Stolen Photos!!!!!

[Tom Smedley]

Just feel flattered that someone would use your pictures. The local newspaper prints pictures of mine without proper credit but me and my friends know they're mine. The person that you refer to is obviously another one like the deranged faux veteran who is reaching out for recognition. As evidenced by reading the Clive Cussler book underwater (hard enough on the surface.) I personally like the one that he calls Darryl on one page and himself on another.

 

[zen_man]

PM sent

 

[philmayer]

Hi Puget,

Photos, films, artwork, poems - whatever you make are automatically property (and copyrighted) by the owner. There is no need to do this officially anywhere. If you shoot em they are yours, unless you sign the rights off to someone else - or you shoot them for a company and your contract states that the product of your work is owned by them. I'd be livid too! Write to flickr and ask get rid of the pics and ban the guy.

"In the United States, copyright has been made automatic (in the style of the Berne Convention) since March 1, 1989, which has had the effect of making it appear to be more like a property right. Thus, as with some forms of personal property, a copyright need not be granted or obtained through official registration with any government office."

Yes, this is true, but you left out one step. Before you can sue someone for copyright infringement, you MUST register the photos with the US Copyright Office. All you need to do is send them a CD of photos -- small size, low quality is fine -- with a signed statement that they are your original photographs.

But the basic premise here is correct. When you create something, you own the copyright.

That guy is a moron. One pic is a divebuddy in Palau on one page, but in Belize on the next.

 

[zen_man]

10 photos have now been removed including the calamari and the two of the airshare guy with multiple personalities.

He must have gotten the memo

 

[DarkCoffee]

I'm casually acquainted with some of the C.A.S.T. Central team members and have forwarded this info to them.

 

[vablackwater]

a bunch of the pics are of me, and whoever posted them does not have my consent to use or post my pictures.

This guy is also on divebuddy (where he pulled my pics from) and decostop.

There was a message about this individual recently in the scubaboard PSD forum from a very respected member of the PSD community that was removed by a moderator. The bottom line, the person was not associated to the dive team he claimed to be (Canadian Amphibious Search Team), the PADI cert numbers he provided were invalid, DRI (Dive Rescue International) has never had him as a student, he is not associated to IADRS (International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists) and anyone who knows his name can check the ERDI web page to see that he is not certified via them.

 

[DarkCoffee]

For what its worth, the individual is known by some folks I've spoken to and the word is he has a medical (read: psychological) history. Not an excuse (or maybe it is) but just passing on the info.

 

[scarefaceDM]

Lesson learned. Consider it a compliment.

Put a watermark on your pics or anything else you post on the web.
You or anyone else set yourselves up to be ripped off.
removing a water mark is very difficult.

If you post it you lose it. Regardless if you own the rights. Why, because you have posted it where anyone with a computer can view it take it and even use it. Without your permission.

What have we learned today.
1- Watermark your images.
2- Keep a record of them.
3- Lock them if you can. ( HTML sites are those that are the easiest to take images off.
Flash based sites can be locked down so no DOWNLOADING is allowed. )

Do not post it on an open forum. Unless you like to give things away.

And if you think no one will take what is yours...Think again

In other words get over it. You may not have wanted some to take what is yours. But you allowed it by posting it. I deal with this crap everytime I create a website and set up images for use on the web. Again, Watermark your photos.

Simple

 

[vablackwater]

The issue is not merely about an individual posting pics. You have someone claiming to be an instructor, tech diver, PSD... giving out advice to people on the net. Respected members of the dive community (and scubaboard, decostop, divebuddy) have confirmed that this poster gave false information regarding his certifications, being a member of a dive team, being a member of a professional association). This individual posted many inaccuracies and things contrary to formal PSD training in the PSD forum.

The true lesson, be careful who you trust and listen to.

 

[Matt S.]

Yes, this is true, but you left out one step. Before you can sue someone for copyright infringement, you MUST register the photos with the US Copyright Office.

Not exactly. You can still sue an infringer, you just can't sue for as much.

EP Copyright Primer

If someone infringes your images and they are not registered, the infringer has broken the law. Most infringers willingly take the risk, because they know most photographer's do not register their material. They also know that they will pay little more when caught then they would have to if they licensed the image from you. The logical conclusion is why not take the risk. Without registration, you as the image maker bear the burden of proving what the image was worth and the burden of your own legal costs. There is no mechanism for triple fees or punitive damages without registration.

Once an image has been registered the law is set up to compensate the copyright holder with his or her legal fees and punitive damages of up to $150,000.00 per image infringed.