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Author Topic: My account was disabled without any notice  (Read 37456 times)

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« Reply #25 on: August 07, 2008, 09:39 »
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If this turns out to be a false accusation, then the accusers portfolio should be disabled an equal amount of time if not longer.  The OP is losing money every minute his portfolio is down.  The accuser should suffer the same consequence if it turns out to be false.

I understand SS's concern, but I think they should have disabled the ONE image until the OP had a chance to answer the accusation.  This really seems unfair.


helix7

« Reply #26 on: August 07, 2008, 09:41 »
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So you're guilty until proven innocent? This is exactly what I was talking about above. All someone needs to do is suggest that a user they don't like stole an image, and their portfolio is gone before any real investigating is done.

Certainly cases of infringement need to be dealt with. But this seems like the wrong way of going about it. Why not suspend the allegedly infringing image, instead of the whole portfolio?

« Reply #27 on: August 07, 2008, 09:43 »
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I understand SS's concern, but I think they should have disabled the ONE image until the OP had a chance to answer the accusation.  This really seems unfair.

That would be the obvious thing to do. The way they act, they punish the owner of the portfolio before they have all relevant documentation about the case. It's rather scary actually. They seem to be completely unpredictable.

« Reply #28 on: August 07, 2008, 09:46 »
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First off, I'd like to say to Orson that I am not jumping on you. If this is a mistake on SS's  part, then I hope the matter is resolved quickly. with appropriate apologies etc.
However, theft of images in general is one of the lowest forms of fraud. A lapse in judgment is NO excuse for this kind of crap. Ethics are ethics.

Microbius

« Reply #29 on: August 07, 2008, 09:50 »
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First off, I'd like to say to Orson that I am not jumping on you. If this is a mistake on SS's  part, then I hope the matter is resolved quickly. with appropriate apologies etc.
However, theft of images in general is one of the lowest forms of fraud. A lapse in judgment is NO excuse for this kind of crap. Ethics are ethics.
The point is that we don't know if anything was stolen. This could just as easily be a false accusation. Why not suspend that one image while an investigation goes on then if he is found guilty decide whether to erase his portfolio or not.
You usually decide if someone's guilty before sentencing them!

« Reply #30 on: August 07, 2008, 09:54 »
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Hi there,
I didnt steal anything!

My illustration is here: http://www.dreamstime.com/set-of-green-recycle-labels-image5477928

can anybody found on shutterstock or on other microstock found the same illustration???? Or at least similar, so somebody can think, that i have stolen it??

« Reply #31 on: August 07, 2008, 09:56 »
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Here is my response to Shutterstock:


Hi there!
Thanks a lot for first reply. Now i finaly know what is the problem.
 
Because I can't see the image on the shutterstock website i will describe it on other microstock - dreamstime. So according to the ID of the image, it looks like the problem is in this illustration:
 
http://www.dreamstime.com/set-of-green-recycle-labels-image5477928
 
Now your questions:
a) Image was created on my computer by myself. If you look into my portfolio, you will find that some parts from the illustration i created couple of months ago:
 
Shapes of the labels - all started with
round red label - http://www.dreamstime.com/labels-badges-and-stickers-image4196269 (02/02/2008 on dreamstime)
 
then i created other shapes:
 
rectangle - http://www.dreamstime.com/square-stickers-image4695797 - 02/28/2008
square - http://www.dreamstime.com/labels-badges-and-stickers-image4384628- 03/25/2008
triangle - http://www.dreamstime.com/triangle-labels-badges--image4793251 - 04/04/2008
 
then i started to use various symbols on the labels:
http://www.dreamstime.com/various--labels-badges-image4870164 - 04/12/2008 - as you can see there is also recycle sign
 
then i combined labels and traced symbols - here is an example of bar codes labels: http://www.dreamstime.com/set-of--labels-with-bar-codes-image5477690 - 06/17/2008
 
And after that i created the collection with recycle signs.
I didnt draw the recycle signs - one (arrows in triangle) i took from basic photohop shapes, for the others i just use my camera and created photos of real recycle signs from various products (tea box, shampoo and some packing box) - those are common symbols! If you want, i can send you all the photos... and then i just trace it in illustrator. That't all. This illustration was submited
 before 06/17/2008 (all those dates are from dreamstime, where the illustration were uploaded 1-2 weeks later).
 
b) I use adobe illustrator, if you want i can send you the original .ai files and also the .jpgs i used for tracing
c) Images were not modified, but done by myself
 
Petr.
P.S. let me please know, that you get this email, otherwise i will send it again...

Microbius

« Reply #32 on: August 07, 2008, 09:56 »
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http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-14725873-square-and-round-recycle-symbol-stickers-with-and-without-curl.html

There you go, but as I say, these are generic symbols, so I would have to say that they are not copies

« Reply #33 on: August 07, 2008, 09:57 »
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What if it was a copyright violation eg. "the green point" from Germany is copyrighted and the copyright holder or representative contacted SS demanding removal. All SS needs to do is inform the creator of removal or give him/her a chance to convert to editorial licence. Brutal policy implementation on the part of SS. Guilty until proven otherwise. Reduces their liability. Shoot first ask questions later.

« Reply #34 on: August 07, 2008, 09:58 »
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My guess is more a problem about the "Green Point" logo (Der Grne Punkt) which is a copyrighted logo. The 2 arrows forming a circle.

