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Author Topic: Another blatant thief at Shutterstock  (Read 16704 times)

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« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2021, 10:43 »
0
This kind of stuff unfortunately has become so often nowadays.

You saw your products on it or heard of it?

« Reply #2 on: June 30, 2021, 03:03 »
+1
I find this stuff simply by going on one of my products page and taking a look at 'similar products' below, and when I see a duplicate one I know I got the thief's portfolio

« Reply #3 on: June 30, 2021, 18:00 »
+6
Wow u found one. Give me 20 minutes and I can find at least 10!

What a stupid reply. He's just trying to be helpful.

« Reply #4 on: June 30, 2021, 21:20 »
0
Wow u found one. Give me 20 minutes and I can find at least 10!

What a stupid reply. He's just trying to be helpful.

Why don't they do anything?

« Reply #5 on: July 01, 2021, 02:07 »
+1
Wow u found one. Give me 20 minutes and I can find at least 10!

What a stupid reply. He's just trying to be helpful.

Why don't they do anything?

I made a DMCA notice for both accounts I just found.
« Last Edit: July 01, 2021, 11:53 by leaf »

« Reply #6 on: July 05, 2021, 10:33 »
0
Still no answer nor action from Shitter, 2 DMCA notices posted june 24th.
they don't even care

« Reply #7 on: July 05, 2021, 18:44 »
+5
Wow u found one. Give me 20 minutes and I can find at least 10!

What a stupid reply. He's just trying to be helpful.

Why don't they do anything?
Easy question, because shitterstock banned the thieves and shitterstock continue earning money with the stolen videos.

« Reply #8 on: July 16, 2021, 11:19 »
+3
11 days later still nothing and I found another thief's portfolio and again I send another DMCA notice.
Shitter is a thieves factory.
Not only they made big cut in our commissions without shame but also they are a heaven for thieves.
I'm starting considering closing my account even if I'm still doing some numbers there. Enough is enough

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #9 on: July 17, 2021, 09:58 »
+1
11 days later still nothing and I found another thief's portfolio and again I send another DMCA notice.
Shitter is a thieves factory.
Not only they made big cut in our commissions without shame but also they are a heaven for thieves.
I'm starting considering closing my account even if I'm still doing some numbers there. Enough is enough

I have to ask, because this comes up fairly often, but how does closing your account and losing the income, change anything about the thieves or make SS more proactive in removing thieves? All it does is hurt you?

The crooks come from all agencies, steal from all kinds of places, and spread their copied images in many places. This isn't just a SS issue.

I don't know why they move so slowly, but at least, when a valid complaint is filed, we have seen the accounts removed.

Good work finding and reporting them!  :)

« Reply #10 on: July 17, 2021, 11:01 »
+2
11 days later still nothing and I found another thief's portfolio and again I send another DMCA notice.
Shitter is a thieves factory.
Not only they made big cut in our commissions without shame but also they are a heaven for thieves.
I'm starting considering closing my account even if I'm still doing some numbers there. Enough is enough
I have to ask, because this comes up fairly often, but how does closing your account and losing the income, change anything about the thieves or make SS more proactive in removing thieves? All it does is hurt you?

The crooks come from all agencies, steal from all kinds of places, and spread their copied images in many places. This isn't just a SS issue.

I don't know why they move so slowly, but at least, when a valid complaint is filed, we have seen the accounts removed.

Good work finding and reporting them!  :)
Thieves are very beneficial for agencies, they are really so much not proactive removing them that questions come - are most of thieves real people? Very beneficial workflows for agencies anyway.

« Reply #11 on: July 17, 2021, 12:31 »
0
11 days later still nothing and I found another thief's portfolio and again I send another DMCA notice.
Shitter is a thieves factory.
Not only they made big cut in our commissions without shame but also they are a heaven for thieves.
I'm starting considering closing my account even if I'm still doing some numbers there. Enough is enough

I have to ask, because this comes up fairly often, but how does closing your account and losing the income, change anything about the thieves or make SS more proactive in removing thieves? All it does is hurt you?

