Microstock Group - A meeting place for microstock photographers

Yes. Like they said, it's a 'product shot', pure & simple, and as such may have have copyright implications. Don't forget they are guaranteeing the buyer up to $250K damages in the event of a legal issue.

Would you be prepared to indemnify the buyer out of your own pocket for a similar amount for the sake of a few $ sales? You'd have to be "F'ing stupid" if you were.

I have medal images. One day the company or the design owner could see this. Then they may say, hey that's our products we don't want Istock to sell them. It could be the same for xmas decoration or even a specific brand of banana.

The diference between action taken and ignoring is how the companies are able to sue everyone for protecting their design/image/brand IMO.

If any of my medals are removed one day, I go clean the floor at Burger King

The problem is...it's fast becoming difficult to photograph any kind of topic because everything seems to be copyrighted. I had a shot rejected once...it was a young girl dancing, holding an mp3 player (couldn't see it, it was in her hand) with earbuds. Her hair covered most of the earbuds. The subject was the girl dancing. In relation to the overall size of the image, the earbuds were a drop in the bucket...and yet it was rejected because the earbuds were "identifiable". It was not a product shot.

I totally understand the OPs rant. And yes, he probably will get over it and find other things to shoot. I got over it and found other things to shoot...food. So far, that hasn't been copyrighted. Only a matter of time, I suppose...

That is until they pull them for the bowls or plates design.

My feeling I have on it was... I proved that their original reason for pulling my image  was wrong but they wont put it back. I hated that in the Government Jobs I have had in different levels. Prove the Boss is wrong and their Boss just wont change whatever happened...because the Bosses think the lowly worker does not know what they are doing. I refuse do Government work at any level now.

As far as the choices laid out by MJ. I am not leaving what money I got there. I will still try to get  things approved.. at least until I reach payout there. Then I will probably stop worrying about appeasing their process.

Wonder what happens to the images they feel are copyright infringement that have sold over and over again. I think I remember awhile back that someone here on the forum had Fotolia charging someone's account for having copyright images that had sold, then they removed the image....I am remembering right?

no joke -- plate designs are copyrighted, that's why most sites urge sellers to use plain colored plates


usng designs on plates also reduces the range of uses if the main emphasis is the food

steve

This is true. I try and buy all plain jane stuff (dishers and glassware) at the dollar store.

On dining out - if you try and shoot food at the local TGI Friday's, you'll get bounced for the red and white stripes on the tables (Trade Dress). And it doesn't stop there. One cupcake baker (the name escapes me) claims trademark on their frosting and decorating. I think (not sure) they are a boutique baker perhaps in Texas. If you search the iStock wiki, it's in there somewhere. Signature dishes by renowned chefs may also be subject to design rights. And don't ever try and sell a pic of a Sylvia Weinstock wedding cake for stock. You're just asking for trouble there.

Enforcement of items being copyrighted seems to be very random on some of these sites. As an example, if you search "laptop" on iStock the first image that comes up clearly appears to be a macbook, yet it is on there and has been downloaded something like 12,000 times.

With my personal experience the item I have had rejected the most for copyright issues is cars. Even after all branding has been removed I think the only car shots I have ever had accepted were of a classic Mustang and one of a 60s Corvette. The rejection rate was so high and the amount of editing needed for isolating and removing branding took so long that I gave up on submitting that particular subject. Istock has never accepted a car shot from me.