Author Topic: Is it safe to upload to Flickr ? (Read 11645 times)

Phadrea · « **on:** September 14, 2015, 17:01 »

I am using Flickr to vet photo equipment by the quality of images there. It is very useful for that. I also notice a lot of pro photographers showcasing their work there which I thought may be a good idea for networking. The question is, is there a big risk of getting images stolen or used without payment, rather than going to microstock sites ?

ShadySue · « **Reply #1 on:** September 14, 2015, 17:11 »

I've found my pics from there (with my "obnoxious" watermark on) in a few places. But generally, these places also have watermarked pics from e.g. iS and SS.
There is obviously a real risk - you can watermark and right click disable to discourage casual theft. If you do that, you can generally identify thefts.
You can restrict who sees your images, image by image, or make them visible only to yourself.
Bought in-uses without watermarks are much more readily stealable and more difficult to check up on.

Phadrea · « **Reply #2 on:** September 14, 2015, 17:12 »

So don't they have a facility to let you watermark them on the site ?

ShadySue · « **Reply #3 on:** September 14, 2015, 17:15 »

Quote from: Herg on September 14, 2015, 17:12

So don't they have a facility to let you watermark them on the site ?

Not as far as I know - I'm not on there much nowadays, and there have been a few changes recently.
I do my own watermarks.
Added: Plus my max width is 1000px.

Phadrea · « **Reply #4 on:** September 14, 2015, 17:38 »

You can stop people downloading if you open a Pro account which costs $49 a year. I would do that if I thought it would bring me more work/downloads.

ShadySue · « **Reply #5 on:** September 14, 2015, 17:45 »

Quote from: Herg on September 14, 2015, 17:38

You can stop people downloading if you open a Pro account which costs $49 a year. I would do that if I thought it would bring me more work/downloads.

How do they stop people screendumping and getting pics that way?
I used to have a Pro account when it was a lot cheaper, but as I'm not on there much now, I let it lapse.
I'm not sure how it would help you get downloads. The terms of use don't allow commercial use other than by links in your profile. So technically, you're not supposed to link from an image page.

Phadrea · « **Reply #6 on:** September 14, 2015, 17:53 »

Really, it would be more of a sharing resource as well as networking and connecting with like minded fine art photographers.

ShadySue · « **Reply #7 on:** September 14, 2015, 17:58 »

I understand the coolistas have moved on to Instagram.

Zero Talent · « **Reply #8 on:** September 14, 2015, 20:31 »

Quote from: Herg on September 14, 2015, 17:01

I am using Flickr to vet photo equipment by the quality of images there. It is very useful for that. I also notice a lot of pro photographers showcasing their work there which I thought may be a good idea for networking. The question is, is there a big risk of getting images stolen or used without payment, rather than going to microstock sites ?

If you want to see your images used for free, for commercial purposes, by all kind of russian sites, go ahead and upload on Flickr

Just to get an idea, here is the official answer I got from VK, (the russian FB copy) when I requested them to remove several photos stolen from Flickr:

Support agent #834
Hello, ......!

Thanx for your request!
When you have posted these pictures in the net you had to understand that access is really opened. By the way, there are a lot of places where your pictures are posted, for example:
[URL]
But note that most of the photographers are pleased when their photos are posted at many sites because this means good quality of these pictures.

And your photos aren't used in commerce aims, they only are decoration of communities about tourism and world, because your photos are really wonderful!

Best regards,
VK Support Team
Jan 17, 2013 at 6:55 pm|You disliked this answer

MarcvsTvllivs · « **Reply #9 on:** September 15, 2015, 01:44 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on September 14, 2015, 20:31

Quote from: Herg on September 14, 2015, 17:01
I am using Flickr to vet photo equipment by the quality of images there. It is very useful for that. I also notice a lot of pro photographers showcasing their work there which I thought may be a good idea for networking. The question is, is there a big risk of getting images stolen or used without payment, rather than going to microstock sites ?

If you want to see your images used for free, for commercial purposes, by all kind of russian sites, go ahead and upload on Flickr

Just to get an idea, here is the official answer I got from VK, (the russian FB copy) when I requested them to remove several photos stolen from Flickr:

Support agent #834
Hello, ......!

Thanx for your request!
When you have posted these pictures in the net you had to understand that access is really opened. By the way, there are a lot of places where your pictures are posted, for example:
[URL]
But note that most of the photographers are pleased when their photos are posted at many sites because this means good quality of these pictures.

And your photos aren't used in commerce aims, they only are decoration of communities about tourism and world, because your photos are really wonderful!

Best regards,
VK Support Team
Jan 17, 2013 at 6:55 pm|You disliked this answer

Ha! Well, there is little point trying to enforce your rights in Russia.

stuttershock · « **Reply #10 on:** September 15, 2015, 12:32 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on September 14, 2015, 20:31

Quote from: Herg on September 14, 2015, 17:01
I am using Flickr to vet photo equipment by the quality of images there. It is very useful for that. I also notice a lot of pro photographers showcasing their work there which I thought may be a good idea for networking. The question is, is there a big risk of getting images stolen or used without payment, rather than going to microstock sites ?

