Author Topic: Another blatant thief at Shutterstock (Read 14016 times)

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #25 on:** August 03, 2021, 11:48 »

Quote from: ShadySue on July 25, 2021, 12:43

Quote from: Uncle Pete on July 25, 2021, 09:44
Quote from: ShadySue on July 24, 2021, 12:34
Quote from: vectorsforall on July 23, 2021, 11:41
And after weeks of patience this is the answer oh these *insult removed* :
...

If you misrepresent that material is infringing, Shutterstock may terminate your Shutterstock account, or you may face other legal consequences.

...
Why don't they* do that to actual infringers also? And publicise that they're doing it?

*And all the other agencies/distributors.
...
Imagine the other way... I file a complaint, the account is shut down, while it's investigated. Would you like that? Guilty and convicted without any sort of fairness and trial? So the problem is, SS must have too many complaints stacked up and they are slow to complete the due diligence, before they can terminate someones source of income.

What's obvious for us, on the surface, has more complicated, legal implications. And they can't just close an account because of an accusation.

That's not what I meant.
They're saying they may take legal action over false accusations, to discourage people from making them.
Why don't they also take legal action over proven image theft? (to discourage people from doing it)

I found on of my BSs on iS on Flickr with some bloke claiming copyright. When I filled in the form to make a complaint, it said they would send the accusee my email address, which I thought was bizarre (but I sent a potentially throwaway addy). No word back, but there's a blank where the photo was and a note that it's under investigation for copyright infringement. (Maybe linking to my image on Getty scared them, or maybe it's automatic, but was blanked within 24 hrs.) This guy's whole port appears to be 'lifted', some with accreditation, most (that I checked) not.

Yes, and that wasn't a direct reply to you, but instead to the general thread and what I meant. I don't like the fact that they make a threat to someone who complains or at the least hint that our account could be closed, to stifle reporting.

Of course I'd agree, they should be more aggressive about image theft and accounts. Now what's the legal action against image theft? Lets say DMCA since that's the issue? Well, a stern warning or maybe closing the account and nothing happens. The laws do not back legal actions against image theft, because they are weak. If someone gets caught, nothing happens. No fines, no penalty, no legal deterrents.

What does a US law do in Asia for example? Nothing!

The thieves know that.

vectorsforall · « **Reply #26 on:** August 17, 2021, 08:10 »

Here we go, Shitterstock team never stop the race to the bottom :
Neither they have not deleted the entire portfolio of the thief I have notified to them, but now he/she has put the files that they deleted again, and it's all online.
I've made again a DMCA notice with same dozens and dozens of duplicate files of my work because they did not delete his port.

And now in french (sorry):
J'en peux plus, je voudrais les avoir devant moi pour leur défoncer la gueule!!!!

For Real · « **Reply #27 on:** August 17, 2021, 08:34 »

I've kind of accepted the fact that once I upload my image out to the web I've lost control of that image. I've had my credit card (Chase) stolen twice in this year alone! If a bank cannot protect my credit card how the heck can the microstock companies protect our images especially if they are making money on our stolen images $:-\$

MotionJunky · « **Reply #28 on:** August 17, 2021, 09:18 »

Quote from: vectorsforall on August 17, 2021, 08:10

Here we go, Shitterstock team never stop the race to the bottom :
Neither they have not deleted the entire portfolio of the thief I have notified to them, but now he/she has put the files that they deleted again, and it's all online.
I've made again a DMCA notice with same dozens and dozens of duplicate files of my work because they did not delete his port.

And now in french (sorry):
J'en peux plus, je voudrais les avoir devant moi pour leur défoncer la gueule!!!!

je suis vraiment désolé Vectorsforall.

