesigner.
Most pictures on the website are taken by me personally or by the crew.
There was no intention to use material without permission.
Our webdesigner strongly denies removing any copyright stamps from any pictures.

I send them sample from the original fotos and links from the fotos were uploaded here, with my watermark.

Regards
Juergen

Hi Juergen

Why oh why didn't they just admit fault instead of justifying their use of your shots on the seemingly untrue accusation that the photographs were not watermarked. Makes them look kind of silly doesn't it!

Regards
(2nd posting for those counting!)

[Michael Martin]

The lesson that these companies have yet to learn is when your little web designer is snooping around the net for images is to ensure the images you use for publication have traceability. If the image has no watermark, then DO NOT use it. I'm sure these companies have lawyers, but most times the executives I have met don't have a clue about copyright laws. If an international agreement could be formed, allowing for the levying of hefty fines...not leaving it just to the victim to prove their images are actually theirs and then maybe, just maybe, get some compensation, then you may see a turn around. Until copyright infringement gets some teeth, then this will continue.

Ever notice that you don't see no where near as much dumping oily bilges over the side anymore? So, there is a precedent for this and similar laws could be developed.

[polsteam]

"Why oh why didn't they just admit fault instead of justifying their use of your shots on the seemingly untrue accusation that the photographs were not watermarked. Makes them look kind of silly doesn't it!"

It is possible that someone else removed Copyright watermarking and put stolen pictures on some other Website first, and from there Crystal took them (in the second place)...
However this is NOT an excuse or justification for Crystal's actions, because simply: "if you do not know the real source of pics and you do not ask for permission to use them - then you do not have right to (re)publish them...".

[miraflores]

Peter and @ll,
the removed watermark is clearly to be seen. The  webmaster from Crystal Pool must have seen it, and if there is some doubt keep the finger away.

http://i50.tinypic.com/23iw5f4.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/2kh53b.jpg

I will see what happens on monday, I'm in direct contact with them now.

Regards
Juergen

[polsteam]

Then the breach (guilt) of Crystal is even more obvious (evident)...

But I only said theoretically - even if this was not Crystal themselves, who removed Copyright "stamps" - they still had no right to use these pictures...
There is no excuse for them...

[polsteam]

this is not a "clogging"...


important issues should stay on popular forums, and not to be marginalized


Copyright is very important issue and is of interest to many of users of this community

[polsteam]

"Tony D. put up a good idea, I am just following it up, I am suggesting a special named Forum for this subject only so that members can use it to post any violations that they see regarding misuse of our photo's, the members would then be able to see at a glance who the Websites are that are taking our photo's."

so why finally Copyright related threads have been marginalized by moving to unpopular major sub-forum ?...

Copyright issues are important enough (for MANY users) to either retain them in one of the most popular major sub-forums or to establish a dedicated sub-forum for these issues...

[Cornelia Klier]

Thanks for making the topic sticky anyways ! This might be a good thing, if we can't have an own forum on this and it is respected.

However, as copyright is such a big matter, and either willingly or by accident often not respected, perhaps another thing could help:

On the main website a big, red text that Copyright-holder are the photographers who put online. Photographers must always be asked in case someone wants to use the photo.

As well, and I have NO clue whether such is technically feasible - not a watermark, but automatically with every photo (under the photo!!) comes text that says:

Copyright lies within the photographer, using photo without asking permission is strictly forbidden.

OK, might not look very neat to have that text under every photo, but at least it is not IN the photo but nobody could say that the folks have not been warned and playing innocent wouldn't be an option anyore !

It is just an idea.. not sure what you folks think about it  :-D

[stevo]

Seems that they also use my pictures.
Euro Corallo : http://www.stevo.be/displayimage.php?pos=-824

Let me know what you did because I see picture of Crystal Pearl is deleted.

miraflores wrote:
Peter and @ll,
the removed watermark is clearly to be seen. The  webmaster from Crystal Pool must have seen it, and if there is some doubt keep the finger away.

http://i50.tinypic.com/23iw5f4.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/2kh53b.jpg

I will see what happens on monday, I'm in direct contact with them now.

Regards
Juergen

[stevo]

Maybe change the title

" Stolen photo's and copyright abuse"

COKL wrote:
Thanks for making the topic sticky anyways ! This might be a good thing, if we can't have an own forum on this and it is respected.  

[stevo]

Does anybody knows what our 'legal rights' are in these cases of photo abuse?
Can we do something?? Do we have rights because the vessel is owned by the company who's using our pictures.

[Fred Vloo]

Companies don't have any right over your photos. Period
When you read do whole thread you'll see several things you can do.

Cheers Fred

[miraflores]

Hi @ll,
after some more eMails to that companies my newest baby was born today.

http://www.sh-touri.de/fotos/crystal.html

The URL was reported to Google, so I wait if something happens.
If nobody helps me I help myself.

Regards
Juergen