http://blog.imagebrief.com/5-tips-for-not-getting-sued-when-using-online-images/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=adroll&utm_campaign=content%20rt

PAY FOR IT!
Nice shout out from ImageBrief.

A great article indeed. I've often wondered what the ratio is for my photos being used legitimately compared to those being lifted from the net. Case in point, not long ago I found a flyer in my mailbox advertising a little startup home based catering agency in my neighborhood. The cover image on the brochure was for a very familiar looking butter chicken - familiar because the image was one of mine. Later that week my wife and I ordered a couple of items from the menu, partially out of curiosity about the food, but also to meet our entrepreneurial neighbor. When she delivered the meals I casually asked her about the photography on her brochure as well as her website. Since we had never met and she had absolutely no idea who I was or what I did for a living, she readily admitted that she did not purchase it from anyone, just "discovered it" online. After explaining that I was a photographer and that the image was actually one of mine I could see how uncomfortable she was becoming. She tried to explain that she was only using the image temporarily until she could get permanent ones, quickly excused herself saying she had other deliveries to make and drove off. At the time I chalked it up to sheer ignorance, but a few weeks (and a few more delicious food orders) later it was still nagging at me so I searched her name online. I knew the catering thing was not her full time job but I was absolutely floored when I found out what her real job was. It turns out she was a graphic designer/photographer with a government department here! Someone who absolutely definitely positively knew what she was doing when she lifted the image and used it commercially. The most infuriating thing about it though is now all of the images on her site have been replaced with her own photography and in clear bold lettering "All photography on this site Copyright 2015. All rights reserved".

100% true story. I certainly could have and probably should have pursued it, but somehow it just seems ridiculous to go after a neighbor for what really amounts to 38 cents. But it is very telling how many people do it simply because the risk of getting caught is so slim. The odds of me having taken that picture and living three houses down the street were infinitesimally small...I still smile when I think of how she squirmed. Too bad though, the food really was delicious.

She tried to explain that she was only using the image temporarily until she could get permanent ones, quickly excused herself saying she had other deliveries to make and drove off. At the time I chalked it up to sheer ignorance, but a few weeks (and a few more delicious food orders) later it was still nagging at me so I searched her name online. I knew the catering thing was not her full time job but I was absolutely floored when I found out what her real job was. It turns out she was a graphic designer/photographer with a government department here! Someone who absolutely definitely positively knew what she was doing when she lifted the image and used it commercially. The most infuriating thing about it though is now all of the images on her site have been replaced with her own photography and in clear bold lettering "All photography on this site Copyright 2015. All rights reserved".

Wow! What a story.
I can't believe she didn't offer to pay at least some money out of courtesy. Cheeky cow. 

Quote from: Fudio on May 22, 2015, 14:47

She tried to explain that she was only using the image temporarily ...

You should have refused to pay her and say you are going to keep her food only temporarily... 

Now that would have been perfect!