Bad Guy Reptilesncritters.com - Thieves

[crespo72]

Im reading, and not really blabbering.
I just think its rude that you stole peoples images.
Ive known people to get banned from websites and forums because they do stuff like that.. not to mention folks actually sue over these matters because, photography is exactly like painting a picture.
You took the time to find the animal, set up the area where you wanted the picture taken, and took money to buy camera, film (or usb device), and uploaded or printed the pictures off on either a picture printer or otherwise.

Youre taking money away from people by stealing pictures.
PLUS some of the pictures you have up there, are not representation of the animals you have for sale.
I saw you had a rattlesnake picture up for another snake species.
Dude, if you put a rattlesnake picture up for a ratsnake picture, and some noob bought that snake, and either got a rattlesnake or not the one pictured, dont you think you would LOSE money over something like that?
Not to mention putting the customer in jeopardy (if they got a rattlesnake which is highly poisonous).



Exactly. Just take down the stolen pictures. The guys that move your animals... mail them one or two of those disposable cameras, have them take some pictures of the ones that they have in their possesion, and use those to put up on your website.
Disposable cameras are what, $2 at walmart? Is that such a favor to ask so you dont break any laws and get several people angry at you? Cmon now, use your brain... you run a business so i know you have one.

"photography is exactly like painting a picture."

Man, I could not stop laughing when I saw that in writing. Very funny indeed.

 

[Ozymandias]

when it comes to the law yes photography is usually treated the same as painting or other peaces of art work when it comes to copy right law. also your general attitude has been fairly combative towards people and will insure that people will continue to post in this thread.

 

[jimoo]

Please people, lets not confuse copyright infringement with theft. Neither are ok, both are illegal, but they are very very different things. Corporations try to sell the argument they are the same, they are not, the courts and the law makers have recognized the significant difference.

Whether I like it or not, the cat is out of the bag. I put out music, mostly vinyl. I have for 18 years this month. I just came out with a new record by a Finnish band. I know that the entire record will be ripped and up on blogs and downloadable for free within a few weeks. That has been the case for the last dozen records I've done. There is no fighting it. There is no reason to fight it. It is the new world. I only look bad and turn people off by trying to fight it.

Just MO and pretty much the opinion of every other small record label out there.

 

[jimoo]

BTW, I'm not excusing what he did, just to be clear. I just want people to know that theft and copyright infringement are very different.

 

[John White]

According to the NEW Oxford American Dictionary:
Theft is defined as "the action or crime of stealing"
Stealing is defined as "take (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it"

Robert Crespo is a proven thief.

 

[Suncoast Herpetological]

BTW, I'm not excusing what he did, just to be clear. I just want people to know that theft and copyright infringement are very different.

Actually Jim, they are different charges but the criminal basis is pretty much the same

In simple terms, "taking something that does not belong to you without the owner's consent"

 

[jimoo]

I know I'm not going to change anyone's mind, but the charges are different because they are substantially different. With theft you are taking a tangible item, and therefore preventing the person from having/using that item.

Electronic media are not tangible items. When someone rips the record I put out from vinyl to MP3 and posts it online they aren't taking a tangible good. No one has taken my actual tangible record, and I'm not out a unit to sell. I'm not deprived of the item in any way, shape or form. They are markedly different crimes. Both crimes, but one is theft, one is copyright infringement. I can claim well "I'm out $12.00 in a sale", but for many many obvious reasons that doesn't hold much water.

 

[Southern Wolf]

Maybe it still does to you but this is what we call subjective moral values. Like when you made fun of one of my freelance writers by saying in effect that his work is junk. In comparison to what? Your stellar writing skills? By making these statements you are only offering opinion along with your own subjective values and judgements.

Well..... his work is junk because he's not writing anything. He's just copying it from someone else. Therefore... I wouldn't call him a writer.

 

[jimoo]

According to the NEW Oxford American Dictionary:
Theft is defined as "the action or crime of stealing"
Stealing is defined as "take (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it"

Robert Crespo is a proven thief.

Actually, there is A LOT of debate about what is "property". Again, in part, the tangible good argument. But philosophically it is much broader.

Anyway, cat's out of the bag. I'm almost 40 (a couple of months). Much of what I've held as truisms in matters like theft, stealing, appropriating, etc. are viewed very differently with the current generation. I do not know a single, non one single, person under 30 that pays for downloads. The notion is simply laughable. Almost none pay for software.

Us oldies can just wax on about the criminality and the lack of morals/ethics or whatever, but it isn't changing back. It just isn't. I've had to adapt (And shrink) as a record label, and almost every media has to do the same. For better or worse.

Again, not saying what this person did is ok.

 

[Southern Wolf]

every single corn snake photo was a stolen image.. the blizzard photo was one of our very own WEBSLAVE's photos! sheesh. I have contacted all the original owners of those photos. now to the next page...

