RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTubeI picked up this week's Columbus Alive and I saw that it came with an "easycolumbus" guide geared for college students. I noticed a picture of Stauf's that looked awfully familiar, but thought that was unlikely, until I dug up a 2008 article from my blog and there it was. Last time I checked, I wasn't employed at Experience Columbus, but on pg. 8 it clearly states, "All Photos: Experience Columbus". Seriously, is it so hard to give credit? I already know that my blog single-handedly blows Experience Columbus out of the water even with their fancy videos, but it's the principle of the matter.
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion
EasyColumbus Used My Picture
[33 posts] [17 contributors]
Topic Rating:
(Total Ratings: )
Rate this topic:
Rate this topic:
-
Columbusite
Minneapolis
Login to Send PM
Posted 2 years ago # -
The Wayfarer
Short North
Login to Send PM
They owe you money. Figure out your rights, what the proper compensation is given their circulation, and then contact them. If you filed for a copyright on the image, it's open and shut. If you didn't, it's a little trickier, but may still be worth pursuing.
I don't have a copy of my business of photography book nearby, otherwise I'd offer up more precise advice.
Posted 2 years ago # -
blammo
in the shadow of the wonder of bread
Login to Send PM
Just contact them, mention you're flattered that they used your picture, and if they would like additional images of yours in the future, that they are available for purchase.
So who knows, maybe you can get some work/money out of it. Second offense though, bring the hammer down.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
Login to Send PM
Legally you have to have an ownership notice on the website.
Something like:Limited Right to Use. The viewing, printing or downloading of any content, graphic, form or document from the Site grants you only a limited, nonexclusive license for use solely by you for your own personal use and not for republication, distribution, assignment, sublicense, sale, preparation of derivative works or other use. No part of any content, form or document may be reproduced in any form or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, other than for your personal use (but not for resale or redistribution).
Posting it on the internet is a very slippery area. And as of my last check (about 10 years ago) you can grab or reuse stuff in a pretty liberal way.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Coreroc
Egoville USA
Login to Send PM
I guess the true question is are yuou really worried about a few bucks for an amature photo posted on the internet or did you just want to toot your own horn and say you were better than Experience Columbus.
Curious did you get a signed release from the folks featured in the pictures prior to posting. I would believe in public domain that is required if you expect to profit from pictures. So unless you did that first or can track down the few people dining at stauff's you don't have much of a argument for payment. Also itr looks like you hosted the image on FLICKR which puts your image back into public domain. I also don't see where you credit yourself with the taking the photo in your blog which would help folks know who to credit.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
Login to Send PM
My wife's picture appeared in a fund raising campaign for a medical school. And it was just a picture of her, not in a crowd. They never asked for permission. It was a complete surprise to see her.
(But she is so damn good looking, I can't blame them)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Coreroc
Egoville USA
Login to Send PM
@alexs and tenzo- I'm not sure how that would work with it being a fund raiser, but it seems like the law only asks for permission if profit comes fromt he image. assuming the fund raising wefforts went towards a non-profit org then those would be fine without pernmission. In the long run there are many fine lines with photography and it all gets more grey and diluted with internet photo hosting and posting.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Analogue Kid
5th by West-Northwest
Login to Send PM
An image I took of the Columbus skyline now appears on the columbus.gov website. Given the way it was licensed they're allowed to do that but it really caught me off guard at first.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Joseph L. Harris
Dublinish
Login to Send PM
Columbusite, you're legally entitled to compensation and you should pursue it. Otherwise they'll keep doing it, if not to you then to other people.
Many businesses have gotten into the habit of using images from the Internet without permission. I have no sympathy for someone stealing a photo and using it to make money, directly or indirectly.
PM me your GTalk address or something and I can use a program called fotoQuote to determine the market price for what they used it for.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Irene
Login to Send PM
Columbusite, I'm so sorry to hear you weren't given proper credit for your photography. I work for Experience Columbus and we're truly not sure how your photo was obtained for use in the easyColumbus guide; it seems we've been mistakenly given credit. Please rest assured that we'd never use your photos without your permission.
If I can help you determine the best person to contact regarding the source of the photo, please send me a PM and I'll see what I can find for you. Should something like this somehow happen again, you are always welcome to contact me directly.
Posted 2 years ago # -
greenhouse1014
Columbus
Login to Send PM
Technically, copyright is granted automatically on any piece of creative at the time of creation. Registering it, of course, is a good backup, but if you can prove a date opf publication, you're good to go. Regardless of how much compensation you might have right to, this is copyright infringement pure and simple. If it were me, I'd still bring the hammer down. I suspect this happens more often than not.
@Coreroc
You seem to have a light view of copyright. Let me ask you this. If I found an image of one of your paintings on teh internet, and I liked it so much that I downloaded it, then used the image on the cover of, say, a magazine that I was publisher of, how would you feel about that? Especially since your image is improving my document, possibly adding to my sales because of it. Or how about I come out with my own line of greeting cards, then used that image on the greeting cards?Posted 2 years ago # -
Coreroc
Egoville USA
Login to Send PM
@greenhouse- I'm not really stating my view on copyright as much as the way i understand it from available sources. I do feel that if your that worried about controlling your images you should take measure to protect them. In this case hosting pictures on a free website and not taking the steps to mark them private view for just your network you open yourself up. i also think if you want credit for an image you should crediy yourself on your own website or control the content in a manner that would force the contact to use the image. Honestly in this case were talking about a photo from a guy that writes a blog and not a professional artist that makes a living on art or photos.
That said this guy writes about the city of Columbus in a way that promotes it just like Experience Columbus does. Seems like it would be the biggest compliment for them to use a photo from a site they use as a valid Columbus resource. I deeply feel that in this case Columbusite wanted to play king of the hill and drive traffic to his blog. He did post a link to very dated information and I don't believe that Experience Columbus was out to profit from this silly picture.
Now personally I have spent years as an artist not only creating art but providing it to the public free of charge. It is the very nature of a graffiti artist to get the work into the eyes of the viewer. Hell the things I have recieved the most recognition for this summer I have dumped hundreds of dollars into simply for the public to have art at their fingertips or in this case digital camera. Now if someone was to use this to profit from my image then yes I would expect a kick back in one form or another. However as an artist you have to expose your images for them to become known one way or another and I just don't look at my work as another dollar figure. I look at it as a passion I want to share with anyone willing to look or listen. Hell I even had 2 painting stolen from me this weekend and personally look at it as a compliment not a dis.
Posted 2 years ago # -
joev
Merion Village
Login to Send PM
Someone might want to change the title of this thread. Irene from Experience Columbus has disputed the claim that Experience Columbus provided the image without permission. It's possible that the publisher, copywriter or graphic designer lifted the image.
Also, Columbus-ite.com and ExperienceColumbus.com serve different purposes. It's pretty difficult to rank one as better that the other.
Posted 2 years ago #
You must log in to post.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.