freepic.com seems to be a site that very closely copies best selling vectors�and outright steals some�and gives them away for free. I see ripoffs of some of mine.

freepic.com seems to be a site that very closely copies best selling vectors

This has been uploaded by "MacroZone" to iStock about 2 weeks ago on 12-23-2015
� "MacroZone": http://www.istockphoto.com/vector/red-reflective-shiny-heart-on-isolated-white-background-81892141

This one is online for 3 years:
� "freepik.com": http://www.freepik.com/free-vector/free-colorful-glass-hearts_596683.htm

They mainly use bots to trawl other sites for images then offer them on their site, mostly from warez sites as far as I can work out, then charge for subs if you don't want to have to provide attribution, yes for images that aren't even theirs to begin with.

They are pretty much monsters in my opinion. They approached me a while back asking if I would give them my work in exchange for X amount per however many thousand downloads (can't remember the numbers). The scary thing about that is that they obviously see what they are doing as somehow legit if they approaching copyright holders. 

I would noify SS Shelma

http://www.freepik.com/about

Examples of work that has been lifted has already been linked to. The above explains their "model" What else did you want?

Copyright infringement by "MacroZone"

Christmas Wreath
� "MacroZone": http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup?id=79688241
From Shutterstock � "ajdebre": http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-162776804/stock-photo-christmas-wreath-with-baubles-and-red-bow-isolated.html

Colorful hearts
� "MacroZone": http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup?id=81892205
From � "thevectorart": http://www.freepik.com/free-vector/free-colorful-glass-hearts_596683.htm

http://www.freepik.com/about

Examples of work that has been lifted has already been linked to. The above explains their "model" What else did you want?

They seem to produce close copies of existing popular works, which is completely different than what you said they do.

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on January 07, 2016, 14:46

http://www.freepik.com/about

Examples of work that has been lifted has already been linked to. The above explains their "model" What else did you want?

They seem to produce close copies of existing popular works, which is completely different than what you said they do.

No. They claim to be a search engine pulling work from other sites on the Internet.  Then they say you have to attribute it to them or pay for a subscription. As I described. Where are you getting the impression that they are producing their own work? Just read their about page or email them and ask. They were open about what they are doing.

ETA, yes I dug up some old correspondence. They index from external websites, the examples they gave include "allfreedownloads dot com" a warez site as far as I'm concerned. So, yes, they double down on hiding behind DMCAs.

What is Freepik's business model? What's their main source of income? Looks like a business pretending to be all modern, 'great designs should be shared for free' hipster nonsense.

They also charge for allowing you to use the work without attributing it.

Hi everyone,

I am Luisa, Head of Marketing Communication at Freepik.

Michele, first of all, we want to inform you that the images which you've indicated have been deactivated and we have taken actions against the person who has designed them.

Certainly the designer was inspired in your work and so we decided to take them off Freepik. We review each design and we always demand that the designs should be original, but in this case we have been deceived too.

I also would like to explain to all Freepik�s business model for you to understand where our revenues come from and what has happened with Shelma.

The site began as a search engine of free images and it used to take free images from the internet and it used to index them.

Then we started to produce our own content. For this we have a team of designers, from different locations around the world, who work with us creating exclusive resources.

Finally, we recently launched a system of contributors, where designers can upload their content and earn money for every download they get through their illustrations. In this case, the content is not exclusive of Freepik and each resource is credited to the author. As a result, this is a very beneficial system and all designers who work through this system are very satisfied with their earnings. Sometimes even earning more than in other stock websites.

The companies main earnings come from the advertisements we do with Shutterstock and Google Adsense, and of course with the premium plans we offer. With this premium plans, users can use the illustrations of Freepik without any attribution. (Our images are free, but you need to credit the author, whereas the premium subscribers can use them without any attribution).

As you can see, our business model of offering free images is unique compared to other companies business model and it is beneficial for both users and designers. We'd love to know your point of view regarding this and please do not hesistate in asking any questions or doubts you would have regarding this..

Sorry again, Michele.

Best regards

I'm sure Freepik will say that they are just indexing allfreedownload.com (the real site has dashes between the words) and the voilation is not theirs. And I think they have point. The allfreedownload.com is a major violator, but the use the Shutterstock API, so they have been vetted and apporved by Shutterstock. If Shutterstock shut down their API access, they would not exist. Shutterstock is funding sites like this who are very careless with their content. So complain to Shutterstock, not Freepik. Shutterstock should do a better job researching their API partners.