Info Floridaherps.com Copyright infringement - I found my photo their website

[scaledverts]

What you did wrong in my opinion that prompted their knee jerk reaction was post about them on the cham forum and then here without contacting them first and getting a responce...

You are a grown woman and I can not understand for the life of me why you went to the cham forum for advice on a subject that really has nothing to do about chams...

You could have easily looked up copywrite laws on the net, gotten the info you needed, and sent your email to them...

The BOI is a great tool but sometimes I feel it is abused at times... Something this simple could have been easily sorted with a simple email...

I am not saying you are wrong for being pissed that your photo was being used but I think you could have handled it differently...

I completely disagree with you on this. While yes she could have looked up copywrite laws etc, what is the harm in asking other people what they do in this situation. Also, if you look back she did send them a simple email about this and their response to her and others justified this thread in my opinion.

They made their own bed by stealing MULTIPLE photos from online and their responses to being asked to take them down. Now they have to sleep in it. I think that this BOI was COMPLETELY justified, especially as an info thread. Poor business ethics come in multiple forms, not just being screwed over in an animal purchase.

 

[ForkedTung]

What you did wrong in my opinion that prompted their knee jerk reaction was post about them on the cham forum and then here without contacting them first and getting a responce...

You are a grown woman and I can not understand for the life of me why you went to the cham forum for advice on a subject that really has nothing to do about chams...

You could have easily looked up copywrite laws on the net, gotten the info you needed, and sent your email to them...

The BOI is a great tool but sometimes I feel it is abused at times... Something this simple could have been easily sorted with a simple email...

I am not saying you are wrong for being pissed that your photo was being used but I think you could have handled it differently...

The old 'blame the victim' routine eh?
You have five sentences criticizing the OP and not a word for the thieves, bias much? Why are you protecting the thieves?
She did contact them, and also had this concern;
"but i suspect there are other photos on the website that are also being used without permission.."
Please explain why these other people that have had their pictures stolen don't deserve to know about it?

I completely disagree with you on this. While yes she could have looked up copywrite laws etc, what is the harm in asking other people what they do in this situation. Also, if you look back she did send them a simple email about this and their response to her and others justified this thread in my opinion.

They made their own bed by stealing MULTIPLE photos from online and their responses to being asked to take them down. Now they have to sleep in it. I think that this BOI was COMPLETELY justified, especially as an info thread. Poor business ethics come in multiple forms, not just being screwed over in an animal purchase.

Right and right! This business is sinking their own ship

 

[Gregg Madden]

The old 'blame the victim' routine eh?
You have five sentences criticizing the OP and not a word for the thieves, bias much? Why are you protecting the thieves?
She did contact them, and also had this concern;
"but i suspect there are other photos on the website that are also being used without permission.."
Please explain why these other people that have had their pictures stolen don't deserve to know about it?

I am not defending anyone... I am also not blaming the "victim"... I have had my photos used on a few occations... My first line of "defence" is to contact the person who is using the photo and ask them politely either give me credit for the photo or take it down... I have never had to come to the BOI to get it sorted... The OP did not contact the offender until after it was brough up on the cham forums and on the BOI...

I never said the person using the photo was right or justified... I just think it could have been easily handled

I was simply stating that in my opinion the OP may have started a BOI thread prematurely... Not sure why you are trying to accuse me of anything or what makes you think I am being biased... Got something you would like to say straight out???

 

[suzuki4life]

I disagree with you Greg. The BOI is EXACTLY where items like this needs discussed. This company has basically stolen work from someone else by not giving them credit. Would you want to deal with a theif who steals other people's work or property? Reports of these types of actions is what the BOI is all about. However, a chameleon forum is NOT where this needs discussed.

 

[Sushi Dragons]

I imagine she went to a chameleon forum that she already frequents and trusts. I would have done the same myself.

She did send a simple and polite email to the company upon confirmation that stealing photographs to promote your business is a no-no. Their extremely unprofessional response prompted the posting here.

This is BOI post that I was happy to see! It's an inquiry thread, not a BG, and it lead to a lot of others discovering their materials had been stolen as well. The BOI is designed for this sort of public notification if I am not mistaken.

