Author Topic: This Istock/Getty image all over the web for free (Read 5985 times)

vonkara · « **on:** June 29, 2011, 12:55 »

I started to see this image quite a lot by browsing popular random picture website. As soon as I saw it, I recognised the "unreal perfection" of a stock imagery.

A little search on Tineye and I can tell that YanC, which seem to be a Microstocgroup user btw, might lose a couple of dollars over this image. I know this isn't new in stock photography, but when even the biggest random dump image website is using it, in it's daily post in what they call a wallpaper high resolution post. The Chive.com have 12 millions user each month visiting their website

See here: http://thechive.com/2011/06/29/middle-of-the-week-you-should-get-away-20-hq-photos-2/

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-2137710-canoe-ride.php

Here is the little tineye search. There is even people having this image as avatar and it's available for free in high res on Photobucket...

http://www.tineye.com/search/560778709c36a3dfc3c55d8463c8f22def759431/

click_click · « **Reply #1 on:** June 29, 2011, 13:34 »

Your exact point is?

We all have this problem that some idiots are posting our images on wallpaper sites for free.

Do I miss something?

stockastic · « **Reply #2 on:** June 29, 2011, 14:47 »

What a drag.

The main reason I dropped Fotolia was their shadowy network of "partner" sites. I see these as the biggest risk. Once your image is in the wrong hands, it can end up anywhere and everywhere. If some snaky "partner" is responsible for your loss, there'd be no way to find that out, much less prove anything; and even if by some miracle you had proof, that "partner" would just disappear and reappear under another name.

As of today, I no longer have any idea how many "partners" DT, SS and IS have taken on, and what (if anything) they do to ensure the honesty of those partners.

click_click · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2011, 15:01 »

I have no idea where this thread is going. What was the initial issue?

How can image theft solely be blamed on affiliates? I was dealing with copyright infringements before Fotolia even existed not to mention that barely any other existing agency at the time was working with affiliates. Even before Microstock came up all kinds of Getty images and Photodiscs were ripped and available online for "free".

Maybe the affiliates are not making our lives easier by not being as cautious with our images as the original agencies but image theft will happen regardless of web site/agency/affiliate.

Again, if I missed something, maybe someone can fill me in...?

vonkara · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2011, 15:17 »

The Chive.com have a reach of 12 millions user a month. It's the most viewed random image pic dump right now as long with 2 or 3 other websites. Otherwise, nothing just go back drink your coffee. I do not have the time to discuss here as much as I did 3 years ago. Even less arguing

If this was a duplicate thread of many before, or remind anyone a situation they lived often in the past... I sorry

cathyslife · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2011, 17:19 »

I appreciate it whenever anyone posts a link to sources that are giving our images away for free, so thanks for posting, Vonkara.

It's just really frustrating. $:-\$