A Huge Case of Using Other People's photos without their permission

Sunday, May 12, 2024

Sun with Cloud

15.5°C / 60° F

A Huge Case of Using Other People's Photos 

without their  Permission

You're probably wondering why I've put huge copyright notices on the 6 photos above.

Maybe I'm "going overboard" but I'm very upset, and so, 

have I got a story to tell you!

I was doing a search on the Internet last week for my photos, 

when I noticed that a few of people's images and mine as well, were being used without anyone's permission. I don't want to mention any companies that have mega amounts of images, videos, and so forth, but that's where they are!

When I ask people and companies if I may use their photos, I always add a 

Copyright notice © 2024, as well as a note asking people to ask the owner of the photo(s)  for his/her permission.  However, this did not happen! Those photos I just mentioned were on these websites "carte-blanche"!

I have the trust of kind individuals and companies, and I was very upset.

In one case, my photos and those of someone whom I'd had the permission to use photos,

were being used to sell toys with my photos as well as those of another.  

Obviously, they do not have those toys to sell! 

Naturally, I was very upset, so I contacted 3 American Photo website sources 

where my photos are shown and displayed. These sites advertise

to have people place their photos there.

In all 3 cases, 

there were different "reasons" why nothing could or would be done:

1. They couldn't  or won't  do anything 

(such as remove them and notify those who used them).

2. Because I was using people's photos who allowed me to use them.

I could not ask one of these photo "Titans" to remove the photo on their 

website. I would have to contact the person or company who gave me permission to use

the photo, and they would have to write to the photo "Titan"

3. Because I am in Canada, they can't do anything. The "3 Titans" are in the U.S.A.

4. In one case, the place where the photos were being used is not in North America,

so it's not under their jurisdiction.

5. I asked for one of these photo-gathering sites to remove 

my photos that were being posted by people who were using my

photos "without permission"and the site said they won't.

6. I also e-mailed the Copyright Office of the USA, but I'll have to wait 

for a reply from them (if at all).

6. I even contacted the FBI, but they didn't even answer my letter. A

day later I got a letter asking how did they do. 

I told them, how could I answer that, when you didn't do anything!

I'm willing to bet that this using other people's photos without permission

 happens more often that anyone realizes.

So this is my blog post for today. My apologies if I'm slightly irritated, but 

I can't believe to what extent, there are no laws, or nobody willing to contact these sites, or to take down those photos on those mega-sized photo sites and so forth.

Also, if you go to these photo-collecting websites, you won't believe what they can do or not do with your photos. On one site, the 12 pages of the copyright laws and their "rules" are very "soft", and your photos may and can be used under the 

USA copyright Laws ("Fair Dealing").

Do a search for 

"Can my photos on the Internet be used by other people"?

Hey, what can I say?

Always "read the fine print".

Thanks for dropping by,

and as always, have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

My name is (Mr.) Stacey Bindman

and I can always be reached at:

toysearcher@gmail.com

Please Do Not Copy the Photographs Without Written Permission

Monday, January 20, 2014
              (Cold and Snowing)

Please Do Not Copy

the Photographs without Written Permission

(A Special Request)

    If you're a regular visitor to my blog,have visited in once in a while, or today is your first visit, you will notice that I do several things to try and make this an interesting blog. I have been very fortunate to have many kind people such as collectors, buyers, sellers, auctioneers, and museums allow me to use their toy photos and written descriptions.

    I always try and add a written description, add a copyright notice, and recently a watermark over the image. I also try to present the toys against a white background and as needed improve the photos to present them too my viewers. However,these photos are not mine and do belong to their original owners. As such, photos cannot simply be used without asking from the original owner for permission. That is why I always add the copyright notices to each and every photo, as well as the watermark.

   I personally have had my own photos being used on other commercial websites without my permission, and I had to send an e-mail to ask the people and companies to remove them. For my own personal photos (the first 8 months of this blog, please feel free to ask me for permission and I will gladly allow you to use them, as long as you don't make money form them, and that you give me a credit mortice for each photo.

   As for a lll other photos, they are not mine, and you will have to ask the respective owner for permission.

  Yesterday, I was searching for new photos on the Net, and by sheer coincidence, came across a pair of 2 photos that I had recently used from an auctioneer. I have a good recall for photos and images, and if you've looked at my blog, you'll notice that I try not to have duplicates of images. 

Dan Morphy, the owner of Morphy Auctions is one of the fine people who have helped me with my blog. He allows me to use his high-qualtu photos and well-researched descriptions of toys for my blog. It was a pair of his photos that were used without any written permission as far as I know.

Also, there should have been a credit notice had the photos been borrowed.

© Copyright 2014 Morphy Auctions

Please do not copy without the written permission of Morphy Auctions

The last pair of photos are the ones that were used without permission on someone else's website.

The screen-capture is from my own blog

© Copyright 2014 Morphy Auctions

Please do not copy without the written permission of Morphy Auctions

The screen-capture above is simply an enlargement.

© Copyright 2014 Morphy Auctions

Please do not copy without the written permission of Morphy Auctions

The screen-capture above is from Dan's website. The quality of the photos is great, however,sometimes, the transfer of images form one website (Morphy Auctions) to another (mine or Liveauctioneers or another site) can sometimes change.

© Copyright 2014 Morphy Auctions

Please do not copy without the written permission of Morphy Auctions

The above pair of photo were enhanced by me but are owned by Morphy Auctions.What the person did was use the above pair of photos without permission As far as I know).Moreover, he/she removed the copyright notice and the watermarks.I sometimes do not place the watermark over the toy,but slightly to the side, so that people can appreciate the toy. Also, I don't like to make the watermark so BOLD, that it will distract from the toy.

 Many websites do not place a copyright notice or watermark with their photos, but the notice may be written somewhere. Also,even if the notice is not there, there is an understanding" that any written material, drawings, artwork, and photographs are copyright and belong to the original owner. 

So please do not use the photos on my blog or elsewhere without asking.

Most people are quite happy to allow you to use their material as long as you don't make money from them. I have had some people turn me down (say no),but that's their prerogative, and I respect that.

Thanks for dropping by,

and as always,

have a great part of the day,

wherever you may be.

Stacey Bindman

Please feel free to write to me anytime at:

toysearcher@gmail.com