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Author Topic: Photaki - the next crook?  (Read 26987 times)

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« on: April 30, 2014, 05:37 »
+7
Since that DP / Shotshop-scandal we had a look to agencies we had contact in the past and what shell i say  - we found the next one you should have a very close look at.
www.photaki.com

Although we cancelled our account in June 2013 they still sell our images.
And on top - they locked us out of our account
Here is the link to our port:
http://www.photaki.es/fotografo/rightlight

The next "agency" you better should put under surveilance
« Last Edit: April 30, 2014, 06:02 by Axel Lauer »


« Reply #1 on: April 30, 2014, 06:17 »
+1
Incredible. That looks like plain robbery.

Ron

« Reply #2 on: April 30, 2014, 06:18 »
0
Are the images just not empty shells? Can you get through the whole checkout and download the full res?

« Reply #3 on: April 30, 2014, 09:15 »
+7
We tried to buy them this morning and it was possible to put them into our shoppingcart.
Maybe you see empty shells right now because they started to delete them since we sent them a harsh mail and putted our lawyer into CC.

Oh Boy......
i can become so furios if i come across injustice , unfairness or stupidity that my temper might kill me one day.
« Last Edit: April 30, 2014, 15:32 by Axel Lauer »

Ron

« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2014, 09:25 »
0
I was able to put Shotshop images in the shopping cart, but I couldnt pay for it. Maybe its the same here. they just let the thumbnails sit there.

Batman

« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2014, 12:26 »
+1
Are the images just not empty shells? Can you get through the whole checkout and download the full res?

Why are Alex images there and how do they have right to show them for free? You defend theives now?

« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2014, 12:39 »
+7
Maybe we should get a ranking on fair and unfair agencies. Afraid the list of unfair agencies is much longer :(

« Reply #7 on: May 26, 2014, 12:49 »
+2
happy to read at msg threads. i saw them in right side poll and thought about sell images there.
Now its done for me :)

« Reply #8 on: November 11, 2014, 01:30 »
0
I'm having a bad experience with Photaki
I'm a contributor since 2011. I think my account was hacked or someone is using it without my permission changing my data and even my name in the invoice field
unfortunally I cannot modify the new (hacked) identity
Surname: echeverry
Name: orlando
?????
I'm trying to get in touch with Photaki support...still waiting for a Reply
hey Mister Pablo where are Thou

« Reply #9 on: June 05, 2015, 06:46 »
+7
Old thread alert!

I'm having a bad experience with Photaki
I'm a contributor since 2011. I think my account was hacked or someone is using it without my permission changing my data and even my name in the invoice field
unfortunally I cannot modify the new (hacked) identity
Surname: echeverry
Name: orlando
?????
I'm trying to get in touch with Photaki support...still waiting for a Reply
hey Mister Pablo where are Thou

Somehow I missed this thread and didn't knew about Photaki's scam behaviour!
Now I reached 50 euro and tried to request payment! Unfortunately I experienced the same as marcovarro! My name is permanently changed to:
Surname: echeverry
Name: orlando
Photaki didn't reply to my e-mails and now I'm sure they are stealing my money!!!  >:(
Leaf, please remove Photaki from the list to prevent other contributors to upload there!

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #10 on: January 19, 2016, 19:52 »
+6
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I just discovered the founder of Photaki, Pablo Blanes, is also the founder of Freepik, which as I pointed out in another thread is a huge collection of copies of best-selling vectors offered for free, while it seems he makes money as a Shutterstock affiliate. It looks like they have an entire staff of people who just copy best-selling vectors. Not sure what Photaki is about...I just did a quick search here. Scott Braut is one of his "connections" on LinkedIn.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pabloblanes

https://www.facebook.com/Freepik/?fref=ts

I'm confused, I must say. Does Shutterstock have a relationship with this person? Are they OK with him making almost exact copies of our work?

Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #11 on: January 20, 2016, 04:03 »
+2
Oh dear. Not good. Well at least I know to avoid photaki now too. Good catch.

« Reply #12 on: January 20, 2016, 04:05 »
+1
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I just discovered the founder of Photaki, Pablo Blanes, is also the founder of Freepik, which as I pointed out in another thread is a huge collection of copies of best-selling vectors offered for free, while it seems he makes money as a Shutterstock affiliate. It looks like they have an entire staff of people who just copy best-selling vectors. Not sure what Photaki is about...I just did a quick search here. Scott Braut is one of his "connections" on LinkedIn.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pabloblanes

https://www.facebook.com/Freepik/?fref=ts

I'm confused, I must say. Does Shutterstock have a relationship with this person? Are they OK with him making almost exact copies of our work?