If you want to see your images used for free, for commercial purposes, by all kind of russian sites, go ahead and upload on Flickr ;)

Just to get an idea, here is the official answer I got from VK, (the russian FB copy) when I requested them to remove several photos stolen from Flickr:

Support agent #834
Hello, ......!

Thanx for your request!
When you have posted these pictures in the net you had to understand that access is really opened. By the way, there are a lot of places where your pictures are posted, for example:
[URL]
But note that most of the photographers are pleased when their photos are posted at many sites because this means good quality of these pictures.

And your photos aren't used in commerce aims, they only are decoration of communities about tourism and world, because your photos are really wonderful!

Best regards,
VK Support Team
Jan 17, 2013 at 6:55 pm|You disliked this answer

this is hilarious -- thanks for sharing this one!!

Would be interesting to find out if they are just "trying to be clever" by pretending to know nothing -- or if they really are that flat-out stupid at that "great" VK site. Ouch.

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #11 on:** September 15, 2015, 12:58 »

You'll be ripped off blind

Zero Talent · « **Reply #12 on:** September 15, 2015, 13:13 »

Quote from: stuttershock on September 15, 2015, 12:32

this is hilarious -- thanks for sharing this one!!

Would be interesting to find out if they are just "trying to be clever" by pretending to know nothing -- or if they really are that flat-out stupid at that "great" VK site. Ouch.

There is more.
After insisting, they actually asked me to physically send, by regular mail, the material proof, certified by a notary, to some (black hole?) address in Sankt Petersburg.

This is a mockery, indeed!

Hello, ....!

Sorry for the late response.
VK.com, as the administrator of the social network VKontakte, takes intellectual property and means of individualization very seriously.

For the purpose of adequate protection of your rights, please provide with the following:

1. An official request on your behalf - a copy of this should be attached to this post and the original must be sent to the following address: 191040, Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg, Ligovsky prospect, bld. 61, 8th floor.

The request must contain:
- Name or title of the copyright holder
- Name of the object or product
- Links to the illegal content placed on the site
- A link to the user who posted the content
- Documentary evidence of the applicant's right to the work/product

2. Documents confirming the right to the product(s), as well as power of attorney to represent the interests of the copyright holder (if applicable).

The confirming documents could be, for example:

- Raw materials (digital, paper, etc.) that appear in the process of creating the work.
- A copy certified by a notary of the text, musical notation, etc.
- Other materials (at the discretion of the authors).

After receiving and examining all the information you have sent we will do our best to protect your product(s) from its illegal use on our website.

Sincerely,
VK Support Team
Jan 18, 2013 at 11:49 pm|You disliked this answer

P.S
I looked up the address and I found:
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts
Ligovsky Ave, 61
St Petersburg
Russia
191040

and as you can see on Google Streets, the building doesn't have an 8th floor

mojaric · « **Reply #13 on:** September 15, 2015, 13:19 »

it's never safe to upload youre pictures online...but you can't leave with that fear in the 2015

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #14 on:** September 15, 2015, 16:26 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on September 15, 2015, 13:13

and as you can see on Google Streets, the building doesn't have an 8th floor

lol, that's funny... and sick at the same time; depending on how your brain works.
for the ppl who put their full size work on flickr are the same in that their brains don't work like us stock photographers.
in the early days i remember how many ppl who put copyrights and their own water mark on flickr were either told that it is "tacky" to have your watermark , or that flickr does not allow copyright embedded on photos or something like that (can't remember exactly ...)

then again there are lots of flickr ppl who don't mind giving away their photos for free,
and when told about microstock they would say it is an insult to them to be paid 30 cts.
sort of that same logic that some girls would be insulted to be paid to take you home,
but would not mind getting drunk and going home with you...after a couple of pints

it never made sense to me, but then again, i am not a sensible person

i know this is going to enrage some of those politically correct ppl here, but i am not one
to be politically correct either

stuttershock · « **Reply #15 on:** September 16, 2015, 05:44 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on September 15, 2015, 13:13

Quote from: stuttershock on September 15, 2015, 12:32
this is hilarious -- thanks for sharing this one!!

Would be interesting to find out if they are just "trying to be clever" by pretending to know nothing -- or if they really are that flat-out stupid at that "great" VK site. Ouch.

There is more.
After insisting, they actually asked me to physically send, by regular mail, the material proof, certified by a notary, to some (black hole?) address in Sankt Petersburg.

This is a mockery, indeed!

Hello, ....!

Sorry for the late response.
VK.com, as the administrator of the social network VKontakte, takes intellectual property and means of individualization very seriously.

For the purpose of adequate protection of your rights, please provide with the following:

1. An official request on your behalf - a copy of this should be attached to this post and the original must be sent to the following address: 191040, Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg, Ligovsky prospect, bld. 61, 8th floor.

The request must contain:
- Name or title of the copyright holder
- Name of the object or product
- Links to the illegal content placed on the site
- A link to the user who posted the content
- Documentary evidence of the applicant's right to the work/product

2. Documents confirming the right to the product(s), as well as power of attorney to represent the interests of the copyright holder (if applicable).