The crooks come from all agencies, steal from all kinds of places, and spread their copied images in many places. This isn't just a SS issue.

I don't know why they move so slowly, but at least, when a valid complaint is filed, we have seen the accounts removed.

Good work finding and reporting them!  :)

Good point ;-) My anger speaks for myself

« Reply #12 on: July 17, 2021, 13:52 »
0
11 days later still nothing and I found another thief's portfolio and again I send another DMCA notice.
Shitter is a thieves factory.
Not only they made big cut in our commissions without shame but also they are a heaven for thieves.
I'm starting considering closing my account even if I'm still doing some numbers there. Enough is enough
I have to ask, because this comes up fairly often, but how does closing your account and losing the income, change anything about the thieves or make SS more proactive in removing thieves? All it does is hurt you?

The crooks come from all agencies, steal from all kinds of places, and spread their copied images in many places. This isn't just a SS issue.

I don't know why they move so slowly, but at least, when a valid complaint is filed, we have seen the accounts removed.

Good work finding and reporting them!  :)
Thieves are very beneficial for agencies, they are really so much not proactive removing them that questions come - are most of thieves real people? Very beneficial workflows for agencies anyway.

Because all those dimes and quarters make such a big profit for SS?

« Reply #13 on: July 23, 2021, 11:41 »
+2
And after weeks of patience this is the answer oh these *insult removed* :

"Hello,

Thank you for your email. Our requirements for submitting Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA") notices of infringement are below. You may send a proper notice in reply to this email.

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

Infringement Notice Requirements:

1) A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

2) Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works at that site.

3) Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled, and information reasonably sufficient to permit the Shutterstock to locate the material.

4) Information reasonably sufficient to permit the Shutterstock to contact the complaining party, such as an address, telephone number, and, if available, an electronic mail address at which the complaining party may be contacted.

5) A statement that the complaining party has a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.

6) A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

Only the copyright owner or their authorized representative may file a report of copyright infringement. If you believe content on Shutterstock infringes someone elses copyright, you may want to let the rights owner know.

Please note that we may provide the rights owners name, your email and the details of your report to the person who receives the complaint.

For more information, please review Shutterstock's DMCA Copyright Infringement Notice at: www.shutterstock.com/terms/dmca-notice.

Regards,

Shutterstock Compliance Team"

We must waste time listing blatant thief's portfolio by checking one by one every single product duplicated.

« Reply #14 on: July 23, 2021, 12:01 »
+1
I've just sent another DMCA notice with more than 20 products listed (original mine and duplicate thief)
Let's see how these professionals will answer

« Reply #15 on: July 24, 2021, 12:05 »
0
I've just sent another DMCA notice with more than 20 products listed (original mine and duplicate thief)
Let's see how these professionals will answer

with so many copyright lawyers working on provision you are doing big mistake with DMCA.

deleting your contest is nothing, you could earn some serious money.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #16 on: July 24, 2021, 12:34 »
+1
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.

farbled

« Reply #17 on: July 24, 2021, 14:30 »
0
You may want to verify this before trying, but I believe you can send a DMCA through the ISP that hosts them instead of just through the company. It might get traction faster.

*this is not legal advice in any way, shape, or form*

edit to add: It may very well get your account closed as a punishment for going over their heads, but it should get the stolen images down.

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #18 on: July 25, 2021, 09:44 »
0
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.

This is legal boilerplate. It's supposed to discourage false and bothersome frivolous complaints. Imagine how some people are competitive and would file complaints, just to pester the competition? I agree, it seems odd that the reply to an inquiry is a rather intimidating warning. This is not new.

What's also odd, is back when we actually had contacts at SS and moderators, we could sometimes get a real human, HQ employee to look. They would forward the link to the infringing account and they would actually be shut down. Yes, sometimes it took weeks, for a fair and in depth investigation.

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.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #19 on: July 25, 2021, 12:43 »
0
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.