See :
http://www.imagecatalog.com/copyright_and_trademark.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Dot_%28symbol%29
http://www.ecoromambalaje.ro/eng/punctul_verde.php

[EDIT] Oops, Read_My_Rights, we were writing at the same time...
« Last Edit: August 07, 2008, 10:01 by ErickN »

« Reply #35 on: August 07, 2008, 10:00 »
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This was posted at StockXpert forum 1th of august :
http://stockxpert.com/forum.phtml?f=showtopic&n=15731
Six days later SS has nothing done.

Microbius

« Reply #36 on: August 07, 2008, 10:01 »
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« Reply #37 on: August 07, 2008, 10:05 »
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http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-14725873-square-and-round-recycle-symbol-stickers-with-and-without-curl.html

There you go, but as I say, these are generic symbols, so I would have to say that they are not copies


HAHAHA if I steal this image, why this image has higher ID (was added later) than my? How it is possible?

This image id: 14725873
My image id: 14332861

But yes, it is very very similar.

Microbius

« Reply #38 on: August 07, 2008, 10:11 »
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http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-14725873-square-and-round-recycle-symbol-stickers-with-and-without-curl.html

There you go, but as I say, these are generic symbols, so I would have to say that they are not copies


HAHAHA if I steal this image, why this image has higher ID (was added later) than my? How it is possible?

This image id: 14725873
My image id: 14332861

But yes, it is very very similar.

Lol, You should report that guy  ;)
It would be so funny if it turned out to be that guy that reported you and his image is actually newer than yours! It wouldn't surprise me if SS didn't bother checking.

Anyway, here's an older one, but as I say, these symbols are well known, I don't see how they can claim you copied them!
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-10075069-recycle-sticker-set.html

« Reply #39 on: August 07, 2008, 10:28 »
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My guess is more a problem about the "Green Point" logo (Der Grne Punkt) which is a copyrighted logo. The 2 arrows forming a circle.

See :
http://www.imagecatalog.com/copyright_and_trademark.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Dot_%28symbol%29
http://www.ecoromambalaje.ro/eng/punctul_verde.php

[EDIT] Oops, Read_My_Rights, we were writing at the same time...


Ok, if it is a problem of copyright, then the mistake did the reviewers and not me, so why . im the afflicted one? And why they deleted the whole portfolio?


Microbius

« Reply #40 on: August 07, 2008, 11:02 »
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and why not all the other people who did the same thing?

« Reply #41 on: August 07, 2008, 11:07 »
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and why not all the other people who did the same thing?


Maybe because my are selling better :)

But finally all is solved:

Dear Petr,

(I apologize for not contacting you sooner.)

Please reference this url for review:  http://www.greendotcompliance.eu/en/common-questions.php#using

* The recycling arrow symbol at the url above is a protected work.

You have some inspired images with this arrow recycling image in your portfolio. From your response to me now, I believe that this appears to be an innocent infraction. However, you need to delete these arrow symbols from your portfolio as the inspiration is still too similar.

Please remove any and all images from your portfolio with the arrow symbol right away.

Your account has been reactivated with full privileges.


My portfolio is back!
HEUREKA.
I just hope, that my images will be on same positions like before.

And now im going to pub for some beer... i think i really NEED it :)

Thanks to all you guys for support, without you i would never get any response from shutterstock.


Microbius

« Reply #42 on: August 07, 2008, 11:14 »
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I'm really glad for you.
You certainly do deserve that beer.
I can't stand the way that SS complain all the time about people posting about this kind of thing on the forums but never bother to do anything till you do.
I hate those guys!

« Reply #43 on: August 07, 2008, 11:52 »
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Yeah, I love when on the forums they'll say something like "we answer ALL submitter emails."  That's simply not true.

Microbius

« Reply #44 on: August 07, 2008, 11:57 »
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That's an out and out lie, if the management really believe that they need to keep a better eye on the people who are actually responsible for reading emails.

« Reply #45 on: August 07, 2008, 11:57 »
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Good for you!

Had it not been for your misfortune, a lot of us probably never would have known that symbol is trademarked logo.  It looks like a simple universal symbol. 

« Reply #46 on: August 07, 2008, 11:58 »
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I was going to sign up with SS and after reading every word of all the above postings .... Well folks they will not have any of my images to mess with. They also will not have me on their site!

When your treated like crap with no answers etc .... they can cram it. And that applies to any site.

Now I will read about some other sites. ;D

-Larry

« Reply #47 on: August 07, 2008, 12:05 »
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I was going to sign up with SS and after reading every word of all the above postings .... Well folks they will not have any of my images to mess with. They also will not have me on their site!

When your treated like crap with no answers etc .... they can cram it. And that applies to any site.

Now I will read about some other sites. ;D

-Larry

I wouldn't discount SS over this or any of their other little quirks.  I don't think there's a single micro site that has it completely together when it comes to the treatment of contributors.  SS is one of the better ones actually.  Dreamstime would probably be the next in line. 

Point is they all have issues that you have to deal with if you want to sell microstock.  As the industry evolves hopefully contributor treatment will improve.

« Reply #48 on: August 07, 2008, 12:09 »
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Congrats Petr. Always nice when it turns out well in the end. Your portfolio is great btw.   :)

« Reply #49 on: August 07, 2008, 12:14 »
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This is business and photographer and agency are partners. They are not my employer and Im not their employee or slave. In most of the countries across globe you must first prove someone IS guilty before you do legal steps.

There is simply no excuse for what SS did and it is very clear example how much their value their contributors. Keep that always in mind when you upload there - its not first nor last case.


 

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