That was about as bright as a burnt out light bulb.

 

[Southern Wolf]

Do you really think so? I wasn't aware that our nations prisons were looking for successful business people like myself. Maybe I can teach a few inmates my entrepreneurial skills.

Ummmm I think they already know how to be a crook. That's why they are in prison.

And yes... stealing someone elses photos is being a crook. It's thievery any way you look at it.

 

[Southern Wolf]

Lucille, are you kidding? I have nothing to prove to you about by buying images over the years. Plus, I am not going to show you the hundreds of emails from my customers who have emailed me their images over the years and give me permission. Why? Because you are not the judge and jury of me. If I am telling you that I have bought images over the years and have received permission from numerous individuals over the years, you have the option to either believe or not believe me. It really doesn't matter to me.

Ok... Im going with NOT believe you. Why would I not believe you? Cause this is the second go round with you using stole images. You didn't learn anything from the first time back in what... 2007-2008

 

[pbflash]

Be sure to send the Hosting site an email alerting them of this thread and whats going on.

The more reports they get the faster they will get into gear on shutting the site down.

[email protected]

[email protected] is probably a better email to use as they handle the DCMA violations.

 

[Southern Wolf]

Lucille, what can I say? The live reptile business is full of these tales. Make no mistake, I did not invent the concept of shipping animals through a courrier service. Do you think that other sellers have not shipped animals with similar issues? Don't kid yourself. For the record, I no longer do business with that particular supplier any longer due to their unethical practices. My current suppliers all know the rule, ship with all limbs or it does not meet my approval. Regarding wild caught specimens, no one offers any guarantees against parasites. Captive raised is another thing all together.

The sad thing is.... that you'd even have to make that rule. That should be common sense.

 

[Southern Wolf]

It's not a question of my willingness to stop breaking the law or not, it a question of my time. It may take several weeks for me to vet all of these images. There is much work to be done to produce a catalog of what images I have that I own, verses what needs replacing. In the meantime the my website must serve it's audience. So to put in the more black and white language that apparently is the only type you can understand, I will not "stop breaking the law" until the work is completed. That may take the rest of June or longer as I have other responsibilities in my business but that's just what you are going to have to settle for. How do you know that I am going to actually make these needed changes? You don't really. Only time will tell if I am going to make good on this endeavor. One thing is certain, I don't have the budget in terms of time to respond to comments AND make updates to my websites. So with these remarks I am going to conclude this discussion (at least for me. I am sure you will all stew for days to come and keep this thread alive) and get to the more important work of removing all of the DMCA violations. If anyone would like to reach me they can do so through my website contact page.

Your time? What else do you have to do.... it's not like you have to feed and clean animals.

The problem is... you don't want to. I'd love to see some of these folks take you to court. The fact that this is the second time some have requested you to take down their images proves a willingness to violate copyright laws.

Quite frankly... I'd love to see the outcome because the settlement the judge would hand down would prolly put you out of business.

 

[Ophion]

As a professional photographer this situation astounds me. I believe much has been said twice over and while the website owner appears to lack interest some things appear to need more repeating.

Photography is a business just like any other, I provide a service, products and pay taxes. My photographs are my property and my income. Without a written agreement no one has legal use of them. It is not a joke and it is not taken lightly. Using an image without proper permission or usage agreement can result in a lawsuit. If the used photographs were mine I would certainly take legal action.

Now I certainly don't know the laws in and out, but enough to keep myself safe. Images used in situations for non-profit without agreement are still illegal, but usually don't cause much in legal areas. However, this particular individual chose to use them for profit. Are the images being sold? No, but certainly visual sells the product, everyone wants to see what they were buying. If that wasn't a big deal he would have ripped them from others to begin with and there would be absolutely no hesitation taking them down. Just like posting on here, everyone wants to see an image of the animal or the product. People are visual and the visual sells. Since he considers himself such a great business man the website owner should know that by making profit off of an image that is not his the image owner can easily make a lawsuit out of it. From all of the swiped images that is a number of lawsuits and for someone who wants to make money that seems like a good way to lose it.

 

[pbflash]

Here's another one.

http://www.reptilesncritters.com/images/large/emerald-tree-boa.jpg

taken from

http://www.noahsboas.com/

The owner of noahsboas has been advised and I also sent a link to this thread.

 

[pbflash]

Another one

http://www.reptilesncritters.com/green-tree-pythons.html#

Taken from

http://www.theanimalfiles.com/reptiles/snakes/python_green_tree.html

Theanimalfiles.com has been notified.

 

[pbflash]

Another one:

http://www.reptilesncritters.com/indonesian-tree-boa.html#

Taken from the fauna forum

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103120

The poster has been notified.

 

[pbflash]

I've found more but won't post them. Why give him the chance to take them down before anyone can file a DCMA complaint.