Author Topic: Images on Zazzle (Read 17265 times)

gill · « **on:** September 21, 2010, 04:08 »

Updated to say they've all been taken down now.

Someone is selling photos that I've found on stock sites. As I'm not allowed to name names, you'll need to search the zazzle.com site, particularly if you have wine and drink photos. If you search for: red wine drinks (as a phrase) - the majority of photos on the first page will be from the person involved.
I've been trying to track people down since Friday, but there are just too many! I've sent a list to IS and am just sending one to SS, contacted a few individuals, and reported dozens to Zazzle, but I really can't spend too much more time on this.
Other search terms (as a phrase) are:
violin music flowers

You may want to check there if you have photos of wine bottles and glasses, vineyards, cocktails, musical instruments, clocks, coffee, roses, alice in wonderland illustrations. There are photos from Flickr and Deviantart as well.

cidepix · « **Reply #1 on:** September 21, 2010, 04:48 »

Quote from: gill on September 21, 2010, 04:08

Someone is selling photos that I've found on stock sites. As I'm not allowed to name names, you'll need to search the zazzle.com site, particularly if you have wine and drink photos. If you search for: red wine drinks (as a phrase) - the majority of photos on the first page will be from the person involved.
I've been trying to track people down since Friday, but there are just too many! I've sent a list to IS and am just sending one to SS, contacted a few individuals, and reported dozens to Zazzle, but I really can't spend too much more time on this.
Other search terms (as a phrase) are:
violin music flowers

You may want to check there if you have photos of wine bottles and glasses, vineyards, cocktails, musical instruments, clocks, coffee, roses, alice in wonderland illustrations. There are photos from Flickr and Deviantart as well.

You can sell on zazzle. It is probably the stock artists themselves selling there. That is totally ok.

Susan S. · « **Reply #2 on:** September 21, 2010, 04:53 »

Quote from: cidepix on September 21, 2010, 04:48

Quote from: gill on September 21, 2010, 04:08
Someone is selling photos that I've found on stock sites. As I'm not allowed to name names, you'll need to search the zazzle.com site, particularly if you have wine and drink photos. If you search for: red wine drinks (as a phrase) - the majority of photos on the first page will be from the person involved.
I've been trying to track people down since Friday, but there are just too many! I've sent a list to IS and am just sending one to SS, contacted a few individuals, and reported dozens to Zazzle, but I really can't spend too much more time on this.
Other search terms (as a phrase) are:
violin music flowers

You may want to check there if you have photos of wine bottles and glasses, vineyards, cocktails, musical instruments, clocks, coffee, roses, alice in wonderland illustrations. There are photos from Flickr and Deviantart as well.

You can sell on zazzle. It is probably the stock artists themselves selling there. That is totally ok.

While it's true some stock artists sell on zazzle, it's rather unlikely that a single legitimate seller will have items from several different stock artists, as seems to be the case here.

gill · « **Reply #3 on:** September 21, 2010, 04:58 »

Yes, there are dozens of different photographers works, as well as paintings by living artists that are selling limited editions elsewhere for $100's, so I doubt if they would give permission for use in POD. I've already had a reply from a photographer and an artist who hadn't given permission.

madelaide · « **Reply #4 on:** September 21, 2010, 05:00 »

gill,
I don't understand why you can not place a link to the possible infractor.

gill · « **Reply #5 on:** September 21, 2010, 05:06 »

According to rules for posting, I shouldn't name names. There's a thread on the Zazzle forum in "Everything else" titled "is this a new problem?" which names the account (I think you may have to be registered to see that), but it's quite easy to find using the search terms above in the Zazzle marketplace, but he hid his store after he was found out.
Here's a link to get you started though:
http://www.zazzle.com/tiger+cat+rooster+gifts
Then you can just put the account name in the search and get the whole lot.

click_click · « **Reply #6 on:** September 21, 2010, 11:49 »

I sent 5 sitemails on IS to artists I could find in this store:
w w w . zazzle . com/artgallery1+gifts

Hopefully it's enough to have the 15,629 products removed $:-\$

gill · « **Reply #7 on:** September 21, 2010, 12:04 »

click_click · « **Reply #8 on:** September 21, 2010, 12:08 »

Impressive. I know it totally sucks but Zazzle will take appropriate measures.

I've dealt with their support many times regarding copyright infringement and they know what to do.

In this case they should close the shop down. At least to give the shop owner a really hard time to start from scratch (if he wants to).

