Stolen Image Found On Airline Website … What to do?

Moderator Message

Rob, I think you’ll find that most people in here understand perfectly well. They just don’t happen to agree with you.

Some are even trying to use their own (in some cases, considerable) knowledge and experience to help you to avoid disappointment at best, and being considerably out of pocket at worst.

But you obviously know best, so carry on and good luck to you.

Let us know how it all turns out.

Thread closed, because we’re just going round in circles.

Cheers.

GA

I would also be rather miffed at the site they took it from. Most sites have watermarking but clearly this site does not. Make sure that when you do upload its to secure sites only.

I dont think the problem is the picture being used but the simple rule of manners that state “if you want something,you should ask for it”

I have had dozens of emails asking if 1 of my shots can be used as a desktop etc and of course it is no benefit nor detriment to me so why not. I have also had Requests from a spanish magazine,I said that they could use the pic if they sent me a copy of the article so i know it is being used in a respectful manner.
Of course i never recieved it and in future i will know.
Recently a German advertising agency asked to use a picture of mine i agreed but for a fee,they are making money from it so too is their client so why not me? They were not willing to pay so i refused permission. This may sound greedy but I was the one who put the work in and yet would be the only 1 not to benefit.

Yes,Rob put his shot online for the world to see,but only that. If i go into a car dealership can i drive away with anything on the grounds that the dealer was displaying so therefore i can take?

Exactly what ive been trying to say but people just Don’t Understand.

Thank’s
Rob
🙂

I would also be rather miffed at the site they took it from. Most sites have watermarking but clearly this site does not. Make sure that when you do upload its to secure sites only.

I dont think the problem is the picture being used but the simple rule of manners that state “if you want something,you should ask for it”

I have had dozens of emails asking if 1 of my shots can be used as a desktop etc and of course it is no benefit nor detriment to me so why not. I have also had Requests from a spanish magazine,I said that they could use the pic if they sent me a copy of the article so i know it is being used in a respectful manner.
Of course i never recieved it and in future i will know.
Recently a German advertising agency asked to use a picture of mine i agreed but for a fee,they are making money from it so too is their client so why not me? They were not willing to pay so i refused permission. This may sound greedy but I was the one who put the work in and yet would be the only 1 not to benefit.

Yes,Rob put his shot online for the world to see,but only that. If i go into a car dealership can i drive away with anything on the grounds that the dealer was displaying so therefore i can take?

You mean to tell us that you suspect that this “Egyptian Solicitor” may not be acting out of the kindness of his heart and for the public good?

Such cynicism hardly becomes you, Moggy. 😮

thanks for reminding me Moggy, I had forgot all about this excuse which has been used on a friend of mine several times. A few days ago I was watching a documentary about the life of a women in medieval times in what is now Hertfordshire . It was astonishing how much was found in the records with her name on, thats around 700 years ago. The lady researcher interviewed said ” oh she was a clever women, she knew the importance of leaving a parchment trail “

*Shakes head in sorrow*

E-Mail because it is easy?

In matters like this things need to be traceable. Recorded delivery snail mail tracked so that you can say “I told you of this issue on the 28th and your Mr Smith signed for the letter”

Take it to court under the present circumstances and when presented with the poster’s copy of an e-mail to info@whotsitsairline and the company saying “We cannot track ever having received this, it must have been swept up by our spam filter”, the magistrate / judge / arbitrator will simply say

“You didn’t give the company any chance to correct their transgression before commencing legal action. I award the plaintiff £60 (or whatever the current rate is for internet-only content). Each side to bear their own costs”

Bristol Bob gets a nice warm feeling and a bill from Abdul, Abdul & Mustapha for £800 plus two first class flights from Cairo and some hefty hotel expenses.

Moggy

I’ve Emailed The Airline (Yesterday) and Now await a reply from the CEO.

Post 57.:)

Moggy i got an email back from a Solicitor In egypt, Koral Blue passed it onto Him and he sent me an email telling me he is working to get me the best results. He also went on to say Egypt have the same Law’s As Trade standards over here.

In other words, no, you haven’t actually contacted the airline.

:rolleyes:

Moggy

I agree with Flyingspark , look at it from a positive, be proud the airline has chosen your image.

As Kev 35 states: If you don’t want your image to be used, then dont put it on the web to share with the rest of the world.

I hope you reach your satisfactory outcome.

Here’s my pennys worth…

I can see both sides of the coin here. Whilst we post photos on the web for all to view, it would have been nice if the company in question had asked first.

If it were me, I would be rather proud that an image of mine was considered good enough to be used as advertising. I would however, as stated above, expect to be asked for permission…..common courtesy I think.

I hope you reach a satisfactory outcome.

Clive.

I think Kev35 made a good point on this quote:

“Think about your image first. You placed it on the internet for people to see. You are now complaining because, due to the actions of the airline, your image is being viewed by a wider audience. All that has happened is that your photo is being used on a website without your permission.”

Sorry I know we are going around in circles but I love these debates.

Anyhow Rob let us know how you get on with your Egyptian Solicitor…..

