Copyright: How do you CYB?

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by HUMMER_MAN

Guy's I hate to burst your bubble about copyright protection but given the fact that any digital image can be altered thru a simple process of edification to the point that successful litigation is highly doubtful, so DO NOT EXPOSE IT TO THE NET, it is that simple. Furthermore, who are you going to rely upon to inform you that your image has been swiped?? What are the odds that anyone, anywhere on earth will recognize the image as yours?? Bird dogs are just not that savvy & those who might be are cost prohibitive. I have a huge data base (40 years worth) that is stored on a PC that has never been connected to the net. When I post something I kiss it goodbye and hope all viewers enjoy it. International laws are no where near the point where something that will be viewed as trivial as a copyrighted digital image will garner enforcement. Hell we are still struggling with the Geneva Convention & how to humanely treat POW's.

Regards,

Please don't select "black" as your font color. Leave it on automatic or select the 'Remove text formatting' next to the font name in the Advanced reply box. Those of us on Camel Dark can't see it very well.

And actually, if you read the thread, you'd see examples of things changing with regard to copyright educations, awards, and tools to track images. Yes, as I already stated earlier, once it's posted, you've lost control. I don't post my 'good work' that is intended to be sold later for that reason. But new tools coming online are starting to give the digital photographer some ammunition in tracking and pointing out copyright infringement.

It's going to be a long, hard battle but these things have been done before.

[roncgizmo]

Originally Posted by loraksus

Really? Is there some magic picture registration fairy that tracks this sort of thing? Tracks the number of views and tells everyone how badly you're getting screwed by having an image on some emo kid's website visited only by his 5 glue sniffing cutter friends?
If you think that 400x250 pixel images are somehow hurting your picture's value and your pocketbook, you need to wake up to reality. Your work, while it may be good, is not that good.

Besides... if someone is using your image on myspace or whatever, it's trivial to get it taken down. Send a DMCA takedown request to myspace or imageshack and it will be down in 24 hours. Incredibly simple, no debate, no BS and the infringer's site / portion of the site will probably get killed. You're also more than welcome to track the person down and file a suit in federal court against a 12 year old, but most people don't go that route because a.) it would make them look like jerks, b.) it's financially stupid to pay a lawyer money to sue a 12 year old and c.) good luck collecting on your 'win'.

In cases of willful infringement of high res images in a commercial setting by an entity with actual assets, you often end up with people who fight you and make you sue or at least hire a lawyer to get a decent settlement. Very rarely will someone come forth and say "whoops, we screwed up and would like to make it right."

Pretty sure you want to CYA for the latter case, but then again, what do I know. My farts don't smell like roses.

Then at what point is it Ok to steal ?

Like Brian said you set a precedent. Now lets say one of the "Emo" kids sells it as his or hers and two years later you see your shot that you forgot about or didn't care to protect in a rag or contest and you happen to win without credit.

Is it still Ok or does it change things?