http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2766565#2766565

I've found some images of my friends as well. Let them know already.

This is unbelievable, so many images, best of internet, crossed all lines... If Alamy closes his account, he'll just open new I believe...     

Holy crap he has some of my photos as well ! I am reporting.

Some of mine too. Spread the word guys, on all forums!

I wonder how many other places he has this collection of 4000 stolen pictures. I hope Alamy sends him a bill for a refund. We need some laws to stop this.

Quote from: Ariene on October 25, 2014, 08:45
I've found some images of my friends as well. Let them know already.

This is unbelievable, so many images, best of internet, crossed all lines... If Alamy closes his account, he'll just open new I believe...     

Agencies such as Shutterstock must be the follower of the images which they keep, at least after the contributors notice of copyright infringement. Because they also make money from the same images and has more power with lawyers than the individual contributors they represent.

Selling collected images from microstock agencies in macrostock agencies must be the new job for image thieves. And the only solution for this is immediate reaction of agencies. Otherwise we may see many more from these. Agencies must defend the rights of their contributors.

It would be helpful if the agencies would set up a database of stolen images that automatically flagged up any image going through inspection that had previously been identified in an account full of stolen material. Some agencies already identify and automatically reject duplicate uploads, so it's perfectly possible to do it. It would be a very imperfect way of catching thieves but at least it would prevent people like this guy from repuloading the same files and would catch anyone else trying to steal the same files (it looks as if these may simply have been sorted by most popular and then downloaded - if several thieves use that technique then it might be possible to identify or deter a number of them and make them resort to more time-consuming methods of harvesting files).
Whether any of the sites love us enough to make what would probably be a fairly modest change to the approval process is questionable, but it would help their image and save time for their reviewers if they did.

Quote from: YadaYadaYada on October 25, 2014, 09:25
I wonder how many other places he has this collection of 4000 stolen pictures. I hope Alamy sends him a bill for a refund. We need some laws to stop this.

A bill for a refund would simply leave Alamy with stolen money - a refund followed by a payout to the owners of the copyright would be appropriate - perhaps the collection could be kept viewable so microstockers could lodge claims for any sales of their images by submitting the file numbers. It's not going to happen, though, is it? More likely, if Alamy want to clean their hands of this cash they will just give it to their charity. Or maybe they will just keep it. The sales must have amounted to thousands of dollars a month.

Can you all, that found your pictures in his portfolio, please send an email to Alamy. Because his account is still active.

Quote from: Dook on October 25, 2014, 10:34
Can you all, that found your pictures in his portfolio, please send an email to Alamy. Because his account is still active.

I'm not sure how many employees Alamy has working over the weekend.
If anyone has files stolen and sells on Alamy, you could contact their MS (I think their Indian MS members work weekends, but could be wrong about that) and also perhaps post on 'Ask the forum' to ask the fastest way to contact them over weekends.
I'd do it, but I'm not successful enough to be copied.
Interesting how going through that port clearly shows his strategy of searching/copying first one subject, then another and uploading them in blocks.

All images removed! 

Quote from: CCK on October 25, 2014, 12:53
All images removed! 

Nope.  Still there.

Actually, it's a pity this was the thread with follow-ups and the Alamy thread was garbaged, because there isn't much chance that anyone from Alamy will look at a thread on the SS forum.

Quote from: ShadySue on October 25, 2014, 13:15
Actually, it's a pity this was the thread with follow-ups and the Alamy thread was garbaged, because there isn't much chance that anyone from Alamy will look at a thread on the SS forum.

Agree! Looks like some do not want anyone to know. Even aggrieved contributors responding this thread complained about duplication on Alamy thread.

Quote from: max headroom on October 25, 2014, 13:20

Quote from: ShadySue on October 25, 2014, 13:15
Actually, it's a pity this was the thread with follow-ups and the Alamy thread was garbaged, because there isn't much chance that anyone from Alamy will look at a thread on the SS forum.

Agree! Looks like some do not want anyone to know. Even aggrieved contributors responding this thread complained about duplication on Alamy thread.

