So I was at a local event shooting tennis, and I get a bunch of this one guy playing mixed doubles. I pass out some cards and I didn't get a single sale. No biggie it was for a friend to help promote anyway.

The issue:

The guy that I took photos of has one that I took as his avatar on a local photography board here. I am still trying to figure out how to contact him about it, but he didn't contact me to get permission or anything. Certainly didn't pay for it.

What would you guys do?

I am sure after seeing that one as his avatar he probably has EVERY image that I took of that tourmament and is using them all without permission

Ryan

Why not send him a PM? You said he was on a forum, right?

So, did you upload the images to a website? I'm trying to figure how he got your images. Did you watermark the images?

I uploaded them to my photoreflect site. They had my watermark on them yes, but it was only on the bottom of the photo so he just cropped it out apparently.

He is on another forum, but not one that i can easily find his email or PM him. They don'toffer that functionality. It's more like a social gathering site

Ryan

I can't believe you're worried about someone using your photo as their avatar. Seems a little overboard is all.

did you get him to sign a model release form ;o)

j.curtis wrote:
I can't believe you're worried about someone using your photo as their avatar. Seems a little overboard is all.



Someone who intentionally crops the watermark knows what they are doing. Is a little theft ok?

pappawheely wrote:

Someone who intentionally crops the watermark knows what they are doing. Is a little theft ok?

No amount of theft is ever OK, but many of us don't wish to invest the time to chase down every little offender. MySpace is a good example. I could spend weeks asking people remove my images from their sites - and what would that really do for me? I most certainly chase down infractions beyond the MySpace/avitars/BBS posts, etc.

My time is valuable so I choose my battles.

If you want to stop him, join the board where your image is being used, and post about the issue. In the future put large watermarks on your images if you want to avoid this kind of misuse.

Marc

As a practical matter if you put an image on the web in such a form that it can be stolen - it will be. If you want to sell images - first COPYRIGHT your images and so mark them. (yes, I know copyright is automatic - but good luck finding an attorney to take the case if you did not formally copyright same - after all it costs nothing. So do it.

Next - ONLY put images on the web (copyright or not) in such a form they cannot be copied. IE - Watermark in such a way the image cannot be used with the watermark. (this calls for some care, not to damage visibility. I notice the big shot stock agencies often mark images so you cannot judge them. They obviously don't care if an image sells or not.) You can also reduce the size to the point where they can be seen but are too small for any practical use. Of course they will then be used for atavars, etc .

rennie12 wrote:

....... If you want to sell images - first COPYRIGHT your images and so mark them. (yes, I know copyright is automatic - but good luck finding an attorney to take the case if you did not formally copyright same after all it costs nothing. So do it.

.

I would love to hear how you are avoiding the filing fees that all of us have to pay?

Marc.

rennie12 wrote:
good luck finding an attorney to take the case if you did not formally copyright same - after all it costs nothing.

How is this done? For free that is.

Vidoprof,

In my field I run into this all the time. Rather than ask the offenders to remove it, I send them a short note about the photo and ask them to post a linkback to my website. They almost always comply and it generates additional sales. In the rare case they dont comply I just send them another note that contains just a link
http://laughingsquid.com/lane-hartwell-speaks-out-about-photography-theft/