 

[ForkedTung]

I am not defending anyone... I am also not blaming the "victim"... I have had my photos used on a few occations... My first line of "defence" is to contact the person who is using the photo and ask them politely either give me credit for the photo or take it down... I have never had to come to the BOI to get it sorted... The OP did not contact the offender until after it was brough up on the cham forums and on the BOI...

I never said the person using the photo was right or justified... I just think it could have been easily handled

I was simply stating that in my opinion the OP may have started a BOI thread prematurely... Not sure why you are trying to accuse me of anything or what makes you think I am being biased... Got something you would like to say straight out???

There is nothing "premature" about starting a thread about a company that steals photos, this is precisely what the BOI is for, to alert others and she did.
What the BOI is not about is expecting others to share Gregg's first line of "defence"(sic)
Again you wrote five long sentences criticizing the OP, five and not one single word criticizing Floridaherps.com for stealing their photos, not one. You still haven't...So yeah for whatever reason, it looks exactly like your biased.
Why don't you answer this question you conveniently ignored when I asked it before "straight out???":

Please explain why these other people that have had their pictures stolen don't deserve to know about it?

You're seriously wasting time and bandwidth for criticizing the OP for doing the right thing, seriously?

 

[Gregg Madden]

I have had photos used of mine that people have found on google... It happens... I have delt with it through personal contact...

She did send a simple and polite email to the company upon confirmation that stealing photographs to promote your business is a no-no. Their extremely unprofessional response prompted the posting here.

I think you are missing the chain of events... The OP started this BOI thread BEFORE contacting the offender...
That is the only issue I have with this... This thread was what prompted the unprofessional response... I do not agree with it but I understand why it happend...

Like I said, it may have been a bit premature...

I am one of those people who feel that if you are so worried about having your photos uses, do not post them on a public forum without a watermark... Like I said I have had photos of mine used without permission... When I see people using my photos I take it as a compliment and this is why I first ask that they credit me for the photo before I ask them to take it down... There is no need to get all distressed about it...

Let me say this again, I do not think the offender was right in the situation but I think it could have been handle better...

 

[Gregg Madden]

You're seriously wasting time and bandwidth for criticizing the OP for doing the right thing, seriously?

So my veiw on this subject is a waste because it does not fully agree with your view???

Seriously, if you have something to say, say it... Do not cloud what you want to say by just implying... Be a man and come right out and say it... What exactly are you trying to accuse me of???

 

[suzuki4life]

So in your logic Greg, if someone steals your car. You go ask for it back before you call the police?

Not how it works here but a theif is a theif where I live. In regards to taking and usage of the photo, what recourse did the OP have?

The answer is simple. The "offender" should not have stolen pictures and tried taking credit for them.

 

[RubberDuckey273]

however, even if she had emailed them first and if the offender had emailed her back with a polite response and promtly took her photo down, she still would have had every right to post this thread because chances are, the company wouldn't have removed every stolen photo. and even if they had, people still deserve to know that this happened. sure it might have been more professional to email them first, but thats nothing compared to the unprofessional behavior of the company in question.

what if she had emailed them first and they had quickly removed all stolen photos so that no one else had a chance to identify their own?

 

[suzuki4life]

and its spelled "thief". My fingers out run my spell checker apparently.

 

[scaledverts]

I have had photos used of mine that people have found on google... It happens... I have delt with it through personal contact...



I think you are missing the chain of events... The OP started this BOI thread BEFORE contacting the offender...
That is the only issue I have with this... This thread was what prompted the unprofessional response... I do not agree with it but I understand why it happend...

Like I said, it may have been a bit premature...

I am one of those people who feel that if you are so worried about having your photos uses, do not post them on a public forum without a watermark... Like I said I have had photos of mine used without permission... When I see people using my photos I take it as a compliment and this is why I first ask that they credit me for the photo before I ask them to take it down... There is no need to get all distressed about it...

Let me say this again, I do not think the offender was right in the situation but I think it could have been handle better...

AGAIN, you blame the OP.

This thread was not premature in ANY way! IT IS AN INFO THREAD!!! IF it was a bad guy thread then sure I'll give you that. But it isn't.

You see someone stealing your hard produced photos as a compliment? You and Ryan are of the same mindset. "Hey, it's cool that you wanted to steal my hard produced photos. Go ahead. I'm cool with it."