OMG!!!!

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #13 on: January 20, 2016, 05:47 »
+1
I demanded they take down a ripoff of one of my illustrations via their Facebook page. Their response:

"Freepik Hi Michele. We will delete this picture right now. Sorry for the inconveniences. We are investigating what has happened. For further information, please contact [email protected]"

So, illustrators, if you find your work there...and you will...I recommend a post on Facebook.
« Last Edit: January 20, 2016, 05:50 by Shelma1 »

Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #14 on: January 20, 2016, 05:53 »
+4
Did you also point out that a member of their staff seems to have sat down with your SS portfolio in front of them and copied it image by image, sorted by "Popular"?

I am sure they were completely unaware of how their whole business model operates


Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #15 on: January 20, 2016, 06:27 »
+8
"Freepik Please write to [email protected] with all the information about that matter. We are very very sorry. We have designs from more than 100 designers all over the world. And they are supposed not to copy anybody's designs. The copyright is the most important thing to us. Please tell us what images are copied and we will remove them all."

I told them they need to take down the entire site.

« Reply #16 on: February 01, 2016, 08:50 »
0
Hi everyone,

I am Luisa Mateos, Head of Marketing Communication at Freepik. I'm copying the message that I've posted in another thread:

Michele, first of all, we want to inform you that the images which you've indicated have been deactivated and we have taken actions against the person who has designed them.

Certainly the designer was inspired in your work and so we decided to take them off Freepik. We review each design and we always demand that the designs should be original, but in this case we have been deceived too.

I also would like to explain to all Freepiks business model for you to understand where our revenues come from and what has happened with Shelma.

The site began as a search engine of free images and it used to take free images from the internet and it used to index them.

Then we started to produce our own content. For this we have a team of designers, from different locations around the world, who work with us creating exclusive resources.

Finally, we recently launched a system of contributors, where designers can upload their content and earn money for every download they get through their illustrations. In this case, the content is not exclusive of Freepik and each resource is credited to the author. As a result, this is a very beneficial system and all designers who work through this system are very satisfied with their earnings. Sometimes even earning more than in other stock websites.

The companies main earnings come from the advertisements we do with Shutterstock and Google Adsense, and of course with the premium plans we offer. With this premium plans, users can use the illustrations of Freepik without any attribution. (Our images are free, but you need to credit the author, whereas the premium subscribers can use them without any attribution).

As you can see, our business model of offering free images is unique compared to other companies business model and it is beneficial for both users and designers. We'd love to know your point of view regarding this and please do not hesistate in asking any questions or doubts you would have regarding this..

Sorry again, Michele.

Best regards

« Last Edit: February 01, 2016, 09:11 by Freepik »


Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #17 on: February 01, 2016, 09:40 »
+5
I am also posting it twice in case it is missed:


The site began as a search engine of free images and it used to take free images from the internet and it used to index them.



So you don't do this any more? because I just took a look and it seems like you have still got work pulled from sites clearly violating people's copyright. Here are two examples I found after looking for 1 minute that you have pulled from allfreedownload.com

Yours:
http://www.freepik.com/free-vector/cute-cartoon-animals-zoo-vector-graphics_684648.htm

The actual owner:
http://www.123rf.com/photo_3429873_stock-photo.html

Yours:
http://www.freepik.com/free-vector/free-vector-misc-fine-drums-art_676795.htm

The actual owner:
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-48535954/stock-vector-vector-drums.html?src=pp-photo-33926740


There have been 3 million plus downloads from your site of files from just this one warez site, most of these are likely in violation of artists copyright (in my opinion).

It is no good hiding behind the DMCA waiting for artists to get in touch with takedown notices when your whole model is based on giving away other people's work in violation of their copyright. Artists can't spend their whole time looking through your millions of images. Shame.

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #18 on: February 01, 2016, 10:20 »
+5
Almost the entire site is copies of best-selling vectors. It's not just me. The other vectors on freepik are copies of other artists' best selling workI recognize them immediately from Shutterstock. There's simply no way 100+ designers from around the world are spontaneously creating almost exact replicas of top sellers from Shutterstock. Clearly freepik's company policy is to hire people to copy bestselling work and offer it for free, and then advertise our real work on Shutterstock to make money from those sales.

