Copyright Infringement

[JohnNJ]

indeed, but the question was about suing, thus my answer. they're protected, but without teeth as it were.

Thanks for confirming what I had thought. This community makes a big thing about unauthorized photo use, more than I've seen on photography forums, but there's little that can be done in the real world short of embarrassing the person.

I've sold photos but I've never sold the exclusive rights to my photos. I was paid three times what my normal fee was for a photo that was used in print without my authorization, but it was basically "go away" money before it ever went to court. It was a big organization that didn't want any negative publicity.

As was mentioned in another thread, a water mark will give you credit for the photo. I doubt you'll get much more from the average person with a website.

If anyone has actually sued and won, I'd love to hear about it.

[hoax]

This community makes a big thing about unauthorized photo use, more than I've seen on photography forums, but there's little that can be done in the real world short of embarrassing the person.

The reason we are so intense about watermarks is because there is so much scamming reptiles on the internet. There have been scammers busted because of water marks.

Mike

[Shadera]

Seriously. Is there anything on this forum you're actually happy with? Sheesh.

[JohnNJ]

The reason we are so intense about watermarks is because there is so much scamming reptiles on the internet.

Scamming may be part of it but if you look at the inquiry thread on BallPythonZone.com at

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=86844

you can clearly see that the focus is on "stealing" the photos but I do understand your point.

Photographers protect their work for a different reason than reptile breeders. Reptile breeders should focus on the reptile. If I photograph a house, no one cares whether I own it and I don't get permission from the homeowner before shooting.

What happens if I go to a big snake breeder and photograph all of the snakes and put those photos on my snake based website as part of the overall design - not in the collection or available sections. The photos are mine but the snakes are not. I can put my watermark on the photos and no one can claim that I stole them. What then?

[littleindiangirl]

It really IS about scamming. Why don't you get that?

There have been so many threads, websites, and scammers even on this forum this past year that stole pictures. They want to make it look like they have these animals, so they can get money and SCAM.

Remember LAWreptiles?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Scamming may be part of it but if you look at the inquiry thread on BallPythonZone.com at

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=86844

you can clearly see that the focus is on "stealing" the photos but I do understand your point.

Photographers protect their work for a different reason than reptile breeders. Reptile breeders should focus on the reptile. If I photograph a house, no one cares whether I own it and I don't get permission from the homeowner before shooting.

What happens if I go to a big snake breeder and photograph all of the snakes and put those photos on my snake based website as part of the overall design - not in the collection or available sections. The photos are mine but the snakes are not. I can put my watermark on the photos and no one can claim that I stole them. What then?

We went from one subject to another (I guess you just can't help yourself but have to complain about something)

The person taking a picture is the owner of the copyright whether the animal belongs to them or not. (if that clarifies copyright ownership of a picture for you)

Now people who go to other breeder’s facility and take pictures and use them on their website do not claim to own those animals, know better than put them in their collection page or use them for their website design.

If they did I would strongly assume they asked the animal's owner if they could use the picture as part of their web design or such and would give proper credit to the owner.

A breeder that let you in their facility know that you will post those pictures online and if they objected to this they would simply not allow you to take pictures.

Now to the original subject, because I post pictures online (forum, my own website or any other venue) does not mean I allow Joe Schmoe to use MY picture and post it on his myspace, on a forum or his own website. Even if proper credit is given I would still not agree and ask for the picture to be taken down (been thee done that), why? It is pretty simple if you want to post a picture that belongs to me have the courtesy to ask me if it is ok for you to do so. (Respect goes a long way)

Would I give the right to some people to use my pictures if they were courteous enough to ask? Absolutely been there, done that too.

[JohnNJ]

Now to the original subject, because I post pictures online (forum, my own website or any other venue) does not mean I allow Joe Schmoe to use MY picture and post it on his myspace, on a forum or his own website. Even if proper credit is given I would still not agree and ask for the picture to be taken down (been thee done that), why? It is pretty simple if you want to post a picture that belongs to me have the courtesy to ask me if it is ok for you to do so. (Respect goes a long way).

This goes back to my original point (better known as a complaint to the chosen ). You could ask and even embarrass but if they refuse to take down the picture, you're SOL unless you want to spend some money.

[JohnNJ]

It really IS about scamming. Why don't you get that?

I get that people may be motivated to expose scammers but they're not using the right approach. Instead of focusing on the snakes, they're focusing on the photos. You may believe they are the same thing but they're not.

[JohnNJ]

Seriously

Is there anything on this forum you're actually happy with?

Sheesh

Sheesh:

Yes, there is something on this forum that I'm actually happy with. And please don't call me Seriously.

JohnNJ

[ThyTempest]

I get that people may be motivated to expose scammers but they're not using the right approach. Instead of focusing on the snakes, they're focusing on the photos. You may believe they are the same thing but they're not.

You obviously dont understand. Photos=snakes in the online business. Most people dont have the luxury of going to check out a breeder to see if he actually has that screaming hot pastel that looks a hell of a lot like the picture on NERD...

You see the point now?