There's no defending people that steal photos. Nor do they get the benefit of the doubt OR a chance to remove the photos only to do it again without people hearing about it!

 

[Gregg Madden]

AGAIN, you blame the OP.

This thread was not premature in ANY way! IT IS AN INFO THREAD!!! IF it was a bad guy thread then sure I'll give you that. But it isn't.

It may have started out as an info thread but it has turned into a bad guy thread...

You see someone stealing your hard produced photos as a compliment? You and Ryan are of the same mindset. "Hey, it's cool that you wanted to steal my hard produced photos. Go ahead. I'm cool with it."

I am going to be honest here and some may not agree but there is nothing "hard" about taking a great photo...

I never said it is cool to use a photo without permission... All I am saying is that it is no big deal to just ask the person who is using it to either give credit where it is due or to remove it... I have done it quite a few times because someone was using a photo or 3 and all went well without a BOI thread...

There's no defending people that steal photos. Nor do they get the benefit of the doubt OR a chance to remove the photos only to do it again without people hearing about it!

Did you ever consider that the offender may not have known they were doing something wrong??? Why do we automatically think that the offender knew they were doing the wrong thing??? We have all done something wrong without knowing we are doing something wrong... It happens... Personally, I always give people the chance to do the right thing before it becomes public knowledge... If I am ingnored, then I would bring the situation to light...

Like I have said, the only problem I have is that this thread was made without any contact with the offender first...

 

[ForkedTung]

So my veiw on this subject is a waste because it does not fully agree with your view???

Seriously, if you have something to say, say it... Do not cloud what you want to say by just implying... Be a man and come right out and say it... What exactly are you trying to accuse me of???

You really have the tough-talk down, all "Straight out" and " be a man" it almost makes me miss fourth grade..."not!" .

You can displace your aggression elsewhere, I've been very clear , how many times do you want to hear it...You appear biased Why? at this point I really don't care, you've evaded every question I've asked.

Please explain why these other people that have had their pictures stolen don't deserve to know about it?

(that's the third time I've asked that question)

suzuki4life So in your logic Greg, if someone steals your car. You go ask for it back before you call the police?

Exactly, except Gregg might not even call the police if the thieves told them he "has a nice ride" see it's all about the compliment...

Also if there were other cars there that were obviously stolen as well, Gregg would just let that go, afterall he got his car back who cares about anyone else and their stolen property no need to get "all distressed about it...".

Really it's your fault anyway for parking it in your garage where thieves can steal it.

Besides you don't want to offend the thieves by being "premature".

 

[Gregg Madden]

what if she had emailed them first and they had quickly removed all stolen photos so that no one else had a chance to identify their own?

Then the job she set out to do would have been done... The photos would be removed... Same effect, less drama...

I think threads like this turn into a few people just looking to lynch someone and they have very little interest in what is right...

 

[Gregg Madden]

You really have the tough-talk down, all "Straight out" and " be a man" it almost makes me miss fourth grade..."not!" .

You can displace your aggression elsewhere, I've been very clear , how many times do you want to hear it...You appear biased Why? at this point I really don't care, you've evaded every question I've asked.



(that's the third time I've asked that question)



Exactly, except Gregg might not even call the police if the thieves told them he "has a nice ride" see it's all about the compliment...

Also if there were other cars there that were obviously stolen as well, Gregg would just let that go, afterall he got his car back who cares about anyone else and their stolen property no need to get "all distressed about it...".

Really it's your fault anyway for parking it in your garage where thieves can steal it.

Besides you don't want to offend the thieves by being "premature".

So now you digress, put me down, and make this about me??? Like I said, some people just want to lynch...

I want to know what makes me biased on this subject... By you saying I am biased, you ARE implying that I either steal photos or know the offender... In both cases I do not...

This is why I want to know what you are trying to say exactly without trying to cloud it up...

I am not an idiot... Boosting a car and using a photo that was found on the internet are two totally diffent things so they can not be compared with eachother or used to figure out my logic...

I was just giving my opinion on the way this was handled from the start...

 

[cinderbird]

It may have started out as an info thread but it has turned into a bad guy thread...



I am going to be honest here and some may not agree but there is nothing "hard" about taking a great photo...