The confirming documents could be, for example:

- Raw materials (digital, paper, etc.) that appear in the process of creating the work.
- A copy certified by a notary of the text, musical notation, etc.
- Other materials (at the discretion of the authors).

After receiving and examining all the information you have sent we will do our best to protect your product(s) from its illegal use on our website.

Sincerely,
VK Support Team
Jan 18, 2013 at 11:49 pm|You disliked this answer

P.S
I looked up the address and I found:
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts
Ligovsky Ave, 61
St Petersburg
Russia
191040

and as you can see on Google Streets, the building doesn't have an 8th floor

-- which pretty much proves that they know exactly what the real "rights situation" was right from the start! What a disgusting way of doing business, I've seen that before: it's a lot like the equally-incompetent Swedish approach next door; they also start "explaining why this should be right" every time there is a problem (you may think of Facebook what you want -- and I don't think of them too highly -- but at least they do better in comparison and seem to comply with international business etiquette)!

ShadySue · « **Reply #16 on:** September 16, 2015, 05:50 »

Quote from: stuttershock on September 16, 2015, 05:44

...you may think of Facebook what you want -- and I don't think of them too highly -- but at least they do better in comparison and seem to comply with international business etiquette!

Being based in the US, DMCA has relevance to them.
Presumably it has some clout, as often when I see tales of breach of copyright, the main suggestion involves invoking DMCA. Presumably, to have any value either the abuser or their ISP has to be US based - the clue being in the 'A'.

stuttershock · « **Reply #17 on:** September 16, 2015, 06:22 »

Quote from: ShadySue on September 16, 2015, 05:50

Quote from: stuttershock on September 16, 2015, 05:44
...you may think of Facebook what you want -- and I don't think of them too highly -- but at least they do better in comparison and seem to comply with international business etiquette!
Being based in the US, DMCA has relevance to them. (...)

sure, when push comes to shove, DMCA is what it comes down to for Facebook et al -- but I rather mean the "soft factors" (etiquette) that may or may not be influenced by it and involve the overall way of doing business (without first "explaining" why a photographer whose pictures are stolen actually ought to feel flattered rather than securing their livelihood). Sweden -- from my second example -- is very well subject to DMCA too by way of international copyright treaties, but (very much like the Russians who can "claim factual DMCA exemption") the Swedish still don't get it either and go for that Kindertarten-style yada-yada instead! Must be a matter of overall mentality and business sense then...

Zero Talent · « **Reply #18 on:** September 16, 2015, 09:45 »

Quote from: ShadySue on September 16, 2015, 05:50

Quote from: stuttershock on September 16, 2015, 05:44
...you may think of Facebook what you want -- and I don't think of them too highly -- but at least they do better in comparison and seem to comply with international business etiquette!
Being based in the US, DMCA has relevance to them.
Presumably it has some clout, as often when I see tales of breach of copyright, the main suggestion involves invoking DMCA. Presumably, to have any value either the abuser or their ISP has to be US based - the clue being in the 'A'.

US based sites like, FB, G+, Youtube, Instagram, Pinterest etc, promptly removed all content stolen from me days only after filling a DMCA complaint.

Needless to say that I got tired of this uphill battle and switched all my Flickr content to private.

FlowerPower · « **Reply #19 on:** September 23, 2015, 12:09 »

Quote from: Herg on September 14, 2015, 17:01

I am using Flickr to vet photo equipment by the quality of images there. It is very useful for that. I also notice a lot of pro photographers showcasing their work there which I thought may be a good idea for networking. The question is, is there a big risk of getting images stolen or used without payment, rather than going to microstock sites ?

Flickr and the rest the perfect place if you want to give away your work for nothing and have it stolen and used for no pay. Is that the kind of networking you want? Why not just give away your photos for free and see how that improves your sales.

http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/social-media-free-for-commercial-use/

clippingguru · « **Reply #20 on:** November 06, 2015, 23:24 »

If you have any confusion to be stolen your photos from any places like flicker, you can watermarked the photos with your brand name, they will not be rough used without your permission.
But the best place to sell your photograph is istok i think. But for promoting your photography, you could submit your photography some popular places by free.

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #21 on:** November 07, 2015, 01:07 »

if you go to this link
http://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php?topic=26151.msg436428;topicseen#new

and for better examples of how big is big , see the posting of Jo Ann Snover Reply #364
http://www.microstockgroup.com/shutterstock-com/large-image-previews-on-ss/msg436424/?topicseen#new

you will see that there is really no site that is safe to upload.
or if you are an optimist, you would say that flickr is no less unsafe than shutterstock
with their super large downloadable preview

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Author Topic: Is it safe to upload to Flickr ? (Read 11645 times)

Phadrea

ShadySue

Phadrea

ShadySue

Phadrea

ShadySue

Phadrea

ShadySue

Zero Talent

MarcvsTvllivs

stuttershock

PeterChigmaroff

Zero Talent

mojaric

etudiante_rapide

stuttershock

ShadySue

stuttershock

Zero Talent

FlowerPower

clippingguru

etudiante_rapide

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