Is your image unwatermarked on FAA? If so, that could be the source. IS will only even think about helping if you're exclusive with them. If you're exclusive, you're not supposed to approach users without contacting them first. Also, they need us to wait three months from first noticing a suspected misuse, as with subs and PA, it can take that long for a sale to show up to you. Insanity: this applies even for a disallowed end use, or if a file has iS watermarks. About as useful as a chocolate teapot. If you're sure it couldn't have been lifted from FAA, you could try contacting support, but IME, they'll just throw the 3 months thing at you. Let's hope Google get back to you. Doesn't the photo on Google Maps have a name/credit? Usually I see a name.

My photos on FAA do not show up on google maps. 

I haven't noticed if mine do, but I have noticed my watermarked FAA files out in the wild, so I know images get lifted from there.

Giant previews and tiny corner watermarks are a downside to uploading there.

I agree, but if you look at big name artists or art photographers, their sites usually don't feature watermarked images, and their pics are normally pretty big.

Google should reply, though and I hope the OP will feed back.
Aren't Google and Getty supposed to be in cahoots about copyright?

Quote from: trek on July 30, 2018, 12:46

Giant previews and tiny corner watermarks are a downside to uploading there.

I agree, but if you look at big name artists or art photographers, their sites usually don't feature watermarked images, and their pics are normally pretty big.

Google should reply, though and I hope the OP will feed back.
Aren't Google and Getty supposed to be in cahoots about copyright?

Yes, I have received an auto-reply from Google. It will take a while.

I did not contact the user. ... I did ask Google if it purchased the image.

That's what we're not supposed to do.
Contract 11c: "You agree that iStock shall have the right to determine whether and to what extent to proceed against a licensee or other third party (an �Infringer�) for any violation of a license agreement or alleged infringement of any other of your rights. "
(That same sentence is 10c in the non-exclusive contract.)

They've been quite stroppy about this from time to time in the forums (more the old forums), but to be honest, they're not much help about chasing things up, and often don't get back to you (but you discover the file has been taken down, whether by their intervention or not is guesswork).

Have we all really got the spare time to worry about a single image appearing on Google Maps???

You seem to have the time to write about not having time ...
Just move to another thread.

Quote from: Orchidpoet on July 30, 2018, 13:37

I did not contact the user. ... I did ask Google if it purchased the image.

That's what we're not supposed to do.
Contract 11c: "You agree that iStock shall have the right to determine whether and to what extent to proceed against a licensee or other third party (an �Infringer�) for any violation of a license agreement or alleged infringement of any other of your rights. "
(That same sentence is 10c in the non-exclusive contract.)

They've been quite stroppy about this from time to time in the forums (more the old forums), but to be honest, they're not much help about chasing things up, and often don't get back to you (but you discover the file has been taken down, whether by their intervention or not is guesswork).

Thanks but I read the language differently. First, I have not determined anything. Secondly, I have not proceeded against anyone. I merely made an inquiry to Google. Google may merely be a media through which an user posted my image. Google may or not may not be responsible for it. When it comes to it, I will let Getty determine who is responsible and so on.

Quote from: ShadySue on July 30, 2018, 13:54

Quote from: Orchidpoet on July 30, 2018, 13:37

I did not contact the user. ... I did ask Google if it purchased the image.

That's what we're not supposed to do.
Contract 11c: "You agree that iStock shall have the right to determine whether and to what extent to proceed against a licensee or other third party (an �Infringer�) for any violation of a license agreement or alleged infringement of any other of your rights. "
(That same sentence is 10c in the non-exclusive contract.)

They've been quite stroppy about this from time to time in the forums (more the old forums), but to be honest, they're not much help about chasing things up, and often don't get back to you (but you discover the file has been taken down, whether by their intervention or not is guesswork).

Thanks but I read the language differently. First, I have not determined anything. Secondly, I have not proceeded against anyone. I merely made an inquiry to Google. Google may merely be a media through which an user posted my image. Google may or not may not be responsible for it. When it comes to it, I will let Getty determine who is responsible and so on.

It's not how you or I interpret the contract (which has always been deliberately obfuscatory, meaning they and their lawyers can interpret it however they like), it's what they say. They have threatened to terminate contracts of people who have contacted suspected abusers directly. (in the old forum). I personally don't mind what you do, ultimately it's your copyright, and they are sub-helpful. I just thought you should be aware of the possible issues.

Ho-hum: I knew there was another page which spelled their policy out more clearly. Took me ages to find a link to it, but when I got to the page, there was an error: "you don't seem to have access to this page", which was after I'd clicked on a linktext which said, I saw or heard my content being used but don't find that use on my royalty statement. in a list of link choices.  Same old incompetence.

When I was browsing a location through Google Maps, I saw my photo without watermark nor credit line.

This image is only available through iStock as RF, and on FA as art print (no sales history).

I wonder who puts my image there? Did Google purchase the image or an user steal the image and upload to Google?

I have sent an inquiry email to Google. Should I contact iStock as well?

Where on Google Maps? Did someone post it as a location photo or did Google use it. There's a huge difference. If it's user content, best you will get is a DMCA and Google is obliged to take it down.

Have we all really got the spare time to worry about a single image appearing on Google Maps???

"Get started in stock" and help enforce copyright infringement. If you don't you become part of the problem.