Otherwise they would just remove the reported items and he will just get the images from somewhere else but microstock in order to continue.

gill · « **Reply #9 on:** September 21, 2010, 13:08 »

I've just had a reply from Carl Brenders agent, so he's got a list too. We'll nail this one yet

He's dropped from 15,629 products to 15,628. If I didn't think it was worth it, I'd give up! The agent replied that they were trying to call, but on hold. Come on Zazzle, it's not hard - close the store!

Renee · « **Reply #10 on:** September 21, 2010, 15:03 »

Well there you go. Thanks I never would have checked there if it was not for this post. I don't think I can take any more. Would someone please actually pay for my image, I would like to earn money from my work. I imagine in a few days I will become numb to all the *insult removed* out there who steal my work.

http://www.zazzle.com/skeletons_trees_roots_skateboard-186819646325416923

madelaide · « **Reply #11 on:** September 21, 2010, 17:15 »

Ouch! That's a terrible pattern.

I remember having posted in Zazzle forum twice I think that people can not use microstock images for their products. I think no EL even allows print-on-demand, am I right?

donding · « **Reply #12 on:** September 21, 2010, 17:32 »

Quote from: Renee on September 21, 2010, 15:03

Well there you go. Thanks I never would have checked there if it was not for this post. I don't think I can take any more. Would someone please actually pay for my image, I would like to earn money from my work. I imagine in a few days I will become numb to all the *insult removed* out there who steal my work.

http://www.zazzle.com/skeletons_trees_roots_skateboard-186819646325416923

I commented on it Renee. We will see if they follow the advice.

Renee · « **Reply #13 on:** September 21, 2010, 17:56 »

http://www.zazzle.com/skeletons_trees_roots_skateboard-186819646325416923
[/quote]

I commented on it Renee. We will see if they follow the advice.
[/quote]

At this point I am just emailing SS I don't know if I am interfering with possible legal actions so I am using here to vent so I don't burst. SS is responsive and I now vent and wait.

cathyslife · « **Reply #14 on:** September 22, 2010, 04:57 »

Thanks for posting, I'm going to go have a look.

FD · « **Reply #15 on:** September 22, 2010, 07:46 »

Quote from: gill on September 21, 2010, 05:06

According to rules for posting, I shouldn't name names.

Where? Here? You can put up a link to one of the offending products.

gill · « **Reply #16 on:** September 22, 2010, 11:50 »

Quote from: FD-regular on September 22, 2010, 07:46

Quote from: gill on September 21, 2010, 05:06
According to rules for posting, I shouldn't name names.
Where? Here? You can put up a link to one of the offending products.

There are lots of links above, there's no one link to all of them, except www.zazzle.com/artgallery1
The good news is, the account's under investigation now. (What more investigation does it need!!?)

I'm glad/sorry you found one of yours there Renee. It looks like the store hasn't been used for a year, though that's no consolation, though I notice it was given "Top 10 Skateboards September 21, 2010" - probably because so many clicked on the link!

The majority that use these images just haven't got a clue or don't care about copyright, a few do it wilfully. Most of these particular images have come from wallpaper sites or scattered around the web, though some were directly off artists or photographers websites. I'm not going to defend or condemn Zazzle - they don't police the site so it's up to the rest of us. It's not just Zazzle though - I reported two copies of the same image to IS some time ago that had two different copyright holders.

click_click · « **Reply #17 on:** September 22, 2010, 11:55 »

I've seen so much ripped off art on Zazzle that I believe it's time to implement a stronger awareness "campaign" to their members.

As I've suggested before with Flickr, I'd like to see additional disclaimers when uploading images to Zazzle.

Since everyone can only upload via HTTP it shouldn't be a big issue of adding an additional step to the upload process or add a pop-up (which could be blocked...though) that requires confirmation that the uploader understands that they risk a civil suit if uploading content that they are not allowed to or better that they did not create themselves.

I get the feeling that not a lot of people on Zazzle understand the principle of copyright and/or public domain. I think it's time for Zazzle to step up and take an educating role for its members to make them aware without judging people.

gill · « **Reply #18 on:** September 22, 2010, 12:11 »

I doubt that would make much difference - most people have never read the terms - even if it was in red bold letters right in front of them when they uploaded an image, they still wouldn't read it and just tick the box.

madelaide · « **Reply #19 on:** September 22, 2010, 12:43 »

I also agree these sites should be more careful, send alerts about this issue, etc. There is a generalized idea that everything found in the internet can be used freely, and it's a cultural barrier that is unfortunately hard to overcome.

click_click · « **Reply #20 on:** September 22, 2010, 13:21 »

Quote from: gill on September 22, 2010, 12:11

I doubt that would make much difference - most people have never read the terms - even if it was in red bold letters right in front of them when they uploaded an image, they still wouldn't read it and just tick the box.

