Of course I would only do so after the respective web hosting company has determined that the company in question has indeed violated their terms of services by not presenting a usage license (which I always demand even BEFORE contacting the web host!).

A usage license?  A year ago I bought a license from BS and some others from 123RF for a website I designed.  But all I got were the images.  Never a License usage document.   I don't even remember if I ever received a receipt or something.  

Well naturally the agency will let you download the image which is all you pretty much get, besides a receipt for your purchase of credits/a subscription.

Don't tell me there is no "paper trail" to confirm that a buyer actually registered, paid and downloaded the image.

That would be more than concerning...

There is a receipt but just for the credits you have bought (I found the one from BS).  Not a receipt for the license of an specific image.  And at the download history, it's only the thumbnails of images you have downloaded.   It would be a good idea if buyers could also get a license usage document for any specific image they have downloaded. 

It's my understanding that you have to buy a new license for each website if you would like to use the same image for more than one project.

I could be wrong though.

It's my understanding that you have to buy a new license for each website if you would like to use the same image for more than one project.

I could be wrong though.

I think a designer can use one single license for more than one client.  I think that's what I read at DT and SS.  Maybe I am wrong.  

This would be why many website owners can't provide any evidence of legitimate use of an image.  

It's my understanding that you have to buy a new license for each website if you would like to use the same image for more than one project.

I could be wrong though.

The license is Royalty Free and for perpetual use.

It's my understanding that you have to buy a new license for each website if you would like to use the same image for more than one project.

I could be wrong though.

Yeah, you're definitely wrong.

...I think if I was contacted by a photographer after licensing an image and proof was demanded I'd immediately contact the agency and file a complaint.  Who needs that hassle.  If you "exposed me" because I refused to give you proof, you'd be talking to my llawyer.  What if every RF photographer did this?  Obviously you have a problem with the RF model.

Fullvalue, would you mind explaining this a little more? I seem to have a problem understanding what you are trying to say.

From what you wrote above I understand that you won't tell or show proof to any photographer that contacts you asking where you purchased the image?

So even though you are a paying image user you will not tell the copyright holder of the image that you chose to use, where you purchased the image?

Sorry for repeating myself, I just thought I might have misunderstood you there for a moment.

Quote from: fullvalue on May 18, 2010, 07:15

...I think if I was contacted by a photographer after licensing an image and proof was demanded I'd immediately contact the agency and file a complaint.  Who needs that hassle.  If you "exposed me" because I refused to give you proof, you'd be talking to my llawyer.  What if every RF photographer did this?  Obviously you have a problem with the RF model.

Fullvalue, would you mind explaining this a little more? I seem to have a problem understanding what you are trying to say.

From what you wrote above I understand that you won't tell or show proof to any photographer that contacts you asking where you purchased the image?

So even though you are a paying image user you will not tell the copyright holder of the image that you chose to use, where you purchased the image?

Sorry for repeating myself, I just thought I might have misunderstood you there for a moment.

Let's say I design a website that uses 6 images.  Do I need to provide proof now to 6 photographers?

 Also, don't forget, I licesned the images from a third party.  My contract is with them.  The photographer's contract is with them.  I don't have a contract with the photographer.  They have no reason to contact me.  If they have a problem they need to contact the third party.

Wait wait wait!

Sorry to everyone - I worded this all wrong! I apologize.

I did not mean to browse the internet all day long asking for ALL images licenses ever sold!!!! I hope this is clear now to everyone.

I'm only talking about image uses that require an EL!

Now, am I just the only one who cares who legally purchases an image license of my images or do you guys plan on uploading your stuff to rapidshare yourself anytime soon without telling me? 

I did recover damages from people who have not purchased my images/licenses. This only happened because I opened my mouth.

So you averil and fullvalue simply do not care if anyone would download your images whichever way illegally printing them on books, posters, clothing and what not and you would completely ignore that?

Why even sell your images if you don't want to make money off of it?

For the record: I have no intent to harrass buyers if they use my image on a website, blog, book etc.

...Let's say I design a website that uses 6 images.  Do I need to provide proof now to 6 photographers?

Of course not - I don't care for web sites using my images 400 pixels wide.

Also, don't forget, I licesned the images from a third party.  My contract is with them.  The photographer's contract is with them.  I don't have a contract with the photographer.  They have no reason to contact me.  If they have a problem they need to contact the third party.

So some of us are contributing to 10, 15 or more agencies. So if we have reason to believe that a company is reproducing/reselling our images we are supposed to write an email to all agencies trying to figure out who sold it to that company (sometimes the agencies don't even know because they sold it to the designer and not the actual company) or me contacting the company directly, verifying if they acquired the appropriate license for it.

And also, are you saying that I as the copyright holder can not make a claim? Are you saying that I can only contact the infringing party with a lawyer? What reason is there to not settle such a situation directly between the copyright holder and the image user?

Since when do our agents do this for us? Why would I contact any agency if I knew the infringing party got it through them if they won't even provide a lawyer for me in that case, not to mention the monetary compensation in case of a settlement.

I only remember one time where a company bought images from Shutterstock through subscription instead of purchasing ELs. They printed that stuff which was against the regular RF license. After investigation the infringing company did pay Shutterstock the necessary license fees which Shutterstock handed down to the contributors.

Still, we all don't know if they also paid a fine for breaking the licensing terms and if everybody was actually compensated who was affected there.

Many times, I found my images on other photographers' accounts at the micros who stole them and did resell them as their own. Not one time did I receive the royalties for all those sales which should have occurred on my account. Mind also that these are our agents who wouldn't be in business if it wasn't for our images. Therefore, I don't expect our agents to act as a legal extension of our copyright. I have to defend my copyright.

click_click- A photographer reselling an image as their own is a violation of copyright regardless of where it was licensed it but that wasn't the original parameter for this thread.

I'm all for protecting copyright but be careful how you do it.  I still maintain that if I legally license an image and am using it within the guidelines of the license, I have no obligation to produce documentation to the photographer proving that I am doing so.  I would contact the agency that I licensed it from and make a complaint. Furthermore if a false allegation was made on a blog damaging my brand I would pursue legal action.

As for ELs, have you carefully read the user agreements on all the sites you contribute to?  Several of them allow usage that would be considered EL by some sites.

I think the key words are "harassing people that you know are violating..."

Thanks cclapper, sometimes I should just write it the way I mean it!

I have no intention of publicly exposing people if I wouldn't have proof for their wrongdoing.