Watermarked images in many sites

[madelaide]

I occasionally use Tineye to check if I find some images. Today I found the same image in FOUR sites, all with LuckyOliver's thumbnails. 

I'll email these sites to see if admin takes proper action, but we are really a bit helpless with sites that disappear, aren't we?
http://media.photobucket.com/image/sun%20love%20cartoon/kalikee/LO-cartoon_sun_gradient_color-50758.jpg?o=1
http://screen-wipes.co.uk/index.php?main_page=page&id=45&chapter=0    (the same cartoon sun down the page)
http://www.squidoo.com/canon-g9-powershot
http://photos.ibibo.com/photos/viewphoto/579e8837ca6930024bbde2c7a995b52442-v1/102584

Regards,
Adelaide

[vonkara]

The thing with tineye is that I only found the same size images than the preview I use on Istock for example. I always wonder if they don't just clone up the watermarks and use them on their sites

The lucky oliver watemarks don't do their jobs at all

[madelaide]

Yes, LO watermarks were useless, and the guys using my images could have used them unwatermarked and I would have never known they had not purchased them.   

Two of those sites are photosharing, two are business sites using my images.  I wrote to all of them.

The worst part is that I can't take any legal action against them, in case they maintain images online.  Is there a microstock agencies union or such?   

Regards,
Adelaide

[zstoimenov]

Is there a microstock agencies union or such?   

This is not a bad idea

[madelaide]

It may sound insane as they are competitors, but I think none of them wants their business harmed.

Regards,
Adelaide

[Fred]

If these guys http://screen-wipes.co.uk/index.php?main_page=page&id=45&chapter=0 are thumbing their nose at Fox - using the Simpsons image.  What chance have we got?

fred

[madelaide]

Just an update, the two commercial websites are still showing the image.  Photobucket removed the image and sent me an email (automated thing, it seems); Ibibo simply removed it.

Regards,
Adelaide

[madelaide]

Squidoo management replied that I should discuss this directly with the page owner (they're a type of blog site) and only if he doesn't reply, then they will "review the material and, if appropriate, lock the lens from view." (they call each page a "lens").

Regards,
Adelaide

[travelstock]

Squidoo management replied that I should discuss this directly with the page owner (they're a type of blog site) and only if he doesn't reply, then they will "review the material and, if appropriate, lock the lens from view." (they call each page a "lens").

Regards,
Adelaide

Their response sounds like they're opening themselves up to be sued by all manner of people. While hosts for blog style sites can't be responsible for all the content, when they are notified of a copyright violation, they can't just pass it off as not being their responsibility - if they just leave it there, they can effectively become responsible for breach in copyright and liable in damages. 

[RGebbiePhoto]

Hmmm...
I think a well phrased email might take care of that...

"I noticed an image of mine on your website.  I also noticed that it has a company watermark on it, which means it wasn't paid for.  Squidoo has informed me that if you do not remove this image in a timely manner, the entire page that my image appears on will be locked and unviewable.  Now, I don't want to lock your blog down, so if you would be so kind as to remove the image, I would be happy to contact Squidoo and tell them you are in compliance.  Thank you very much!"

heh