Author Topic: Copyright violations on Zazzle (Read 7747 times)

Pilens · « **on:** December 05, 2018, 23:30 »

Hello,
just a heads-up:
a few days ago I found one of my images on Zazzle in this guy's Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/walterbjedyk
I reported this through a link "Report this product" somewhere close to the bottom of every product page.
And today all his zazzle products with my image are gone and I received this from Zazzle:

Quote

Hello,
Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. Zazzle takes all claims of infringement very seriously and we hope to resolve this matter amicably.
We have reviewed your claim and, per your request, the unauthorized product as outlined in your email has been removed from Zazzle’s marketplace. The designer has also been notified of the infringement claim.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions.
Best Regards,

Not bad at all. However, they didn't shut down his store, which is sad because I strongly suspect that a least a good part of this guy's 1000+ Zazzle products base on stolen images.
So, please go and have a look and report copyright violation when you find your image(s) in his store.

Thanks for reading.

drd · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2018, 03:36 »

Can you share how was this person selling your images? (postcard or electronic download?)

steheap · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2018, 10:04 »

He has certainly traveled to many different parts of the world and got the light just right! He is selling all their products, postcards, clocks, mugs etc.

None of my images as far as I can see

Steve

stockastic · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2018, 11:31 »

The guy should really get an award for the worst profile/avatar shot ever. He looks like he just got back from a meeting with his parole officer.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #4 on:** December 06, 2018, 11:48 »

Thanks for the heads up. I think it's clearly someone who doesn't understand - or doesn't care - that he can't sell products based on stock photos. He almost certainly didn't buy an extended license for all of those and the only way to check if he was buying a license for each new sale from whatever agency he obtained the files from would be to a copyright holder test him out to see if a new download shows up.

I didn't see anything of mine.

Pilens · « **Reply #5 on:** December 06, 2018, 11:52 »

Quote from: drd on December 06, 2018, 03:36

Can you share how was this person selling your images? (postcard or electronic download?)

Products such as postcards, posters, mugs, etc. - I don't think there is electronic downloads available on zazzle.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #6 on:** December 06, 2018, 12:32 »

The fact that Zazzle doesn't close him, shows they don't really care.

Hey, who's is this? Probably not his:

Edit: I might not need to remove the image, it's all over Pinterest, free wallpaper sites and blogs. If anyone has rights to this, please tell me, I'll cut the link and make it disappear.

I suppose I'm wrong about this one, on Pinterest and Wallpapers, and everywhere. So I'll ask. Does Zazzle allow Pinterest images to be sold on products? If so the supply is endless, there's no need for someone to steal from us.

Pilens · « **Reply #7 on:** December 07, 2018, 00:57 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on December 06, 2018, 11:48

Thanks for the heads up. I think it's clearly someone who doesn't understand - or doesn't care - that he can't sell products based on stock photos. He almost certainly didn't buy an extended license for all of those and the only way to check if he was buying a license for each new sale from whatever agency he obtained the files from would be to a copyright holder test him out to see if a new download shows up.

I didn't see anything of mine.

Quote

Does Zazzle allow Pinterest images to be sold on products?

On Zazzle for putting up a product for sale you have to check that "I have the right to publish and sell this product without violating others' rights, and I agree to Zazzle’s User Agreement". So, no, Pinterest images wouldn't qualify. But, yes, he could have been covered by an extended license since the image in question is one of my bestsellers everywhere. It seems, however, that he didn't care to buy such license. Otherwise he would have complained against the take-down for sure.
The images he uses are from all possible sources: SS, Flickr, National Geographic,... you name it.

Quote

The fact that Zazzle doesn't close him, shows they don't really care.

Agree. At least they didn't hesitate to remove my image from his store. I was just hoping that more copyright violation complaints against him would eventually trigger a harsher action i.e. shutting down his store.

soozinz · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2019, 02:42 »

If these sites really did take infringement seriously then they would shut these contributors down but all they do is remove the offending image. Surely uploading other people's work and pretending it is your own constitutes a sackable offence.