I've been spending my summer taking down those thieves ( I know, it's sad) and was 95% successful in doing so, but I was fortunate that none of them are on shutterstock website. I had a few with Adobe stock. pond5 and Envato Videohive and it was super easy to process via email, resulting in takedown and full account closure in 1-2 days (not a big fan in using DMCA forms - don't really like giving those thief's my personnel information). for Amazon, it was relatively easy, but wish they made it a bit easier by taking the infringement asset down across the whole amazon domain range (right now you need to file one IP infringement per country, amazon.com, amazon.ca, amazon.co.uk, etc.....). the only one that I have problem with are torrent sites and some servers in china (only reason is because I can't write in Chinese to make a formal complain). for those 2 type, I usually ask for help from Adobe, pond5 or Envato (but never shuttertstock - they are useless).

the only outstanding site that I'm trying to take down at the moment is one that posted large image dumps with "proof of purchase" screengrab from shutterstock (the thief's are using it to show proof they purchased it if someone ask for it). I notified shutterstock about 1.5 month ago and still didn't get any results (only an acknowledgement they received my email).

I feel Shutterstock takes a huge percentage of income from my images and videos and I don't really get much protection from them.

Cheers everyone

vectorsforall · « **Reply #29 on:** August 17, 2021, 10:53 »

Quote from: MotionJunky on August 17, 2021, 09:18

Quote from: vectorsforall on August 17, 2021, 08:10
Here we go, Shitterstock team never stop the race to the bottom :
Neither they have not deleted the entire portfolio of the thief I have notified to them, but now he/she has put the files that they deleted again, and it's all online.
I've made again a DMCA notice with same dozens and dozens of duplicate files of my work because they did not delete his port.

And now in french (sorry):
J'en peux plus, je voudrais les avoir devant moi pour leur défoncer la gueule!!!!

je suis vraiment désolé Vectorsforall.

I've been spending my summer taking down those thieves ( I know, it's sad) and was 95% successful in doing so, but I was fortunate that none of them are on shutterstock website. I had a few with Adobe stock. pond5 and Envato Videohive and it was super easy to process via email, resulting in takedown and full account closure in 1-2 days (not a big fan in using DMCA forms - don't really like giving those thief's my personnel information). for Amazon, it was relatively easy, but wish they made it a bit easier by taking the infringement asset down across the whole amazon domain range (right now you need to file one IP infringement per country, amazon.com, amazon.ca, amazon.co.uk, etc.....). the only one that I have problem with are torrent sites and some servers in china (only reason is because I can't write in Chinese to make a formal complain). for those 2 type, I usually ask for help from Adobe, pond5 or Envato (but never shuttertstock - they are useless).

the only outstanding site that I'm trying to take down at the moment is one that posted large image dumps with "proof of purchase" screengrab from shutterstock (the thief's are using it to show proof they purchased it if someone ask for it). I notified shutterstock about 1.5 month ago and still didn't get any results (only an acknowledgement they received my email).

I feel Shutterstock takes a huge percentage of income from my images and videos and I don't really get much protection from them.

Cheers everyone

Thanks Motionjunky
Ideally, there would be something to do maybe with Stock Coalition, making a deal with dedicated attorneys that could sue and make a permanent work of watching thieves around platforms/world, but would be lots of energy, time and mostly $$

For Real · « **Reply #30 on:** August 17, 2021, 12:19 »

"dedicated attorneys that could sue and make a permanent work of watching thieves around platforms/world, but would be lots of energy, time and mostly $$"

That is something the Microstock companies should provide since they get 80% of the sales. Not the contributors...

kall3bu · « **Reply #31 on:** August 17, 2021, 15:02 »

Quote from: For Real on August 17, 2021, 12:19

"dedicated attorneys that could sue and make a permanent work of watching thieves around platforms/world, but would be lots of energy, time and mostly $$"

That is something the Microstock companies should provide since they get 80% of the sales. Not the contributors...

Totally agree!
We have agreements! For what the agencies - sometimes before each upload -asking us, if we upload our own content?
So, if we do click yes, but it was stolen work from others, then there must be a strict reacting from the AGENCIES!
Like always and everywhere and in all kind of topics - politic, business and so on: The small people without much power have to pay the most - not only because they are more! The powerful rich people can pay helpers, who find tricky ways for not paying tax and so on. Some agencies are doing the same: NOTHING! And who wonder that SS is on the top of this?

Hannafate · « **Reply #32 on:** August 19, 2021, 07:43 »

Quote from: vectorsforall on August 17, 2021, 10:53

Thanks Motionjunky
Ideally, there would be something to do maybe with Stock Coalition, making a deal with dedicated attorneys that could sue and make a permanent work of watching thieves around platforms/world, but would be lots of energy, time and mostly $$

Does the Stock Coalition even exist any more? There's no activity on the website. The last news update is over a year old.