« Reply #20 on: August 03, 2021, 05:17 »
+3
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.
And now more exciting news, guess what?:
1. They haven't suspended the thief's portfolio, they just deleted the images I listed to them and let the portfolio online, but better than that,
2. They have deleted my original images!!! and the duplicate online. They deserve a premium gold award for this, I can't believe it ! :-(
Any action with lawyer will take years, money, energy, and even if I delete my account, the duplicate portfolio will continue having a good time. Shutterstock is thievesland, a true paradise!
Reel Anger.... >{

« Reply #21 on: August 03, 2021, 08:41 »
+1
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.
And now more exciting news, guess what?:
1. They haven't suspended the thief's portfolio, they just deleted the images I listed to them and let the portfolio online, but better than that,
2. They have deleted my original images!!! and the duplicate online. They deserve a premium gold award for this, I can't believe it ! :-(
Any action with lawyer will take years, money, energy, and even if I delete my account, the duplicate portfolio will continue having a good time. Shutterstock is thievesland, a true paradise!
Reel Anger.... >{

This is why I believe that SS is trying to milk what they can. If they could act to remove your images from the thief's port, then they could have just as easily removed the port. That conscious decision tells me volumes about what SS is now all about.

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #22 on: August 03, 2021, 09:39 »
+3
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.
And now more exciting news, guess what?:
1. They haven't suspended the thief's portfolio, they just deleted the images I listed to them and let the portfolio online, but better than that,
2. They have deleted my original images!!! and the duplicate online. They deserve a premium gold award for this, I can't believe it ! :-(
Any action with lawyer will take years, money, energy, and even if I delete my account, the duplicate portfolio will continue having a good time. Shutterstock is thievesland, a true paradise!
Reel Anger.... >{

This is why I believe that SS is trying to milk what they can. If they could act to remove your images from the thief's port, then they could have just as easily removed the port. That conscious decision tells me volumes about what SS is now all about.

I counted and in 15 minutes I found the following thieving accounts:

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/judexxx
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/mageo
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Lourens+Myburgh
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Kiro+Nakamuro
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/kadiralpargu
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/iiamtoey
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/DigitalArt98
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Marcia+Alvarez+Martin
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Rehman+Khoso
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Gasnier+Chris
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/lrasonja
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/PARVEEN9634
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Narendra853301
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Ayush+tripathi+740
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Mr.+Picker
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Vaneet+Singhal
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/ChMuhammadAwaisKhaliq
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/MuhammadAamerZaheer
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Wazid+Khan+123
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/BazykaMale
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Farooq+Muhammad
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Super+Firoz

Just imagine I had done this for 4 hours...probably 100,000s or even millions of fraudulent pics uncovered by 1,000s of contributors. What if word got out their investors that even 5% of accounts at SS are fraudulent?!

How did I get started? Well I simply searched for "Unsplash" and found this pic and followed the similar trails. Anybody can do it...

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/unsplash-leafless-tree-on-body-water-2016074543

Oh and this thief need some geography lessons.


For Real

« Reply #23 on: August 03, 2021, 09:46 »
0
Thanks Brasilnut for showing us. It's hard enough to make my $.02 already without thieves!  >:(

« Reply #24 on: August 03, 2021, 09:52 »
+3
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.
And now more exciting news, guess what?:
1. They haven't suspended the thief's portfolio, they just deleted the images I listed to them and let the portfolio online, but better than that,
2. They have deleted my original images!!! and the duplicate online. They deserve a premium gold award for this, I can't believe it ! :-(
Any action with lawyer will take years, money, energy, and even if I delete my account, the duplicate portfolio will continue having a good time. Shutterstock is thievesland, a true paradise!
Reel Anger.... >{

This is why I believe that SS is trying to milk what they can. If they could act to remove your images from the thief's port, then they could have just as easily removed the port. That conscious decision tells me volumes about what SS is now all about.
Exactly! And soon they will just delete every contributors account with original creations and let the duplicate files on thieves ghosts portfolios (maybe they already own these) online, and here comes the money, as simply as that!


 

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