Sorry, didn't realise they were in different folders. Maybe this entire thread could be transferred to the Alamy forum.

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on October 25, 2014, 13:28

Quote from: max headroom on October 25, 2014, 13:20

Quote from: ShadySue on October 25, 2014, 13:15
Actually, it's a pity this was the thread with follow-ups and the Alamy thread was garbaged, because there isn't much chance that anyone from Alamy will look at a thread on the SS forum.

Agree! Looks like some do not want anyone to know. Even aggrieved contributors responding this thread complained about duplication on Alamy thread.

Sorry, didn't realise they were in different folders. Maybe this entire thread could be transferred to the Alamy forum.

Actually both or more threads of different agencies should exist so that everyone can be aware of the situation of such an important issue for all of us.

Here we are on Alamy thread and left behind the copyright owners of stolen images in shutterstock thread unaware. Thief in Alamy must be happy now!

There's no pleasing some people.

If you open a thread about one issue in every single forum you end up with a completely fragmented conversation.  Maybe it would be OK to post a thread redirecting to this one?

Quote from: max headroom on October 25, 2014, 13:57
Here we are on Alamy thread and left behind the copyright owners of stolen images in shutterstock thread unaware. Thief in Alamy must be happy now!

Are the stolen images only available from SS? I thought SS didn't believe in exclusivity, artist or images?

Quote from: ShadySue on October 25, 2014, 14:05

Quote from: max headroom on October 25, 2014, 13:57
Here we are on Alamy thread and left behind the copyright owners of stolen images in shutterstock thread unaware. Thief in Alamy must be happy now!

Are the stolen images only available from SS? I thought SS didn't believe in exclusivity, artist or images?

Nope, images could be from every agencies but I have opened in SS thread due to it is the number one. Now watch how low will the viewer and quoted people number be in this "unfragmented" thread.

Quote from: max headroom on October 25, 2014, 14:09

Quote from: ShadySue on October 25, 2014, 14:05

Quote from: max headroom on October 25, 2014, 13:57
Here we are on Alamy thread and left behind the copyright owners of stolen images in shutterstock thread unaware. Thief in Alamy must be happy now!

Are the stolen images only available from SS? I thought SS didn't believe in exclusivity, artist or images?

Nope, images could be from every agencies but I have opened in SS thread due to it is the number one. Now watch how low will the viewer and quoted people number be in this thread.

A quick sample google search shows some of these images at a wide range of other legitimate and not-so-legitimate sites.
I'd think that the link post should be on ImageSleuth, i.e. a post there linking to this thread on Alamy. Hopefully someone from Alamy might see it sooner rather than later.
Indeed, I just tried one, which isn't actually on SS, but is on DT.

Quote from: ShadySue on October 25, 2014, 11:15

Interesting how going through that port clearly shows his strategy of searching/copying first one subject, then another and uploading them in blocks.

I think he's downloading those  theme packages from pirate sites, that's why they are in blocks.

I hit the agree button ten times but it only gave you one. 

Yes that was my immediate thought. I hope the agencies keep track so the same collection, doesn't just come back again, under a new name.

Another thing is, with the checks and balances, don't people have to provide ID and get verified? (which some people resent... ) Shouldn't this persons personal info be saved as well to help prevent future abuse or a new account, repeating the same?

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on October 25, 2014, 10:08
It would be helpful if the agencies would set up a database of stolen images that automatically flagged up any image going through inspection that had previously been identified in an account full of stolen material. Some agencies already identify and automatically reject duplicate uploads, so it's perfectly possible to do it. It would be a very imperfect way of catching thieves but at least it would prevent people like this guy from repuloading the same files and would catch anyone else trying to steal the same files (it looks as if these may simply have been sorted by most popular and then downloaded - if several thieves use that technique then it might be possible to identify or deter a number of them and make them resort to more time-consuming methods of harvesting files).
Whether any of the sites love us enough to make what would probably be a fairly modest change to the approval process is questionable, but it would help their image and save time for their reviewers if they did.

Had a job finding this thread. Might be more noticeable in 'General Stock Photography'.