MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => Image Sleuth => Topic started by: Justanotherphotographer on January 25, 2017, 03:48
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I just got an email promoting Canstock's free image of the month and unless I'm mistaken it's a rip off of someone-else's work. It looks like the "artist" has lots of others in their portfolio too:
the free image:
http://www.canstockphoto.com/sharp-looking-eagle-eye-9635951.html (http://www.canstockphoto.com/sharp-looking-eagle-eye-9635951.html)
the original:
http://www.123rf.com/clipart-vector/eagle_eye.html?mediapopup=11375466 (http://www.123rf.com/clipart-vector/eagle_eye.html?mediapopup=11375466)
or
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/cartoon-vector-mascot-image-eagle-eyes-89100340 (https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/cartoon-vector-mascot-image-eagle-eyes-89100340)
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original:
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/eagle-symbol-isolated-on-white-design-59495662 (https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/eagle-symbol-isolated-on-white-design-59495662)
rip off:
http://www.canstockphoto.com/american-eagle-9618979.html (http://www.canstockphoto.com/american-eagle-9618979.html)
Yes it's the whole portfolio and he's on all the sites.
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Could it be the same author with different names on different sites?
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Nope. The two examples are from two well known and different people. If you just look at the portfolio it is obviously one of those made from vectors they've downloaded and made really poor edits to then reuploaded on their account. Some images they've uploaded dozens of times each with terrible gradients applied or the paths auto-simplified in different ways.
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Another from a third author.
Original:
http://www.canstockphoto.com/beautiful-pregnant-woman-in-flowers-11606066.html (http://www.canstockphoto.com/beautiful-pregnant-woman-in-flowers-11606066.html)
Copy (they couldn't even crop it properly after rotating):
http://www.canstockphoto.com/silhouette-of-the-pregnant-11212598.html (http://www.canstockphoto.com/silhouette-of-the-pregnant-11212598.html)
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Hes had some of those images in his port for 5 years
Good spot, hope these thieves all get booted
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There is even a Johnny Bravo in this port LOL
http://www.canstockphoto.com/muscle-man-contour-19854884.html (http://www.canstockphoto.com/muscle-man-contour-19854884.html)
He is also on DT: https://www.dreamstime.com/masmanu_info (https://www.dreamstime.com/masmanu_info)
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hahahahahahaha stock agency promoting stolen work, doesnt get better than that. dont know if i need to laugh or cry though
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Yep, Those eyes are inspired by my image. I've reached out to Canstock. Thanks for the heads up.
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Yep, Those eyes are inspired by my image. I've reached out to Canstock. Thanks for the heads up.
Good luck with that. I've had a support ticket sitting unanswered for almost a month. The lights are on but nobody's home.
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Yeah... well I've pretty much stopped uploading to any micros because of stuff like this. I'm having better results elsewhere.
To you illustrators that have been around for a while. (say 2012 or earlier) Just wondering... if you are still uploading new images is it because you find that it is still worth it or because you don't have any better options?
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Yeah... well I've pretty much stopped uploading to any micros because of stuff like this. I'm having better results elsewhere.
To you illustrators that have been around for a while. (say 2012 or earlier) Just wondering... if you are still uploading new images is it because you find that it is still worth it or because you don't have any better options?
I am around since 2009 and still uploading. My earnings are a bit lower than previous years, but I really love to do this (draw whatever I like, not what is imposed). It is not my only income, sometimes I do custom works (but those clients also come through to microstock).
Where else are you having better results if you don't mind me asking?
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Update: Heard back from Canstock. They wanted some timestamp info. I actually have those files on Canstock too but the image of the "eyes" was in unfinished and I didn't know it. Sometimes Canstock gets a bad rap but I've had nothing but a good experience with them. They have always been among my better selling sites. Still are.
Update: Canstock dealt with it. Feel a bit bad for the contributor, I'm sure he was just trying to feed his family but it was fairly obvious where the images came from. Ironic that he chose to give away an image that he knew he didn't originate. Oh well.
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Seems like lots of my counterparts have moved on. Kind of wondered where you guys all went.
I haven't stopped creating images I'm just more particular about what I do with them. The second half of my portfolio is only available on my own sites. I hate uploading and have found that I prefer 1 sale at $14.75 over 52 sales at $0.28. 51 less people to give my images away for free. It seems that if people pay a decent amount for an image they are far less likely to want to give it to other people for free.
Sales at the micros are continually dropping but my sites are covering the difference. Making roughly the same amount now as 3 years ago. Haven't uploaded anywhere in over a year.
I heard creative market is good but they didn't like my style.
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Seems like lots of my counterparts have moved on. Kind of wondered where you guys all went.
I haven't stopped creating images I'm just more particular about what I do with them. The second half of my portfolio is only available on my own sites. I hate uploading and have found that I prefer 1 sale at $14.75 over 52 sales at $0.28. 51 less people to give my images away for free. It seems that if people pay a decent amount for an image they are far less likely to want to give it to other people for free.
Sales at the micros are continually dropping but my sites are covering the difference. Making roughly the same amount now as 3 years ago. Haven't uploaded anywhere in over a year.
I heard creative market is good but they didn't like my style.
Well, I know that i love your work, and have used it multiple times over the years. I'm sure that I'll be returning for more when softball starts back up. If I can find them on your sites I'll shop there first.
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Thanks Dallas... gotta love those girls sports!
@justanotherphotographer - Thanks again for the heads up!
I miss the old days when illustrators would chime in and contribute everyday. I learned a lot from you guys. I wish you all the best with whatever you are doing now.
Best
Dennis
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Not to beat up on Canstock, because this is happening everywhere - but do you all feel that the big agencies are just sort of gradually surrendering to this, and that the actual amount of stolen material is steadily increasing?
The expression "Whack-a-mole" just begins to cover it, because the game never ends. We can't possibly search for all our big sellers, every week, until the end of time. And the agencies don't seem to be talking about any automated way of stopping theft. That would cost them money.
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Thanks Dallas... gotta love those girls sports!
@justanotherphotographer - Thanks again for the heads up!
I miss the old days when illustrators would chime in and contribute everyday. I learned a lot from you guys. I wish you all the best with whatever you are doing now.
Best
Dennis
No problem.
I don't think there's any more of this than there used to be. I could be wrong though. It's harder to spot because the well of material to steal is bigger. I used to know artist work and styles so it was easy to spot when it was stolen. Now I mostly just notice a theif's portfolio looks wrong, like in this case, and work backwards