Moderator Message

I think you’ve made your point now, Kev.

If anyone wants to have a debate about the wider issue of copyright/intellectual property rights/piracy, perhaps they might care to start a thread for that purpose in General Discussion.

Let’s keep this thread on topic, shall we?

Two things Rob.

First of all I’ll post two quotes of yours which directly contradict one another. In post 76 you state, rather unequivocally I thought, that…

“As for Depriving People of there Income, I have never or will Never.”

But in post 73 you state…..

“I have Never made a cd or Dvd (Pirated) In my life but i have viewed them!”

Therefore by viewing a pirated DVD or DVD’s you have deprived the film makers and all associated with that film of an, albeit miniscule, part of their income which would have been generated by the sale and purchase of a legally produced copy. In effect you have stolen that miniscule part of their income. But multiply it by hundreds of thousands of copies of pirated DVD’s it becomes such a substantial amount that warnings are printed on DVD covers and on the DVD itself. Trading standards and Police arrest market traders selling pirated DVD’s and CD’s on a regular basis.

Secondly, don’t you think the airline have seen you coming? They have employed a lawyer, at their expense, to sort out the problem on your behalf? brings a whole new meaning to the idea of ‘No Win No Fee’ doesn’t it?

Yes, the airline were wrong to take and use your picture without your consent, but as others have said, a simple watermark right through the image would have prevented that.

Regards,

kev35

Im not really sure why you want to Bring that Up anyway. Yes it can be classed as theft but for my own personal use, Im not making it available to the Public.
Where and when i want to make my Picture public i will do Hence the reason i upload it to Aviation sites i want it on, NOT Koral Blue Airlines.

Again i stress this is Not about Money or Pride its about Taking something that doesnt belong to them and making a stand for it.
You clearly have your own Opinion and that is fair Enough but im making a stand for those out there that think like me that this is a copyright violation.

When i post an Image on any Aviation Photography site i Dont expect it to be Taken from that site and Put elsewhere without my consent.

As for Depriving People of there Income, I have never or will Never. I Never said I personally download Illegal Material it was just a Point i was making. Im not the bad guy here. Im just trying to keep my work in the places i Know it is thats all.

Moggy i got an email back from a Solicitor In egypt, Koral Blue passed it onto Him and he sent me an email telling me he is working to get me the best results. He also went on to say Egypt have the same Law’s As Trade standards over here.

Rob
🙂

With all due respect Rob it is different, but not in the way you think.

Think about your image first. You placed it on the internet for people to see. You are now complaining because, due to the actions of the airline, your image is being viewed by a wider audience. All that has happened is that your photo is being used on a website without your permission. So yes, I suppose that you may consider it to be theft although the only real harm done here is to your pride. You are not suffering any financial penalty over the ‘theft’ of your photo.

Now you openly admit to having watched pirate DVD’s and to illegal music downloads. Now that is theft too, even more so than in your case due to the simple fact that by downloading music illegally you are depriving the artist, songwriter and the wider music industry of the financial recompense they receive when someone buys or downloads a track legally.

Now ask yourself which is worse? Somebody using your photograph for no financial gain whatsoever? Or depriving someone of their rightful income?

Regards

kev35

I’m losing track of this.

Have you written to the company?

Have they replied?

Moggy

Rob.

You never answered my question as to whether you have ever made a copy of a CD, DVD or Video? If you have it’s just the same as with your photo, taken without permission. And as you so rightly said earlier, theft is theft….

Regards,

kev35

Sorry, i must of missed your question, I have Never made a cd or Dvd (Pirated) In my life but i have viewed them! If i was to re-sale them on the internet if i did do it then id be happy to be called a thief because that is what i would be doing (making available stolen goods) I have however used Sites such as Limewire that often has Illegal Music downloads and should i use that service i use for my own Pleasure Not to Make Public for others to see or use. I completly Get what you are saying but i think it is completly different.

And it is incorrect to say that you do not stand a chance of getting any money, I know of several photographers who have got payments from companies.

Yep, i to have spoken to alot who have had a payout and if im offered it then i shall take it with grace but if i get given an Apologie then that to will be fine. Some people would rather just be lazy and say what the heck but im actually doing it for all the photographers out there that have never thought about doing it. And Hopefully i will get a result to show that No matter what you need to Put your foot down and not let them get away with it.

Rob
🙂

And it is incorrect to say that you do not stand a chance of getting any money, I know of several photographers who have got payments from companies.

Rob.

You never answered my question as to whether you have ever made a copy of a CD, DVD or Video? If you have it’s just the same as with your photo, taken without permission. And as you so rightly said earlier, theft is theft….

Regards,

kev35

[The only way you can stop peolple using your images without permission is don’t post them on the web.

I’m sorry about your plight Rob, but I agree with Carmedic, don’t post your images on a web site. As Runway06 stated their are 6 billion people out there, and the chances of someone using your image is pretty good.

When people want to use an image the internet is the first and easiest place to look. And free to all to plunder what they may. As it’s a world wide web then its hard to have rules in place to govern it.