Another dodgy Shutterstock portfolio, sigh

[Microbius]

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-70321078/stock-vector-woman-vector-illustration-style.html
rip off of:
http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-3222420-abstract-girl-with-butterflies-in-hair.php?st=f8f0bd6

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-53595523/stock-vector-red-apple-vector.html
rip off of one of the second set of cherries here:
http://www.procurator.su/blog/procurator/92.php#comments

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-62869315/stock-vector-green-world-vector-illustration-image.html
rip off of this plus others:
http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-7968945-green-plant-concept.php?st=b2fcf08

and so on and so on for the whole portfolio. I suspect this is probably the only original image:
http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?gallery_id=270868&safesearch=1&images_per_page=100&thumb_size=small&prev_sort_method=popular&sort_method=newest&page=5#id=64557238

because it sucks too hard to be a rip off.

Please check through for you own work or let the artists know if you know who they are.

[stockmarketer]

Good catches. I'm shocked no one else has chimed in on this yet.  I don't see any of my images infringed upon by this collection, but someone needs to turn this person in.  Have you alerted Shutterstock?

[Pixart]

No vectors on 123 but many of the same photos  http://es.123rf.com/profile_xjjx

[john_woodcock]

This is my image.....http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-5927658-small-bent-tree-and-roots.php?st=d0f2da1

this is some bloke on Shutterstock......
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-15148288/stock-vector-grunge-tree.html

I've complained to istock, can't do anything, complained to Shutterstock, it's still for sale.

They may not be identical but some parts are.

[Jo Ann Snover]

I don't want to downplay your case John - it's a shame that you can't get either agency to act - but the butterfly head girl is not in any way shape or form something someone could claim was their own creation (I'm assuming the tree argument was that they might have had a similarly bent tree in their back garden as the reference for their illustration). Slapping hibiscus on top doesn't cut it.

Has someone contacted IS and SS or the IS artist(s)?

[gostwyck]

This is my image.....http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-5927658-small-bent-tree-and-roots.php?st=d0f2da1

this is some bloke on Shutterstock......
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-15148288/stock-vector-grunge-tree.html

I've complained to istock, can't do anything, complained to Shutterstock, it's still for sale.

They may not be identical but some parts are.

I'd agree with you. From the copy's # I can see it was uploaded almost exactly 3 months after your own image. Obviously they noticed how well it was selling.

[Microbius]

Good catches. I'm shocked no one else has chimed in on this yet.  I don't see any of my images infringed upon by this collection, but someone needs to turn this person in.  Have you alerted Shutterstock?

I haven't because I'm anonymous here, so anything I tell MSG about kind of precludes me getting on to the agency because it'll give away my identity!

Every photo I did the special Google image search with came up as belonging to someone else, so yes someone need to let SS know so the portfolio can be removed as a whole.

[Microbius]

This is my image.....http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-5927658-small-bent-tree-and-roots.php?st=d0f2da1

this is some bloke on Shutterstock......
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-15148288/stock-vector-grunge-tree.html

I've complained to istock, can't do anything, complained to Shutterstock, it's still for sale.

They may not be identical but some parts are.

Oh dear, yes that's clearly the same tree slightly edited, it's disgusting that SS hasn't taken it down.
eta. and again:
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-68091280/stock-vector-winter-tree.html
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-56232268/stock-vector-nature.html
http://us.fotolia.com/id/8399742
http://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/nature-vector-450341

ETA from same portfolio
original:
http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-2246820-vector-grunge-floral-background.php?st=c40210b

copy:
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-3425179/stock-photo-abstract-floral-background.html

[YadaYadaYada]

Good catches. I'm shocked no one else has chimed in on this yet.  I don't see any of my images infringed upon by this collection, but someone needs to turn this person in.  Have you alerted Shutterstock?

I haven't because I'm anonymous here, so anything I tell MSG about kind of precludes me getting on to the agency because it'll give away my identity!

Every photo I did the special Google image search with came up as belonging to someone else, so yes someone need to let SS know so the portfolio can be removed as a whole.

Writing to SS will give up your MSG identity how does that work do you think they have a secret connection for info sharing. Why cant you write to SS and tell them?

Good sleuthing.

[Microbius]

I just meant that the agencies read this forum, if I complain about something here then send them an email from my real name about the same thing, they will obviously make the connection that Microbius who has been bad mouthing us on MSG is XXX on our site

[RacePhoto]

I just meant that the agencies read this forum, if I complain about something here then send them an email from my real name about the same thing, they will obviously make the connection that Microbius who has been bad mouthing us on MSG is XXX on our site

That's funny that you are so worried about anyone knowing who you are, that you will give up the right to protect your images from thieves. Well maybe not funny, but strange? LOL Maybe you can have a friend write in and complain for you? I just don't think that stealing images, mis-use or copying and making minor alterations, then claiming them as original creations, is a good thing. I'd be hopping mad, even if it meant that SS knew who I was, as if they really read the forums and care that much about what we write here?

[Microbius]

They aren't my images.

[kuriouskat]

Whilst we are on the subject of copycats, you may want to check and see if your work has been ripped off by this contributor.