I know that not a lot of people read the terms.

But if an image/design is uploaded all it requires is one very short and easy to understand message:

"Did you create this image yourself or did you download it or parts of the internet?"
Then a check mark underneath for:
"I have read this message and understand that if I upload unauthorized material my account and all earnings will be removed."
Followed by two buttons:
"This is/are my image(s)" or "I'm sorry I can't upload this material"

I'm sure that this is at least a little bit more effective than the terms... I know it won't stop it from happening at all.

gill · « **Reply #21 on:** September 22, 2010, 14:14 »

I wish I had your faith - it won't stop it happening at all. Call me cynical, but they'll just think "yeah, right", tick "yes, it's mine" - and possibly they even think it is since they downloaded it. What it needs is more court cases to force the web site owners to police themselves, but most of them don't have the resources to do that anyway, or more court cases against individuals - but one individual is the tip of the iceberg. It would be an immense job to check every upload, that's why it has to rely on people checking for their own work. Even the stock sites can't check ownership that thoroughly.

IF there could be a stiff penalty attached, AND carried out, maybe it would be more effective, but they know the worst that's going to happen is that the item will be removed, only in rare cases the account shut down. So, I agree, Zazzle should be tougher, but a warning message will do nothing, except for the rare few who really don't know they're breaking the law. (Ignorance is no defence!)

Zillions of Zazzle users don't know or care the difference between copyright and trademark, or royalty free and public domain, the majority don't visit the forum where they can read about it if they want to. Personally, I think Deviant art is even worse - I was just looking for an image, two deviants (nice term!) have it, it's a wallpaper image with no exif data. One of them was asked - beautiful photo, did you take it yourself? And of course replied "yes!".
I don't know what the answer is, but I don't think that's it. It needs to start higher up - if Zazzle were worried about their situation when illegal use images were found, they'd do more about it. If someone had found the answer, we wouldn't be here, now, discussing it

And - a lot of them know they're doing illegal stuff, I had quite a few threatening messages when I challenged another Zazzle user, who was claiming other work as his own.

Just to show you what we're up against, this is a post from a new user, telling the rest of Zazzle how to do it:

Quote

Original ideas. If you copy other people you'll all have the same sometimes-people-will-buy business. But, if you have items that you can ONLY find at your Zazzle store, people will spread the word and your business will be spectacular! Even if someone copies your ideas, you'll still have more buisness because you had it first and more people still come in and out of your store.

This same person had copyrighted items in their store, and still has wallpaper images.

And, yes, I find it all extremely frustrating!
If Zazzle would say a definite No wallpaper images! that would be a start, at least I wouldn't have to track down the original author.

gill · « **Reply #22 on:** September 22, 2010, 22:07 »

Just an update - Zazzle have taken down the whole lot now (15000+), so none of my links will work.

TheSmilingAssassin · « **Reply #23 on:** September 22, 2010, 23:11 »

Quote from: gill on September 22, 2010, 22:07

Just an update - Zazzle have taken down the whole lot now (15000+), so none of my links will work.

Well done Gill. I've reported many myself and have contacted a good 3 dozen photographers letting them know their images are being used on Zazzle.

I started the thread below:

http://forum.zazzle.com/feedback/copyright_violators

Maybe if a number of us complain about it here, Zazzle might become a little more proactive to reduce the number of ripoff artists that plague their website.

gill · « **Reply #24 on:** September 23, 2010, 02:45 »

Thanks pseudo

Quote from: click_click on September 22, 2010, 11:55

I get the feeling that not a lot of people on Zazzle understand the principle of copyright and/or public domain. I think it's time for Zazzle to step up and take an educating role for its members to make them aware without judging people.

Isn't there a stock site that does some sort of questionnaire before you join? I can't remember now, but something like that could work, if they had to know about copyrights, licenses, trademarks etc to get the answers right before they could join. It still wouldn't stop the determined, but at least the ignorant would be educated. I can't see Zazzle implementing it though.

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Author Topic: Images on Zazzle (Read 17265 times)

gill

cidepix

Susan S.

gill

madelaide

gill

click_click

gill

click_click

gill

Renee

madelaide

donding

Renee

cathyslife

FD

gill

click_click

gill

madelaide

click_click

gill

gill

TheSmilingAssassin

gill

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