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Update on Stolen Pics Thread  

post #1 of 182
7/22/08 at 5:13pm
Thread Starter 
OK, first I want to say something (I do not mean it as yelling) but

1. I DO NOT WANT THIS WOMAN HARRASSED IN ANY WAY.
2. PLEASE ONLY CONTACT THIS PERSON ONLY IF YOU ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED
3. I WILL NOT GIVE OUT HER WEB ADDRESS UNLESS YOU ARE DIRECTLY INVOLOVED AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT HER IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER

Off the soapbox now. Basically, she reposted the pics today, and some of them are definately from users here on CC. So, she reposted stolen photos knowing that she should not do it.

If you would like to check into this, PM me, and I will look at your photos and tell you if you are involved or not, and if you are, I will send you the info.

Again, PLEASE do NOT contact her for any reason except for to have your photos removed. And if you do contact her, be professional and polite. I don't want any of this coming back on me personally, but you all deserve to have your photos removed, since they are your copyrighted property.

Thanks.
post #2 of 182
7/22/08 at 7:30pm
She's added a disclaimer to her webpage:

"MTJC is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on any information contained within the site. While the information contained within the site is periodically updated, no guarantee is given that the information provided in this Web site is complete and up-to-date. Furthermore, while most of our galleries photos are our work, some pictures were derived from publicly viewed websites as examples for prospective clients and are never referred as our own."

Guess she thinks that makes using other peoples cake photos okay......*shaking head* As to "most of the gallery photos are our work", there are very few that were there before.
post #3 of 182
7/23/08 at 5:44am
Thread Starter 
Another update...
If any of you know that your photos are still on there, please PM me with which one it is. I will tell you why in PM, but it would be a HUGE help.
Thanks!
post #4 of 182
7/23/08 at 5:53am
Did she ever respond to your emails requesting her to remove your photos from her site?
Hey Y'all!

"Ive spent most of my life riding horses. The rest I've just wasted." Anonymous
Hey Y'all!

"Ive spent most of my life riding horses. The rest I've just wasted." Anonymous
post #5 of 182
7/23/08 at 5:54am
[quote="JodieF"]She's added a disclaimer to her webpage:

"MTJC is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on any information contained within the site. While the information contained within the site is periodically updated, no guarantee is given that the information provided in this Web site is complete and up-to-date. Furthermore, while most of our galleries photos are our work, some pictures were derived from publicly viewed websites as examples for prospective clients and are never referred as our own."

So this makes it o.k.? Good grief - icon_twisted.gif
Stephanie
"Faith is not believing that God can BUT knowing that God will"
Stephanie
"Faith is not believing that God can BUT knowing that God will"
post #6 of 182
7/23/08 at 5:58am
There is really no need to steal somebody else's work. If you need to bulk your portfolio there are websites where you can buy pictures or even get them for free as long as you credit the photographer.
There might not be the cakes you want, but there are a bunch of pretty cakes there to use along with your own creations.
post #7 of 182
7/23/08 at 6:01am
And I thought the whole purpose of a portfolio was to showcase YOUR OWN talent. What happens if she posts something and when requested can't pull it off?
post #8 of 182
7/23/08 at 6:05am
I read this original thread when it was posted and I wanted to ask a question, but it was getting pretty heated so I didn't. Since it showed up again I was wondering if you guys could answer a question for me? I want to preface my question by saying I don't think what this woman did was right at all and I am not defending her at all so please don't get mad at meicon_smile.gif I was just curious if anyone knows, if you don't actually go through the legal process of purchasing a copyright for your photographs and you post them online, can't anyone copy them? I know you can put watermarks and stuff on them, but if they aren't legally copyrighted aren't they fair game? Again, I'm not saying it's right and I'm not saying that you guys didn't have your photos legally copyrighted, I'm just curious for my own knowledge.
post #9 of 182
7/23/08 at 6:12am
I sympathize for all of you who have had your cake pictures stolen and used on someone else's website.

Unfortunately, it has now become dangerous, in a sense, to publish your work online, without risk of someone else taking it and using it elsewhere. Watermarks are being ignored, and right-click blocking can be bypassed.