It may be beneficial for you, but you take away our earnings with your free copies on the one hand and make money from our work on Shutterstock with the other. So it's sure not beneficial for us.

Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #19 on: February 01, 2016, 10:34 »
+1
Almost the entire site is copies of best-selling vectors. It's not just me. The other vectors on freepik are copies of other artists' best selling workI recognize them immediately from Shutterstock. There's simply no way 100+ designers from around the world are spontaneously creating almost exact replicas of top sellers from Shutterstock. Clearly freepik's company policy is to hire people to copy bestselling work and offer it for free, and then advertise our real work on Shutterstock to make money from those sales.

It may be beneficial for you, but you take away our earnings with your free copies on the one hand and make money from our work on Shutterstock with the other. So it's sure not beneficial for us.

The copies are one thing, then there's also the work that is actual other artist's work, that I have described and linked to. It's all an awful mess.

And to think that they are now recruiting stock artists and could become a new stock site, their success based on the masses of traffic generated as described here. It's too depressing to think about.

« Reply #20 on: February 01, 2016, 11:36 »
0
I am also posting it twice in case it is missed:


The site began as a search engine of free images and it used to take free images from the internet and it used to index them.



So you don't do this any more? because I just took a look and it seems like you have still got work pulled from sites clearly violating people's copyright. Here are two examples I found after looking for 1 minute that you have pulled from allfreedownload.com

Yours:
http://www.freepik.com/free-vector/cute-cartoon-animals-zoo-vector-graphics_684648.htm

The actual owner:
http://www.123rf.com/photo_3429873_stock-photo.html

Yours:
http://www.freepik.com/free-vector/free-vector-misc-fine-drums-art_676795.htm

The actual owner:
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-48535954/stock-vector-vector-drums.html?src=pp-photo-33926740


There have been 3 million plus downloads from your site of files from just this one warez site, most of these are likely in violation of artists copyright (in my opinion).

It is no good hiding behind the DMCA waiting for artists to get in touch with takedown notices when your whole model is based on giving away other people's work in violation of their copyright. Artists can't spend their whole time looking through your millions of images. Shame.


I'm sure Freepik will say that they are just indexing allfreedownload.com (the real site has dashes between the words) and the voilation is not theirs. And I think they have point. The allfreedownload.com is a major violator, but the use the Shutterstock API, so they have been vetted and apporved by Shutterstock. If Shutterstock shut down their API access, they would not exist. Shutterstock is funding sites like this who are very careless with their content. So complain to Shutterstock, not Freepik.

Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #21 on: February 01, 2016, 11:41 »
0
The same as AFD and others will say they are just allowing users to upload content and the violation is not theirs. The fact is Freepik knows exactly what they are doing and the sort of places the content is coming from, just like AFD and the like do. 

You are correct though, there is enough blame to go round.

« Reply #22 on: February 01, 2016, 11:44 »
+3
I mostly agree, but again, the affiliation with Shutterstock is the funding mechanism - for both sites, actually. Complaining to Shutterstock may get them to crack down.

« Reply #23 on: February 01, 2016, 12:11 »
0
I mostly agree, but again, the affiliation with Shutterstock is the funding mechanism - for both sites, actually. Complaining to Shutterstock may get them to crack down.

and do you think that shutterstock will really take the hands off.?

« Reply #24 on: February 02, 2016, 09:38 »
0
Hello again everyone,

Justanotherphotographer, we do not do this anymore. However, there are resources that are still indexed, like the examples that you have indicated and we have already erased.

We take seriously every copyright infringement and we invest a lot of money in creating our own content. Therefore, whenever we detect plagiarism, we take measures immediatly removing the content and correcting our working methods, but it is inevitable that some case go unnoticed.

Shelma, I can ensure you that we never ask for replicas from Shutterstock and whenever we have detected a plagiarism of any sort, we have immediately terminated the contract with the designer as we do not tolerate these actions. We work with many authors and one of our core values is to respect the work of designers. Those working exclusively for us know how we are react in terms of copies.

As for the contributors, there are more and more people interested in our system. Having your illustrations in Freepik doesnt mean that the sales of your images in other banks decrease but, in fact, it is a way to monetize files for which a designer was no longer generating any income in other platforms. Designers like you have tried it and they are very satisfied.

Really, we'd love to have your collaboration. We would like you to give us a chance, get to know us, as now you know how much we strive to make your work be respected by others.


 

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