Author Topic: Stolen images sold by MHSKYPIXEL (Read 5319 times)

Eco · « **on:** December 03, 2019, 03:25 »

Today I discovered that contributor MHSKYPIXEL is selling a large number of my wildlife images under his name on Envato (PhotoDune & Elements) and also Pond5.

https://elements.envato.com/user/MHSKYPIXEL
https://www.pond5.com/artist/mhskypixel

I suspect there are a lot more stolen images in his portfolio. Better check to see if there are any of yours. Still investigation if he is also selling stolen images on other agencies.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2019, 11:20 »

Quote from: Eco on December 03, 2019, 03:25

Today I discovered that contributor MHSKYPIXEL is selling a large number of my wildlife images under his name on Envato (PhotoDune & Elements) and also Pond5.

https://elements.envato.com/user/MHSKYPIXEL
https://www.pond5.com/artist/mhskypixel

I suspect there are a lot more stolen images in his portfolio. Better check to see if there are any of yours. Still investigation if he is also selling stolen images on other agencies.

Black Rhino was an easy one, I found the guy from SA on Flickr and asked if these were his and if he is an Evanto or Pond5 contributor. https://www.flickr.com/photos/frik_erasmus/8461149087/

Proves nothing, just another with identical image.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2019, 11:34 »

Wow you discovered one thief, good job.

Meanwhile, within 10 mins I saw 15 on SS. Imagine if I had invested 3 hours...

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2019, 12:27 »

Quote from: Brasilnut on December 03, 2019, 11:34

Wow you discovered one thief, good job.

Meanwhile, within 10 mins I saw 15 on SS. Imagine if I had invested 3 hours...

Years ago, I mean years with two zeros in the middle, I used to look at SS for duplicates and copiers and thieves. Drove me crazy, because even back then, they didn't do anything. I don't know if your project has made a difference, I'd like to think so?

Simple point is, if we can spend minutes or just happened to notice these, while doing other things, imagine what SS could do, if they had just one person hired to clean out the trash and crooks? Apparently it's not a priority or cost effective.

pancaketom · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2019, 13:04 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on December 03, 2019, 12:27

snip...

Simple point is, if we can spend minutes or just happened to notice these, while doing other things, imagine what SS could do, if they had just one person hired to clean out the trash and crooks? Apparently it's not a priority or cost effective.

I honestly think that with just a little work SS or other sites could actually make a pretty big difference in spam and stolen images. It would be hard to get it all, but they could just start with the most popular searches and obvious cases and drop the hammer on the blatant ports. The fact that they don't even seem to follow up on cases pointed out to them speaks volumes.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2019, 13:58 »

Quote from: pancaketom on December 03, 2019, 13:04

Quote from: Uncle Pete on December 03, 2019, 12:27
snip...

Simple point is, if we can spend minutes or just happened to notice these, while doing other things, imagine what SS could do, if they had just one person hired to clean out the trash and crooks? Apparently it's not a priority or cost effective.

I honestly think that with just a little work SS or other sites could actually make a pretty big difference in spam and stolen images. It would be hard to get it all, but they could just start with the most popular searches and obvious cases and drop the hammer on the blatant ports. The fact that they don't even seem to follow up on cases pointed out to them speaks volumes.

Heck, they could hire us on a contingency basis, per fraud account found?

Tenebroso · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2019, 15:28 »

Like the giants google, Facebook, YouTube, ..... they are investing in the issue of NOT having in their storage illegitimate copyright data, I am sure that the file agencies are cleaning their databases of fraudulent files. For that they have a deadline that began to count.

After entering into force, the fines will be an important incentive to worry once and for all about these issues. It is likely that some agency will shake the ears of the slap of money that they will disburse for not complying with the Law. The sanctions are of such a brutal caliber that, having not dedicated effort to combat this issue, they simply cannot work in Europe.

Patience.