I might have caugth some art theft although not %100 sure what's going on in here..

Check out these two images:
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/food-and-drink/fruits-and-vegetables/4428160-tomato.php?id=4428160  I am almost sure this is the original one...

and the faker: http://www.shutterstock.com/results.mhtml#photo_id=22579849

It is exactly the same image.. with different names.. No one can convince me that they are different.. They are the same to the smallest pixel.. I know procurator, most of us know his images I guess..

What's even sicker: he is exclusive with IS at the moment.. So it can't be him who owns the account on SS.. The guy on SS is nicknamed RadaP.. I don't know what's going on in here.. What if all his images are stolen from other artists?

They do look very similar. Cold be a theft cold be an exclusive who doesn't follow rules very well. If I did vectors I would almost want to add a small perfection to make it mine but I suppose that would take away that clean look. Interesting find, thanks for sharing.

Best,
AVAVA

Definitely not the Istock guy.. I am almost sure it is the guy on shutterstock.. Check out the IS artist's portfolio.. It is something special.. The one on SS looks like a collection of stolen images.. There is no consistency with his style..

I'd say contact support but I don't think it would help. I gave numerus examples of two authors selling the same icons but the only response I got is that It might take some time for them to look into it. Here's just two of them (there are just minor diffeences between them):
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/illustrations-vectors/vector-icons/7463573-icon-set-black-package-box.php?id=7463573
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/illustrations-vectors/vector-icons/7662207-icon-set-carboard-boxes.php?id=7662207

Maybe you can contact procurator, I'm pretty sure he's not the one that stole an image.

You are right about those examples but still there are some differences in colour etc..  But an identical gradient mesh tomato?? now, that's sick..

Yeah I know, the tomato is clearly stolen. But still, those two authors (or maybe it's only one with 2 accounts) are selling the same images with minor modifications (one series is glossy and other is not). Still don't think it's allowed. Also don't know why they allow it (they are aware of the problem for two months).

Yeap, now I am sure.. RadaP is the big time thief..

His tomato and other images are on top when I sort the search results by "Newest First".. His dream did not last long, did it..

iStock Portfolio
Business Name: Evgeniy Ivanov
Job Description: Illustrator
Member since: May 2007

If I had to bet on the chicken or the egg, I think this guy came first.  

Maybe it's one of those exclusives who by co-incidence has a partner or room mate that also sells stock. 

The same phone number, the plot thickens. This is good investigative work. Was it Professor Plum in the library with the candle stick.

Best,
AVAVA

Quote from: RacePhoto on January 06, 2009, 13:43

Maybe it's one of those exclusives who by co-incidence has a partner or room mate that also sells stock. 

Probably, and the tomato went to SS for accident, after all they also share the computer. Love is beautiful.   

or maybe he indulged too much in spirit (bad pun) way ahead in advance for christmas, and developed split personalities. and the other one joined SS .
whe he gets sober he is going to  realise his "other personality" got him into trouble, since he is already exclusive with IS 

RadaP is the thief. I just went through his portfolio, and found one of my images.

http://www.shutterstock.com/results.mhtml#photo_id=22810915
http://www.pbase.com/dannysmythe/image/43277044

I will report him to ShutterStock!

In reference to this last example, didn't we have some other incident recently of stolen produce? where the guy came on here and apologized because he didn't know he couldn't use someone else's photos for source material? 

oh don't you love that plea of ignorance and naivete? 
like selling bootleg cds and ripped off artworks. when caught with your pants down,
"ohhh, i'm not allowed to do that? ohhh, that's illegal? "
geez 

could have fooled me all the time ! 

btw, isn't it odd that they don't try do it with someone who is a top seller?
that would have been too obvious, wouldn't it?

As often happens, it eventually deteriorated into a silly argument after being hijacked, but here is the original thread I was reminded of:
http://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php?topic=6485.0

good point whatalife !
old soldiers... i mean , old cheaters ... never die. they just fade away ...
and come back another day... in another way,, a different way... um, but slightly !!   

abedee, abedee, abedee... um, that's all folks ! 

RadaP is the thief. I just went through his portfolio, and found one of my images.

http://www.shutterstock.com/results.mhtml#photo_id=22810915
http://www.pbase.com/dannysmythe/image/43277044

I will report him to ShutterStock!

Just like I thought.. SS must do something..

Quote from: melastmohican on January 06, 2009, 19:15

We spend too much time tracking such things :-) Should not sites be doing this?

I didn't spend much time I just coincidentally come accross to that tomato which looked like procurator's vectors.. I think many of us know him already.. As I don't know him I wasn't sure if he would attempt to put his image on SS while he is exclusive with IS..

But why would he anyway.. When someone is doing vectors that great, his mind really doesn't work for dodgy stuff..

I suppose the same people involved in identity fraud could well be looking at micro stock
. this could be a start.

looks like SS took care of this issue already... that was pretty quick!

Just came in to write this.. Good job SS..