Author Topic: Google search overrides right click save setting of Flickr (Read 10960 times)

Poncke · « **on:** March 03, 2013, 02:02 »

I have disabled right click saving on all my photos posted on Flickr, but Google image search allows right click saving. They override the Flickr setting. When you click on the thumbnail the image on Flickr is displayed in full size and Google enables all my images for right click save. This needs to be stopped immediately.

I suggest we all report that here, each for their own images. http://www.flickr.com/abuse/. I have included the Google search result link to my images on Flickr in the report.

Travelling-light · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2013, 13:53 »

Why do you think this matters?

If it's posted openly on the Web it's downloadable, and right-click disable only takes a few seconds to bypass.

Poncke · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2013, 15:02 »

So stealing a car with a screwdriver doesnt matter because you can do it with a another tool as well?

I am just letting people know.

Travelling-light · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2013, 17:29 »

Quote from: Poncke on March 03, 2013, 15:02

So stealing a car with a screwdriver doesnt matter because you can do it with a another tool as well?

I am just letting people know.

And I'm just reminding them that right-click disabling is a complete waste of time anyway in deterring image piracy, while discouraging legitimate viewing - you can't right-click > Open in new tab.

Which is why we never post anything important over 600px or without a © watermark.

Poncke · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2013, 17:38 »

Yes, I know all that, but Google shouldnt be overriding user settings.

lisafx · « **Reply #5 on:** March 03, 2013, 17:57 »

Quote from: Poncke on March 03, 2013, 17:38

Yes, I know all that, but Google shouldnt be overriding user settings.

Totally agree.

Disabling right click might not stop a tech savvy thief, but I think it does deter casual ones.

tab62 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 03, 2013, 18:03 »

A lock only keeps the honest people out...

ShadySue · « **Reply #7 on:** March 03, 2013, 19:15 »

Did you see what I wrote on the other thread?
http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/google-images-we-are-so-screwed/msg302156/#msg302156

If you want to PM me a URL, I'll try to right-click save one of your Flickr images from Google.

Toon Vectors · « **Reply #8 on:** March 03, 2013, 21:29 »

I think it might be worth pointing out that this is not necessarily Google's fault - or at the very least this is how nearly all search engines work.

Disabling right-click save (and out-of-browser drag) is implemented in JavaScript which is evaluated by a web browser and it's up to the web browser to implement that correctly. However, web crawlers such as that used by Google's search engine don't usually run actual web browsers since this is prohibitively expensive. Instead, they just download the web page HTML source code, parse the information in the HTML and then selectively follow links in <a> tags and download referenced images in <img> tags among other activities.

Technically speaking, anyone who views a page that has images with right-click save disabled has *already* saved that image to their computer if they can actually see it. It's downloaded to the local web browser temporary cache which is not exactly a secret location on most computers. You can also view the source code for the page and do the same thing that Google does - just follow the direct image URLs on the page. Also, in most cases, you can turn JavaScript off and bypass these types of restrictions - plenty of people browse the web with JavaScript turned off for legitimate reasons.

Poncke · « **Reply #9 on:** March 04, 2013, 12:29 »

Thanks Toon Vector, that explains it for me. I wasnt aware of that.

Poncke · « **Reply #10 on:** March 04, 2013, 12:30 »

Quote from: ShadySue on March 03, 2013, 19:15

Did you see what I wrote on the other thread?
http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/google-images-we-are-so-screwed/msg302156/#msg302156

If you want to PM me a URL, I'll try to right-click save one of your Flickr images from Google.

I did, but I didnt have an immediate response. Sorry.

Toon Vectore just explained it quite well, so there is nothing we can do about it.