Mantis · « **Reply #33 on:** August 19, 2021, 10:10 »

Quote from: Hannafate on August 19, 2021, 07:43

Quote from: vectorsforall on August 17, 2021, 10:53
Thanks Motionjunky
Ideally, there would be something to do maybe with Stock Coalition, making a deal with dedicated attorneys that could sue and make a permanent work of watching thieves around platforms/world, but would be lots of energy, time and mostly $$

Does the Stock Coalition even exist any more? There's no activity on the website. The last news update is over a year old.

I left the Facebook group about six months ago. There wasn't really much they were doing with respect to the original formation. Good that they tried but there just wasn't any meat to the actions. Not their fault. Only so much contributors can do without universally pulling all content and we know how that goes.

vectorsforall · « **Reply #34 on:** August 23, 2021, 05:40 »

Finally, I found this monday that the thief portfolio has been deleted.
I guess that maybe some serious people are back from holidays...
So I'm now working on other thieves portfolio DMCA notices.
What a waste of time and energy

vectorsforall · « **Reply #35 on:** August 23, 2021, 05:45 »

BREAKING!
I just found that... No the thief portfolio is still online
Wrong joy, still living in Shitterworld

changingsky · « **Reply #36 on:** August 23, 2021, 07:11 »

Somebody wrote that because of low pricing there is no benefit for SS to keep the thieves online. The real life shows the opposite. Otherwise they just investigate quickly and take them down. There is enough money flowing in with such accounts and all are kept by SS, no need to share a fraction to contributors. Not sure which is the real % of such accounts found by the contributors, it can be very small compare to not discovered ones.

vectorsforall · « **Reply #37 on:** August 23, 2021, 09:50 »

There is no benefit for Shutterstock to pay people to delete thieves accounts

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #38 on:** August 26, 2021, 10:22 »

Quote from: For Real on August 17, 2021, 08:34

I've kind of accepted the fact that once I upload my image out to the web I've lost control of that image.

I think that's a reasonable conclusion. Anything on the web, can be stolen, and if there's a way someone else can make some money from that, they will.

Unlike music, films, streaming specials, and major entertainment, we aren't a big corporation or association with lobbying power and lots of attorneys. If the laws had some teeth and protected us, then we'd see less. There will never be an end, but at least some of the flaunting the law, because there's no punishment, would be stopped.

For some people to suggest that SS and the others, are making more money or some significant profit from stolen images is absurd. First, these images would need to have downloads and no one can show us that they are even getting that? Also for the pennies gained, that would be a flawed business plan to depend on unpaid funds as a source of profits?

For any agency to make money from stolen images, the would have to close the accounts and keep the profits, instead of allowing them to stay open and then pay the thieves. In other words, if an agency wanted to make money from stolen images, they would be more aggressive at closing accounts and keeping all the profits from the sale and the commissions.

Agencies make the same from an honest upload as a stolen image. There's no advantage, or company benefit, unless they close the accounts.

Quote from: vectorsforall on August 23, 2021, 09:50

There is no benefit for Shutterstock to pay people to delete thieves accounts

Pretty well covers it? It costs money to have someone reviewing and closing accounts. Wages, health insurance, legal complications.

For Real · « **Reply #39 on:** August 26, 2021, 16:29 »

"Unlike music, films, streaming specials, and major entertainment, we aren't a big corporation or association with lobbying power and lots of attorneys. If the laws had some teeth and protected us, then we'd see less. There will never be an end, but at least some of the flaunting the law, because there's no punishment, would be stopped"

Torrents (i.e., BitTorrent) usually never get caught downloading movies or music. I've read 1/14,000 chance of getting caught. Yeah, we have read cases where someone got slammed (high fines) --- if they would have settled right off the bat their fines were fairly small and they know they got caught red handed yet took on the corp attorneys.

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Author Topic: Another blatant thief at Shutterstock (Read 14016 times)

Uncle Pete

vectorsforall

For Real

MotionJunky

vectorsforall

For Real

kall3bu

Hannafate

Mantis

vectorsforall

vectorsforall

changingsky

vectorsforall

Uncle Pete

For Real

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