No doubt a previously discussed subject, but I was just wondering what other people would do in this situation.
For certain keywords in Google Images I can almost guarantee that there will be photos I have taken that have subsequently been stolen and used without my knowledge or permission. I found another one yesterday. There is very rarely any attempt to contact me to ask permission, no credit or link back to my website, or any offer of compensation.
There have been a few exceptions and if people ask I normally agree if they give me a credit and back link. A Muslim man in Malaysia was compiling a book containing the great mosques of the world and asked to use some of my images. I agreed and sent him full size jpgs. When the book was published he sent me a free copy. It's a beautiful book (Masjid - Selected Mosques From The Islamic World) and if you can find a copy it will cost you $100. Considering the quality of the book, it is quite an honour that it contains some of my photos.
People buying the stock photos I have on Fotolia is fine (that's what they're there for), but it's never acceptable simply to steal photos from my website.
I sent an e-mail to the latest offender asking him/her to remove the photo or to compensate me. So far, there has been no reply and when I have sent e-mails previously I don't usually receive a reply.
What should I do?
1) Be flattered that my photos are considered by some people to be worth stealing?
2) Keep hassling them until the photo is removed or I receive some compensation?
3) Contact the hosting site to get the image removed?
4) Issue a DMCA?
5) Nothing?
6) Add a big, ugly watermark so that images are unusable? I really don't want to do this because I want the site to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible.
I lead a very busy life with two young kids and don't really have the time to go through lengthy correspondence, therefore, option 5 is normally my response but it has now started to irritate me.
I know that there are much better photographers than me in this forum and no doubt some of you will have plenty of experience of this.
Edit: Option 6 added.
For certain keywords in Google Images I can almost guarantee that there will be photos I have taken that have subsequently been stolen and used without my knowledge or permission. I found another one yesterday. There is very rarely any attempt to contact me to ask permission, no credit or link back to my website, or any offer of compensation.
There have been a few exceptions and if people ask I normally agree if they give me a credit and back link. A Muslim man in Malaysia was compiling a book containing the great mosques of the world and asked to use some of my images. I agreed and sent him full size jpgs. When the book was published he sent me a free copy. It's a beautiful book (Masjid - Selected Mosques From The Islamic World) and if you can find a copy it will cost you $100. Considering the quality of the book, it is quite an honour that it contains some of my photos.
People buying the stock photos I have on Fotolia is fine (that's what they're there for), but it's never acceptable simply to steal photos from my website.
I sent an e-mail to the latest offender asking him/her to remove the photo or to compensate me. So far, there has been no reply and when I have sent e-mails previously I don't usually receive a reply.
What should I do?
1) Be flattered that my photos are considered by some people to be worth stealing?
2) Keep hassling them until the photo is removed or I receive some compensation?
3) Contact the hosting site to get the image removed?
4) Issue a DMCA?
5) Nothing?
6) Add a big, ugly watermark so that images are unusable? I really don't want to do this because I want the site to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible.
I lead a very busy life with two young kids and don't really have the time to go through lengthy correspondence, therefore, option 5 is normally my response but it has now started to irritate me.
I know that there are much better photographers than me in this forum and no doubt some of you will have plenty of experience of this.
Edit: Option 6 added.