Author Topic: Nearly 1,000 fake accounts selling stolen photos discovered. (Read 8439 times)

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #25 on:** July 11, 2024, 12:26 »

Quote from: mike123 on July 11, 2024, 03:18

You could probably get more attention from Shutterstock, if you sue the buyers or the stolen images. Stock image users are supposed to give credit to the author, so you'll find credit lines such as "Thief name / Shutterstock". Those buyers don't have a valid image license as they bought stolen good. After you sue them, they will sue Shutterstock for the damage

You can't sue a buyer who downloads the image in good faith, based on the promise from SS that the images are safe. You might sue SS, but I'll bet there's something in the TOS that says, you can't.

As I've suggested and others have as well, the answer is a class action suit, but first someone has to find an attorney who's will to take the case on a contingency. If there's enough money is taking the case and getting their percentage, this would be a done deal. Either none see the potential or the chance of winning are too slim.

Last of all, maybe petition the US justice department to investigate ShutterStock for not protecting our rights and images. The only reason SS isn't responsible is, they claim to be monitoring and catching the illegal activities. If someone can prove, that SS is unresponsive and neglecting their duty, that would wake up the agency to check for stolen images and thief accounts with sincerity.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #26 on:** July 11, 2024, 12:26 »

“No provider or user of an interactive computer service that takes reasonable steps to address known unlawful uses of its services that create serious harm to others shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider in any action arising out of the publication of content provided by that information content provider.”

Similar to the reason why SS gets a free pass on people stealing our work.

pancaketom · « **Reply #27 on:** July 11, 2024, 12:41 »

This is the sort of thing that theoretically Getty should deal with for exclusive artists - put the fear of poverty into Shutterstock so that they actually make at least a half-hearted attempt to identify fraudulent uploads. I'm pretty sure Getty hasn't signed the TOS.

It wouldn't be all that hard for SS to run the first 100 uploads through their similar filter and flag the ones that get a match for a little scrutiny. It would be even nicer if they saved the sales from these and gave the $ to the actual owner of the image. I'm guessing when they do close a fraudulent account they pocket the $ and as long as they don't do any investigation they can pretend nothing is wrong and are probably covered by the DMCA.

mike123 · « **Reply #28 on:** July 11, 2024, 13:24 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on July 11, 2024, 12:11

You can't sue a buyer who downloads the image in good faith, based on the promise from SS that the images are safe. You might sue SS, but I'll bet there's something in the TOS that says, you can't.

I'm not a lawyer, but I think you can. A buyer needs to hold a valid license to be able to use an image. A valid license can only be given by the copyright holder, with SS being the mediator here. A license given by a thief is not valid. I'm not sure you can sue SS, as they put all the responsibility wrt copyright/releases on the contributor. But again I'm not a lawyer, just speaking from my own experience going against companies who steal my images (not via SS).

zeljkok · « **Reply #29 on:** July 11, 2024, 16:35 »

Quote from: tiero on July 11, 2024, 02:54

OK, but they are knowingly selling stolen material, legally are they not worried?

That is interesting point. I am not overly familiar with legal aspect. But chances contributor with stolen images decides to sue Agency are very very low, because of associated cost. And then how do you prove Agency was deliberately selling stolen media? Should they not close Thief Account once it was reported then maybe, but like this not likely.

tiero · « **Reply #30 on:** July 12, 2024, 02:38 »

In the age of AI, cameras in Chinese streets can recognise thousands of people per second, and SS has no software that can tell that an IDENTICAL image has already been uploaded to the database?
As already mentioned several times, the original image is often recommended under the stolen image...
It means that not only is there no automatic control but also no manual control.

tiero · « **Reply #31 on:** July 12, 2024, 02:48 »

From a report in FB.
Look at the recommended images below, 4 identical photos, 4 different authors...
https://www.shutterstock.com/es/image-photo/isolate-apple-fruit-into-red-green-2480935939

zebra007 · « **Reply #32 on:** July 12, 2024, 03:24 »

