I found one of my pictures on http://gaming.epsilonservice.com/?rwl=6wdo.asp with Dreamstime logo. Is this legal?
Should I contact Dreamstime?

No.
You may want to contact DT support...

Slightly different subject, I think I have heard a few times that it is ok to use images in a blog with a watermark. I'm wondering if anyone knows if this is true. Not that I am planning to do this, I buy all my images (or sometimes use free ones) for my own blog and wouldn't consider using an image with a watermark. I just want to know what the rule is for this, maybe someone knows.

No, it's not true at all. It's a myth that needs debunking.

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on July 18, 2011, 07:50
No, it's not true at all. It's a myth that needs debunking.

Cheers for that 

Quote from: Microstock Posts on July 18, 2011, 07:32
Slightly different subject, I think I have heard a few times that it is ok to use images in a blog with a watermark. I'm wondering if anyone knows if this is true. Not that I am planning to do this, I buy all my images (or sometimes use free ones) for my own blog and wouldn't consider using an image with a watermark. I just want to know what the rule is for this, maybe someone knows.

Didn't IS had some sort of plan in which bloggers would use an app that they would select an XS image for their blog for free and it would link back to IS?

Quote from: madelaide on July 18, 2011, 22:33
Didn't IS had some sort of plan in which bloggers would use an app that they would select an XS image for their blog for free and it would link back to IS?

Years ago Istock had a deal like that with Vox, but it was only limited to contributors who opted in to it. 

Blogs definitely can't display images with watermarks.  They have to buy licenses to use them just like everyone else, and considering that blog size images usually cost $1 or less, it's not much of a hardship, IMHO.

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on July 18, 2011, 07:50
No, it's not true at all. It's a myth that needs debunking.

Definitely. If someone is using your image with a watermark, they haven't bought the correct license, blog or not. Report it to DT or send a DMCA notice yourself, telling them they must purchase the correct license. Or find out who hosts the site and send them a letter, telling them the site is copyright infringing.

BTW, it's time to check four of these cases reported to FT weeks ago...

Quote from: cclapper on July 18, 2011, 23:43

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on July 18, 2011, 07:50
No, it's not true at all. It's a myth that needs debunking.

Definitely. If someone is using your image with a watermark, they haven't bought the correct license, blog or not. Report it to DT or send a DMCA notice yourself, telling them they must purchase the correct license. Or find out who hosts the site and send them a letter, telling them the site is copyright infringing.

The DMCA is US law. Other countries may treat copyright infringements in the web differently.
What happened if someone  has a domain name registered in the US but has his own server elsewhere. Is the company in the US liable in any way?

The DMCA is US law. Other countries may treat copyright infringements in the web differently.
What happened if someone  has a domain name registered in the US but has his own server elsewhere. Is the company in the US liable in any way?
[/quote]

If an agency has the watermark on an image, it's best to contact them. They loose royalties as you do (ok... some of them loose more if the contributor's royalty is just 15%). There it's still a lot of people who think, images found on internet are like money found on the street...

I did..... and nothing, no replay from DT so far.

Quote from: alexmk on July 23, 2011, 00:51
I did..... and nothing, no replay from DT so far.

Same for me, I reported a site using a watermarked image of Mine to DT about two weeks ago, nothing besides The friendly Auto Reply... Good luck to you!

Quote from: franky242 on July 23, 2011, 11:43

Quote from: alexmk on July 23, 2011, 00:51
I did..... and nothing, no replay from DT so far.

Same for me, I reported a site using a watermarked image of Mine to DT about two weeks ago, nothing besides The friendly Auto Reply... Good luck to you!

You pretty much have to handle it yourself. The agencies don't really have or want to take the time to track it all down. The money they make from us is earmarked for world travel, nice cars, second homes and the good life. 

Hello xxx,

Thank you for contacting us.
Yes, we will look into this. We have received many requests for this lately
since the new Google tool came out so we are unable to answer the requests
as quickly.


Kind Regards,

Erin xxxx
Customer Service Mgr.