MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => Image Sleuth => Topic started by: adventtr on January 09, 2023, 01:21
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Edit: Portfolio link is finally inactive now, I hope the damage is minimal for all the hard working, good artists here.
I was shocked to find out that a guy with user name Shoaib_Mughal sells stolen images from my Istock exclusive portfolio and other exclusive images from Istockphoto contributors. (I dont't tell that he tried to copy them, he sells exactly the same files!) I have been an Istock exclusive contributor for 15 years and this is the first time I see such a large quantity of images being stolen and used freely beside warez websites of the past and telegram groups. I have already informed Istock and Getty officials about this. There are many exclusive contributors who still haven't seen their best selling images sold at a Shutterstock portfolio. The worst part is; intellectual properties that were destined to be never sold in any other stock agencies are among Shutterstock's best selling assets now!
If a Shutterstock official reads this by chance; I think you already now what has to be done, please act now!
User portfolio link:
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/GoStock1 (https://www.shutterstock.com/g/GoStock1)
Some links of copied images from my portfolio:
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/3d-illustration-of-two-retro-joysticks-illuminated-with-blue-and-purple-lights-gm1372528763-441608088 (https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/3d-illustration-of-two-retro-joysticks-illuminated-with-blue-and-purple-lights-gm1372528763-441608088)
https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/3d-illustration-two-retro-joysticks-illuminated-2179903095 (https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/3d-illustration-two-retro-joysticks-illuminated-2179903095)
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/plant-growing-inside-the-flower-pot-shaped-cogwheel-in-motion-sustainable-industrial-gm1384613635-443815202 (https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/plant-growing-inside-the-flower-pot-shaped-cogwheel-in-motion-sustainable-industrial-gm1384613635-443815202)
https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/3d-rendering-plant-growing-inside-flower-2163508721 (https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/3d-rendering-plant-growing-inside-flower-2163508721)
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/conceptual-evtol-aircrafts-as-a-taxi-shuttle-service-at-the-helipad-on-top-of-a-gm1394967815-450245371 (https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/conceptual-evtol-aircrafts-as-a-taxi-shuttle-service-at-the-helipad-on-top-of-a-gm1394967815-450245371)
https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/conceptual-evtol-electric-vertical-takeoff-landing-2178098953 (https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/conceptual-evtol-electric-vertical-takeoff-landing-2178098953)
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/conceptual-evtol-aircraft-flying-against-a-dense-forest-background-gm1394968453-450246084 (https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/conceptual-evtol-aircraft-flying-against-a-dense-forest-background-gm1394968453-450246084)
https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/conceptual-evtol-electric-vertical-takeoff-landing-2178098379 (https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/conceptual-evtol-electric-vertical-takeoff-landing-2178098379)
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/bull-and-bear-gm1396419261-451178993?phrase=bear (https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/bull-and-bear-gm1396419261-451178993?phrase=bear)
https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/stylized-low-poly-bull-bear-standing-2178098421 (https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/stylized-low-poly-bull-bear-standing-2178098421)
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/3d-illustration-of-root-canal-treatment-gm1312288228-401139929?phrase=tooth (https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/3d-illustration-of-root-canal-treatment-gm1312288228-401139929?phrase=tooth)
https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/3d-rendering-illustration-root-canal-treatment-2163508713 (https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/3d-rendering-illustration-root-canal-treatment-2163508713)
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/red-carpet-to-the-stage-gm175262280-22520242?phrase=red%20carpet (https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/red-carpet-to-the-stage-gm175262280-22520242?phrase=red%20carpet)
https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/red-carpet-gold-stanchions-velvet-ropes-2171378563 (https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/red-carpet-gold-stanchions-velvet-ropes-2171378563)
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/trombone-gm466504958-60502016?phrase=trombone (https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/trombone-gm466504958-60502016?phrase=trombone)
https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/3d-rendering-trombone-isolated-on-white-2163508667 (https://www.shutterstock.com/tr/image-illustration/3d-rendering-trombone-isolated-on-white-2163508667)
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You will need to contact Shutterstock's compliance department to get this portfolio taken down
[email protected]
They aren't always speedy at doing this and filing DMCA takedown notices is another option where it's your own work that's been used. They aren't as quick as they should be at addressing these issues (which should never occur if they were properly assessing submissions, especially from new contributors) so you may need to chase them up.
Not sure if iStock can help (in the past they would probably have) but that's another avenue to try
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This stuff is so rampant. People making money off the backs of good, solid artists. Pisses me off.
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I am curious what happens when they take down a big portfolio like this - as far as I know they make no effort to find the actual image owners to pay, so my guess is SS just pockets all the $ they haven't paid out yet - this could be part of their new business model - allow fraudulent ports and then keep 100% of the sales - of course they keep so much of every sale anyway bumping it up to 100% probably isn't worth the effort and risk.
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The shutterstock portfolio looks like it has been removed. I tried a search for it through Google and it showed a contributor GoStock1 but the link to the port also turned up a 404 page.
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I am curious what happens when they take down a big portfolio like this - as far as I know they make no effort to find the actual image owners to pay, so my guess is SS just pockets all the $ they haven't paid out yet - this could be part of their new business model - allow fraudulent ports and then keep 100% of the sales - of course they keep so much of every sale anyway bumping it up to 100% probably isn't worth the effort and risk.
This would be a really poor business, as they probably can keep only this month revenue