This is the same guy, right???

http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photography-two-loaves-fresh-bread-image27924997
http://depositphotos.com/portfolio-1489960.html

Has anyone reported him on these sites?

it appears DT still have his stuff up, but not elsewhere.

DT and DP has his ports still up. I am amazed that the pros arent all over this to get his ports down as quick as possible...

I was going to say the agencies are probably giving him special treatment because of the volume of his sales, but that's not the case on DT... he only has 390 images there and his downloads per image is only 0.44. 

I'm guessing DT is asleep at the wheel for the holidays.  Seems like there have been some serious lag time in reporting sales over the break, with the worst lags happening today.  (Do they have people manually pushing data through the system for reporting?  That's what it seems like when there are hours with no sales reported, then a huge wave at once, then another long gap with nothing.)

Quote from: stockmarketer on January 02, 2013, 15:45
I was going to say the agencies are probably giving him special treatment because of the volume of his sales, but that's not the case on DT... he only has 390 images there and his downloads per image is only 0.44. 

Unfortunately from my own experience I can say that Shutterstock at least, does favor some people. I have twice reported a situation when my work was copied (not directly stolen, but recreated to a degree that it was a clear plagiarism). In the first case they acted immediately and within a day or two the images were removed. The second time it took them a month to answer and informed me they won't do a thing. The second user had over 10 thousand images and was definitely doing very well (my guess is he's in the top50 at least).

By the way the MaxPhotographer's port is still online although with only 15 images. So it looks like you can do whatever you want and if you get caught the worst thing that can happen is that you won't be allowed to continue. You get to keep the money and keep your account.

Does someone know why his full port is online again with all 10790 images for sale. Including the ones with stolen backgrounds.

http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-161170p1.html

Unless SS have gone totally crazy it can only be because he has an agreement with the other photographers to use their work. Have we heard from anyone directly involved?

Quote from: jwolf on January 10, 2013, 13:27
Does someone know why his full port is online again with all 10790 images for sale. Including the ones with stolen backgrounds.

http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-161170p1.html

Thats bizarre..

OMG! does this mean that using others work as background is now allowed?

looks like only 123RF and FT decided to shut it down..

something needs to be done here, is the OP going to open a topic at SS?

I will not allow this to happen, don't care if it is a newbie or a top guy with 10k portfolio, this guy cannot sell our work as blurred backgrounds...

Quote from: jwolf on January 10, 2013, 13:27
Does someone know why his full port is online again with all 10790 images for sale. Including the ones with stolen backgrounds.

http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-161170p1.html

Sept. data:  192   MaxPhotographer   10653   23   179   99.9% photo, 0.1% illustration   31.12.2007

I wonder why they haven't done anything?

There must be an agreement between the photogs. Maybe a profit share on the image sales? If it was straightforward the images would at least be taken down.

Quote from: Microbius on January 12, 2013, 11:34
There must be an agreement between the photogs. Maybe a profit share on the image sales? If it was straightforward the images would at least be taken down.

there is no profit share because the pics talked in this topic were removed but the more curious is that yesterday there were still a few of the palm trees (with coconuts), today they are gone... SS seems to be generous with some contributors

Perhaps the close-up images are not hid either.  When you really look at the coffee cup it is obvious it is not actually sitting on the table.  I believe that's a Photoshop created shadow.

I could be here all day long.....

There is now a thread on SS about it!

And a few are claiming he is using their work so lets see what comes of this.

http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=127563

Quote from: ruxpriencdiam on January 12, 2013, 20:45
There is now a thread on SS about it!

And a few are claiming he is using their work so lets see what comes of this.

http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=127563

man I hope SS does the right thing this time because he was suspended, now back...

look at this one! (found by the owner, http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2450577#2450577)

I literally couldn't believe it could be what it seemed and ss didn't shut him down. I had too much faith in them. Won't make that mistake again

Quote from: Microbius on January 12, 2013, 21:28
I literally couldn't believe it could be what it seemed and ss didn't shut him down. I had too much faith in them. Won't make that mistake again

+1

I can't see any alternative but suspending this account ASAP - not very speedy action by SS - I'd have expected a lot better.....