MicrostockGroup

Let us know if they do something. In all my reports to sites, nothing changed. Only when I wrote directly to the infractor, images were removed.

The UK 123RF office called me back a few moments ago and they now have all the information they need to proceed to 'decease and desist' action. They have to check first to see if the image has been purchased legitimately. There is a small chance (about 1% they say) where clients do actually buy an image appropriately and for whatever reason still use a watermarked screen grab which they may have downloaded as a comp before purchase - strange but true - usually if their in a real hurry and forget to use the 'proper' image they bought. Amazing I know but it does happen sometimes!

That being said, I think it is highly unlikely that applies in this case but they have to check it out first under their policies & procedures.

I'll keep checking back on the link (below) to see when the image changes (i.e. without the watermark) and keep everyone abreast. 123RF did say they take these cases very seriously and action is always taken against perpetrators when and where possible, although they cannot give guarantees they always succeed. The penalty for unauthorized image use (assuming the perpetrator buys it and doesn't simply remove the image) is they have to pay double the normal price of the image which is reflected in an increase in the royalty to the photographer on a pro-rata basis. I doubt that will happen here either as it's a news page blog - old news already so effectively they'll get away with it by simply changing the image.

Scum bags.


http://radar-gr.blogspot.com/2011/08/o-how-italy-is-adjusting.html

I agree. I used to use TinEye - quite frankly - compared to Google images it's rubbish. I simply drag an image into the Google images window and within seconds I have 1/2/3 pages of every time the image has been used. That's how I found this violation yesterday. I reserve Sunday's for this sort of investigating thing.. It's also nice to see where images are being used as well.

We've sent a C&D as well as persuaded the blog owner to try get a licensed version of the image but have received no replies.

I have since wrote a "Report alleged copyright infringement: Blogger" to Google's services. Expecting an automated reply soon.

We'll keep you posted of any developments.

Alex.

  Just seen my typo in the message a few days ago "have all the information they need to proceed to 'decease and desist' action"

Should have been Cease and Desist - probably a bit extreme expecting the scumbags to die for their misdemeanors! 

The blogger team at Google (who I also reported this to) responded late last evening with this message.

.........................................................

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us.

We have completed the Blogger portion of your complaint stemming from case
#: 864226388

In accordance with the DMCA, we have completed processing your
infringement complaint and the content in question no longer appears on
the following URL(s):

http://radar-gr.blogspot.com/2011/08/o-how-italy-is-adjusting.html

Please let us know if we can assist you further.

Regards,

The Google Team

.........................................................

The offending page is taken down.

Case closed until the next time it happens.

It checks for images used online. It's a bit more tricky finding image violations in the offline world. Anyway glad you got it sorted.

 

That's the one!  Brilliant. 

Good work! A win for the good guys!!