It is happening more and more each day. People with no skill or talent of their own, or newbies who want to make their first million within 6 months, build their portfolios based on someone else's work.

I see no other recourse except true legal action.

Until all of you, who have had pictures stolen, get together and file class-action suits against the perpetrator(s), with lots of publicity to make sure the word is out that you will no longer stand for it, this type of theft will continue, because apparently, kind requests and verbal threats have become useless.

Theresa icon_smile.gif
post #10 of 182
7/23/08 at 6:17am
Hi! Regarding copyright -- any creator holds the right to their own creations, whether the work is "registered" or not. However, registration with the copyright office does help in case of lawsuits.

"Publishing" one's work actually helps protect copyright -- because one is saying, in effect, here I am, world, this is my work. As opposed to keeping the photo in a drawer, and then someone comes across it, and presents it as their own (still wrong).

As for "derived from publicly viewed websites as examples for prospective clients and are never referred as our own" is nonsense -- she needs to contact the owners, and ask for permission.
However, what she IS doing is throwing the ball into the creator's court, and saying, in effect, you have to enforce your own copyright.


Here's from the US copyright office:
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-fairuse.html#howmuch

Could I be sued for using somebody else's work? How about quotes or samples?

If you use a copyrighted work without authorization, the owner may be entitled to bring an infringement action against you. There are circumstances under the fair use doctrine where a quote or a sample may be used without permission. However, in cases of doubt, the Copyright Office recommends that permission be obtained.
post #11 of 182
7/23/08 at 6:53am
I just watched a continuing education program on local television about the use of copyrighted information without consent a couple of weeks ago.

What they said is that copyrighted information be may used without owner's consent for educational purposes only, and only with proper acknowledgement of the original author, creator. The law also limits the amounts of information used, based on the type of media.

In print, it could be a statement or paragraph from a book or document, but you would not be able to use the entire chapter or book. You can refer the reader to the book if they wish to pursue it's information further.

In music, you could access a sample of a piece of music, but you are limited to about 20-30 seconds of that piece.

In regard to photographs, you could use a photo, or a few photos, from someone's collection, but you would not be able to use the entire collection.

Again, these allowances are for educational purposes only, i.e. classroom slide shows, term papers. These allowances do not apply to commercial use, such as websites where people are selling cakes.

Theresa icon_smile.gif
post #12 of 182
7/23/08 at 9:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by playingwithsugar

I sympathize for all of you who have had your cake pictures stolen and used on someone else's website.

Unfortunately, it has now become dangerous, in a sense, to publish your work online, without risk of someone else taking it and using it elsewhere. Watermarks are being ignored, and right-click blocking can be bypassed.

It is happening more and more each day. People with no skill or talent of their own, or newbies who want to make their first million within 6 months, build their portfolios based on someone else's work.

I see no other recourse except true legal action.

Until all of you, who have had pictures stolen, get together and file class-action suits against the perpetrator(s), with lots of publicity to make sure the word is out that you will no longer stand for it, this type of theft will continue, because apparently, kind requests and verbal threats have become useless.

Theresa icon_smile.gif



I agree 100000 times over. Too bad that it probably won't happen, especially considering how many people in the last thread thought it was pretty innocent.

We live in a society now where hardly anyone has to face the consequences of the actions they take.....even on something as seemingly small as stealing photographs.

I'll end my rant there, but I think you get what I'm saying. icon_smile.gif
I`m selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control, and at times hard to handle, but if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best. - Marilyn Monroe
I`m selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control, and at times hard to handle, but if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best. - Marilyn Monroe
post #13 of 182
7/23/08 at 3:35pm
Thread Starter 
Hi again everyone,

I just wanted to bump this up the list.

I have found a LOT of photos that were stolen straight off of CC, which means this person is one of us.

I really need your help in trying to find out which photos from her site were taken from CC, so please keep the PM's coming.

Thanks
post #14 of 182
7/23/08 at 3:40pm
Did you ever try contacting her web host?
~ Sherri
~ Sherri
post #15 of 182
7/23/08 at 3:42pm
Thread Starter 
No, I haven't.
Sorry to be short...I know I am...I'm just trying to avoid the fiasco of last time!
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