Author Topic: Stolen vectors (Read 6025 times)

eliastheGreek · « **on:** February 29, 2012, 10:13 »

Hi !
I just did a Google search for my images and I found with big disappointment that three of my best selling vectors have been stolen. To be more specific, my vector is http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=94566715 and I found that it is sold at this site http://www.2muchvector.com/viewitem.php?ItemID=1183 with an addition on it. Others are on various sites that you can download the eps files for free.

They are leaked at this site http://www.flowervector.com/ also.
On this site,one of my best selling files has more than 5000 DLs. http://www.vector-finder.com/Free-Downloads.asp?id=1856

Any help please? I am a new contributor and I feel that my work is stolen already. I also noticed some decline on these specific sales but maybe I am wrong on that one. Is there any way we can protect from theft ?

Thanks a lot for your time!
Elias

Microbius · « **Reply #1 on:** February 29, 2012, 11:38 »

Both those sites use Google ad words.
Do a search on this forum, I have posted detailed instructions on how to DMCA Google and other actions you can take.
Good luck!

eliastheGreek · « **Reply #2 on:** March 01, 2012, 02:43 »

Thanks for the reply, but another question just stroke my head!How can I actually prove that these files are originally mine since they are EPS ?

Thanks,
Elias

Microbius · « **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2012, 06:28 »

Well, you should be able to prove you posted them to the internet first, because I assume they stole them through an agency that has a date of upload logged.
You could also register them with the US copyright office, which we should all be doing really but some of us are uncomfortable with being dictated to by the whims of the US government when copyright is still yours regardless. You wont be able to sue for damages in the US without a registration though.
In any case, you won't be asked for proof for filling a DMCA, that will only be down the line if they dispute it, which they probably won't if Google is likely to shut them down.

fritz · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2012, 20:33 »

Yasoo Elias,
Happen to me many times before. Filling a DMCA won't help at least didn't help in my case. Sorry, you can do nothing.
Remember once I email site who stole my picture. Guess what? The answer was: Who the f#ck are you.

eliastheGreek · « **Reply #5 on:** March 06, 2012, 04:16 »

Thanks a lot guys for your helpful replies. What I actually did, was to email SS whichis the main site I sell these vectors and let them know the situation. I believe that since they lose more money than I do (my commission is 20% of the sales) they would be more involved.
Hope it works.
Thanks again for your time.

Microbius · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2012, 04:43 »

Quote from: alexmk on March 05, 2012, 20:33

Yasoo Elias,
Happen to me many times before. Filling a DMCA won't help at least didn't help in my case. Sorry, you can do nothing.
Remember once I email site who stole my picture. Guess what? The answer was: Who the f#ck are you.

You sent a DMCA to Google (for a site that has Google ad words) and the site didn't take down your images? (never heard of this happening)
Or you sent a DMCA to their web host and the site didn't take down your images? (happens, but rarely)
Or you (incorrectly) DMCA'd or wrote to the actual site owner who of course is probably a thief and a criminal and the site didn't take down your images? (well, duh)

The idea that you can do nothing about these situations is not correct. Again, please do a search of this forum where I have posted instructions and an explanation of where to send DMCA notices etc.
You just need to be better informed about the action you need to take.

ETA. sorry, I doubt SS will take an active interest in getting this sorted for you

Renee · « **Reply #7 on:** May 14, 2012, 19:02 »

Oh, I am trying to learn in therapy how to accept that my vectors are much more popular for people to steal than pay for. It is astonishing when you get to digging, I can only dig in small doses, send one rude email a day, cry in doses, and try very much not to hate people. I started a facebook posting all of the tattoo's I have found, I hate all of the teenagers that think a google search is a creative process. My advice do your best to shut them down, don't obsess too much lest it drive you mad.
I just had to stop searching for my files, two ebay businesses, two tattoo sites and one belligerent teenager, I am helping myself by reading your story so I don't feel so alone.

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Author Topic: Stolen vectors (Read 6025 times)

eliastheGreek

Microbius

eliastheGreek

Microbius

fritz

eliastheGreek

Microbius

Renee

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