Original:http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/108913/108913,1193033497,1/stock-vector-glamour-girl-on-a-white-background-6294709.jpg

Copy:http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/435955/435955,1259949586,2/stock-vector-the-person-of-the-girl-green-locks-and-flower-in-a-hair-42177367.jpg

I am amazed by the audacity of some 'artists'.

[Microbius]

have you got the link to their portfolio, not sure how to get back to it from the image link
ETA
http://graphicleftovers.com/graphic/girl2/
http://www.123rf.com/photo_6844926_persons-of-girls-and-a-star-for-an-inscription.html
http://www.canstockphoto.com/illustration/ringlet.html#file_view.php?id=3391278
http://www.crestock.com/image/4220388-girl4.aspx

looks like they are in a lot of the agencies, several variations of the rip off on each site. You should definitely let all the image libraries know.

[Microbius]

No vectors on 123 but many of the same photos  http://es.123rf.com/profile_xjjx

I think that this my be a guy that was ripped off by the thief, or that's how I read it.

ETA, actually probably not, probably the same guy

[kuriouskat]

have you got the link to their portfolio, not sure how to get back to it from the image link
ETA
http://graphicleftovers.com/graphic/girl2/
http://www.123rf.com/photo_6844926_persons-of-girls-and-a-star-for-an-inscription.html
http://www.canstockphoto.com/illustration/ringlet.html#file_view.php?id=3391278
http://www.crestock.com/image/4220388-girl4.aspx

looks like they are in a lot of the agencies, several variations of the rip off on each site. You should definitely let all the image libraries know.

They aren't my images - I just noticed the similarity because this person did a 'take' on one of my bestsellers. It was annoying but was not a reportable offence, as there was enough variation. However, the example above appeared to be a direct copy, (simply flipped and with a few additions).

Here are the portfolio links:

Original:
http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?lang=en&search_source=search_form&version=llv1&anyorall=all&safesearch=1&searchterm=&search_group=&orient=&search_cat=&searchtermx=&photographer_name=nikit_a&people_gender=&people_age=&people_ethnicity=&people_number=&commercial_ok=&color=&show_color_wheel=1&secondary_submit=Search#id=6294709

Copy:
http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?lang=en&search_source=search_form&version=llv1&anyorall=all&safesearch=1&searchterm=face+&search_group=&orient=&search_cat=&searchtermx=&photographer_name=MANSUROVA+YULIA&people_gender=&people_age=&people_ethnicity=&people_number=&commercial_ok=&color=&show_color_wheel=1#id=42177367

Sorry, I obviously didn't post correctly the first time.

[cathyslife]

Maybe you could site mail the person who got ripped off, letting them know?

[kuriouskat]

Maybe you could site mail the person who got ripped off, letting them know?

I tried but couldn't tract artist down on Shutterstock due to _ in username.

Off to work no so can't do anything until this evening, but tonight I will see if I can track the original artist as a contributor on a different site, and try and contact them that way.

[Microbius]

Just rechecked the links and unbelievably that first portfolio is still there, even the image of the woman with the flowers in her hair that's clearly someone else's work with a different background and two extra flowers dropped in on top. Very disappointed with SS

[gostwyck]

Just rechecked the links and unbelievably that first portfolio is still there, even the image of the woman with the flowers in her hair that's clearly someone else's work with a different background and two extra flowers dropped in on top. Very disappointed with SS

The plot thickens. The copier from above has this image in his port;

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-34647139/stock-vector-the-man-beats-on-a-ball-playing-in-golf-a-vector-illustration.html

Which itself appears to have been been copied here;

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-70076212/stock-vector-golf-sport-with-area-for-text.html

Totally different level of keywording so I wouldn't think it could be multiple accounts by the same person.

[click_click]

... Totally different level of keywording so I wouldn't think it could be multiple accounts by the same person.

I think SS as well as other agencies only allow multiple accounts for one single contributor on a very rare basis.
The only one I know from the top of my head was Lumaxart. No idea why he did it and how it helped him to have separate accounts but I'm sure the guy you mentioned is not playing in the same league.

[soraya]

Just rechecked the links and unbelievably that first portfolio is still there, even the image of the woman with the flowers in her hair that's clearly someone else's work with a different background and two extra flowers dropped in on top. Very disappointed with SS

Patience, please... 

[Karimala]

I love Google's right-click image search.  Recognized the style of one of this dude's illustrations, and yep...it's one of Kirsty Pargeter's.   

[Karimala]

I sent Kirsty an email and she's gonna get a hold of SS.  Considering she's a big name micro illustrator, I'll bet SS finally removes this guy's fake portfolio.

[Microbius]

it's still there:
Copy:
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-70321078/stock-vector-woman-vector-illustration-style.html
Original:
http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-3222420-abstract-girl-with-butterflies-in-hair.php?st=b661c30

Seems so strange that when something is as clear cut as this it takes them ages to sort it (if they sort it at all) while it seems that some of the more muddy issues result in quicker portfolio closures, sometime of the wrong people.
I hope it isn't because the people having work stolen are IStock exclusives, that's a pretty low way to go about business if it is, and shown a pretty dubious attitude towards IP.