This thread is still an info thread.. People can make their own judgments on floridaherps.com based on their responses.

But the second part of your post, there is a lot that is difficult to take a good photograph. As a photographer, I think I would know. Its not even about how much money you've sent on equipment, its mostly about time and effort. It takes time to capture a good, great, amazing or wonderful photograph. And stuff you find on the internet isn't free for use unless its specifically marked and marketed as such. Just using images you find on getty, google, flicker or photobucket is against copyright laws. Its extremely poor business ethics to take photographs from other people and pass them off as your own, or your own product.

 

[scaledverts]

It may have started out as an info thread but it has turned into a bad guy thread...

But that is the community not the OP that has ruled on the side of bad guy. I have to say that I agree. Based on their responses and obvious lack of respect for other people's property, they most certainly are BAD GUYS!

I am going to be honest here and some may not agree but there is nothing "hard" about taking a great photo...

Sure, sure once you have all the right equipment (which costs money) and the experience (which costs time), and the set of pictures from the photoshoot (which takes work) taking a great photo isn't that bad .

I never said it is cool to use a photo without permission... All I am saying is that it is no big deal to just ask the person who is using it to either give credit where it is due or to remove it... I have done it quite a few times because someone was using a photo or 3 and all went well without a BOI thread...

That is your choice. I would rather have the thread here showing that the person/company has a proclivity to stealing photos.

Did you ever consider that the offender may not have known they were doing something wrong??? Why do we automatically think that the offender knew they were doing the wrong thing??? We have all done something wrong without knowing we are doing something wrong... It happens... Personally, I always give people the chance to do the right thing before it becomes public knowledge... If I am ingnored, then I would bring the situation to light...

Like I have said, the only problem I have is that this thread was made without any contact with the offender first...

Ah, yes the "people are inherently good argument." They have been around the business long enough to know better. Furthermore, if you look through the terms of the photosharing sites that they stole the pics from it is clearly spelled out that this is wrong. Ignorance to the law does not make breaking it ok. IF they had only done this once, sure. BUT multiple pics on their website, facebook, etc are from other sources. A REPUTABLE non bad guy would have removed all the photos that were not theirs once the first person told them that they are not allowed to take pics that aren't theirs! But that isn't what happened.

You may want to give them the benefit of the doubt. In my opinion, they had their chance to do the right thing and take their own pics. They chose not to do that and this direction this thread has taken is the result.

 

[Gregg Madden]

But the second part of your post, there is a lot that is difficult to take a good photograph. As a photographer, I think I would know. Its not even about how much money you've sent on equipment, its mostly about time and effort. It takes time to capture a good, great, amazing or wonderful photograph.

It can be difficult to get that spectacular shot but it is not hard work... Lets be real here... A little bit of time and luck gets the spectacular shot...

I do agree that the photos you find on the net are not free to use unless stated as such but, I do not see the need for a BOI thread when it could have been handled with one email...

Right now there is a company infinging on my utility patent... Do you see a BOI thread about it???

 

[Gregg Madden]

But that is the community not the OP that has ruled on the side of bad guy. I have to say that I agree. Based on their responses and obvious lack of respect for other people's property, they most certainly are BAD GUYS!




Sure, sure once you have all the right equipment (which costs money) and the experience (which costs time), and the set of pictures from the photoshoot (which takes work) taking a great photo isn't that bad .



That is your choice. I would rather have the thread here showing that the person/company has a proclivity to stealing photos.



Ah, yes the "people are inherently good argument." They have been around the business long enough to know better. Furthermore, if you look through the terms of the photosharing sites that they stole the pics from it is clearly spelled out that this is wrong. Ignorance to the law does not make breaking it ok. IF they had only done this once, sure. BUT multiple pics on their website, facebook, etc are from other sources. A REPUTABLE non bad guy would have removed all the photos that were not theirs once the first person told them that they are not allowed to take pics that aren't theirs! But that isn't what happened.

You may want to give them the benefit of the doubt. In my opinion, they had their chance to do the right thing and take their own pics. They chose not to do that and this direction this thread has taken is the result.

All I can really say in responce to this is thank you for disagreeing with me in a mature, polite manner unlike someone else...

We all agree it is not proper to use photos that are not ours... I just do not think it warrented a BOI thread as the first course of action...