This is very confusing. My images were stolen and sold, and they ganged up to report that I infringed on my own copyrights. When my account was suspended, I sent a report to Shutterstock (I have the raw files). While waiting for the review, the thieves sold the images using three different accounts.
*Note: (Shutterstock contributor since June 24, 2024). They all registered on the same day. I need advice on what to do (I have the raw files for all the images).
Here are the links to the thieves’ portfolios. Check to see if any members’ images are also there:
1. https://www.shutterstock.com/g/janiklamseas
2. https://www.shutterstock.com/g/mishabiles
3. https://www.shutterstock.com/g/budugabrie
All three accounts have been closed because I reported them, but my account hasn’t been restored yet. I provided all the necessary evidence. The time it takes to restore accounts is very slow, creating a loophole for thieves to steal and sell the images from suspended portfolios on Shutterstock, causing ongoing problems.

I think this is the new trick of modern thieves, using fake DMCA reports on SS and then waiting for the portfolio owner to be suspended for review. During this period, they quickly submit the work for sale instead. But I will not let these thieves win.

flywing · « **Reply #33 on:** July 12, 2024, 13:19 »

Really, if you really want to make money and you have no shame and want it safe and risk-free, no consequence whatsoever.

Start by buying an unlimited download package then download all you can and reselling them.

The worst thing that can happen is just getting banned and having to re-register with new documents.

You can even pre-emptive the rights owners by reporting them first.

This is so easy and so safe compared to other activities.

Don't wait, start making money today. What a time to live.

Stillsands · « **Reply #34 on:** July 28, 2024, 20:58 »

Excellent work antoniogravante! Thank you for taking the time to locate and document the infringers and help purge Shutterstock's site of the thieves. Like others have said, I'm dismayed that Shutterstock has such lax enforcement and detection of duplicate images, which are obviously stolen.
How are you going about getting the fraudulent accounts closed? On Shutterstock's site, I see there is a DMCA takedown notice page, but it appears to apply only to the copyright holder.

photostockad · « **Reply #35 on:** September 19, 2024, 15:22 »

Another fake account selling stolen content: https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Suripto+Kencana

gnirtS · « **Reply #36 on:** October 11, 2024, 17:30 »

Quote from: zebra007 on July 12, 2024, 03:24

This is very confusing. My images were stolen and sold, and they ganged up to report that I infringed on my own copyrights. When my account was suspended, I sent a report to Shutterstock (I have the raw files). While waiting for the review, the thieves sold the images using three different accounts.
*Note: (Shutterstock contributor since June 24, 2024). They all registered on the same day. I need advice on what to do (I have the raw files for all the images).
Here are the links to the thieves’ portfolios. Check to see if any members’ images are also there:
1. https://www.shutterstock.com/g/janiklamseas
2. https://www.shutterstock.com/g/mishabiles
3. https://www.shutterstock.com/g/budugabrie
All three accounts have been closed because I reported them, but my account hasn’t been restored yet. I provided all the necessary evidence. The time it takes to restore accounts is very slow, creating a loophole for thieves to steal and sell the images from suspended portfolios on Shutterstock, causing ongoing problems.

I think this is the new trick of modern thieves, using fake DMCA reports on SS and then waiting for the portfolio owner to be suspended for review. During this period, they quickly submit the work for sale instead. But I will not let these thieves win.

That sucks.

When SS freeze an account do they supply the filename or a thumbnail of the image or just the catalogue number? If i get a mail with just the Shutterstock ID id have zero chance of working out which image it was to supply the RAW/offcasts.

If they give the title and metadata i could find it in a day or so. If they give the original upload filename i could in minutes.

Given how much SS and AS seem to be blocking legit accounts in the crossfire lately im fully expecting mine to go. With 20k+ assets itll be hard to find the ones in question without a thumbnail, metadata and ideally, a filename.