i called shutterstock 2 times and nothing, first they said they don`t have support for submiters, i left my phone, and they said they gonna try to find someone who can help me, they said if i have any questions i need to write email to suppot, until now nothing. second time, same answer,

Quote from: click_click on July 12, 2011, 18:16
I assume you are asking if family member of yours are allowed to upload images to Shutterstock using new accounts, is that correct?

AFAIK, yes you can do that but you need to contact Shutterstock first. I'm not sure if they will honor the referral commission. But if another person of the fmaily wants to create a new account, that shouldn't be a problem.

Contact SS first, to prevent your account being blocked once they get suspicious about fraud etc.

yes, something like that, but i have family members and friends at shutterstock, and now they have problems, because they related with me, but also i have friends who don`t have problems.

can i join friends and familly at shutterstock? can i tell them for shutterstock, and this opportunity to sell they photos. is this allowed or not? Can i promote shutterstock in this way?

Quote from: cclapper on May 20, 2011, 18:35
So I see the title changed from "Shutterstock account terminated" to just plain "Shutterstock account". Does that mean they reinstated your account, copyright design?

No, i didn`t receive nothing, still terminated, i will call them next time, and i will inform you what answer i received, i need to take a brake, i can wait, i don`t like when same things are delayed, like wait, we are working on your case, wait, and wait, how long, so i asked few questions, because i read on forum that there are cases when they didn`t receive mail.

this gone too far, so people do not use filters, i think the case is closed, i did something wrong, and that`s it i am terminated. do not use filters

Quote from: cclapper on May 19, 2011, 17:12
The way you keep posting the name of the filter and links to it is actually making me think that perhaps this has all been made up just to get traffic to the filter site! You don't have any links to YOUR portfolio, only to someone else's. Or maybe the someone else's port on 123 is in fact your port and you have also improved traffic to your own port.

edit: in fact, you are even telling US to go download the filter to see how it works when we're saying stay away from 3rd party filters!

You certainly got a lot of people talking about this. I'm smelling something fishy.

how many people said that this is mine portfolio
Original image here -- http://www.123rf.com/photo_2196537_retro-filmstrip.html

a lot, see my forum or thread, i don`t know how is calling, so this 123rf portfolio is not mine. read carefully,
this 123r portfolio is not mine

second, do you now what is filter forge, if you know, there is no more need to mention, ok , i didn`t copy elements, i didn`t trace or whatever, you all know what is that software, so now there is no need to mention. or its more easy to tell that i copied.

Now you all now what is this software and how this filters work, now there is no need to mention ever again.

ok

Quote from: sjlocke on May 19, 2011, 13:31
Sorry, I'm going to disagree.  If you're going to accept something that is the result of a button push from someone, you've got to accept it from everyone.  First come, first serve doesn't work in this case.

i think same thing, why all other can do and use that software, but i can`t, when using filter forge at shutterstock, its important to be first, then you have full rights, but when someone upload after you, you need to explain a lot of things...

Quote from: Perry on May 19, 2011, 11:52

Quote from: copyrightdesign on May 17, 2011, 16:15
The person making the complaint is requesting that Shutterstock take appropriate steps against you. Prior to taking any further steps, we are inviting you to respond to this claim.

I really cannot understand how another submitter can make a complaint about an image that isn't already for sale?

This sounds just too strange, and makes it hard to believe the OP doesn't have anything to hide.

One thing that also pops into my mind: Did Shutterstock ever get the OP's reply at all?

Yes, same question here, my photo was never approved, i didn`t receive status of uploaded image, just warning email, they show me my photo without shuttestock watermark in attach email, so this means that photo was never approved, when they approve photo, your photo at shutterstock must have wattermark, and they show me simillar photo from 123rf agency, created with this filter, there is no need to copy nothing if you are using filter forge, it creates every time simillar photo. and i don`t know who is original copyright owner of this black elements or frame, i think its   author of this filter.
but shutterstock don`t think like that

shuttestock told me to wait,  that i need to wait, and be patient, they are working on my case, i was patient for almost 4 months, from the end of december 2010, to april 2011, i think its enough time, i just follow what they said, shutterstock is boss, i am just little worker, at the bottom, i am not big player
shutterstock is best agency ever, but for me its not anymore because i am terminated

Quote from: Microbius on May 19, 2011, 11:28
I guess because the OP says he emailed Shutterstock with links to the Filter Forge website demonstrating why there was a similarity between the images and Shutterstock still closed his account.
Assuming this is true then it's either the filter use that's the problem, or Shutterstock chose to ignore him, or it's about a totally different image.

yes, i wrote to them immediate, i said its filter forge, after that send links, everything, what i could, and this is all i got, i don`t know, maybe there some other image, but they didn`t told me nothing else.

Quote from: Phil on May 19, 2011, 10:19
filterforge will produce the same image time and again, the person creating the filter sets up settings they like (called presets) as examples, the person using the filter can use the preset settings or adjust to their own taste. So it is possible for dozens of people to produce the exact same image (and for each person to own the copyright of their own individual image) hence using the preset settings really isnt a good idea.

true, i now it`s bad idea, i did make a mistake using filter forge and this filter in question, i started to use in june 2010. bad decision

Quote from: KuriousKat on May 19, 2011, 08:33
I have been reading this forum for a long time but haven't contributed before now. However, I have been following this thread with interest, as I guess everyone of us worries about the possibility of this happening to us.

I am confused though. The OP refers us to Shutterstock's email which includes:

Shutterstock Images LLC ("Shutterstock") has discovered that an image you are attempting to submit to your portfolio has elements that are copies of another person's work and, therefore, belong to that individual or entity:

67635457 -- "film frame" (see attached thumbnail)
Original image here -- http://www.123rf.com/photo_2196537_retro-filmstrip.html

He is not saying that he is the creator of the work on 123RF, he links to his image at the bottom of his original post here:

and this is mine photo, without shutterstock watermark, because my photo was never approved
http://copyrightdesign.webs.com/apps/blog/show/7074417-my-photo

If you look carefully at both the images you will see that they are slightly different.

The creator of the work on 123RF has a very large and active portfolio on Shutterstock, and my guess is that the OP uploaded his image and a reviewer spotted how uncannily similar it was to an existing image in another port.

I have now idea how this particular filter works, but does it just create an image that could look the same time and time again?

Yes this is 100% true, you just need to read carefully, i used filter forge to create my photo, http://www.filterforge.com/, this is original filter created by ZEPHOS http://www.filterforge.com/filters/2190.html
according to filter forge EULA i can use final image render for personal or commercial use. this software creates this kind of photos, almost every filter has variations, for example metal background, you can choose color, variations, and photo is never 100 % same, but in this case, this black film frame has no variations, it`s same in every case, you can change only position, but background has variations, and color and photo it`s not 100% same.

you can download trial and see how filter forge works http://www.filterforge.com/download/

just need to read carefully and few times to be sure that is all correct

Quote from: gostwyck on May 18, 2011, 22:49
From your posting of the email from BigStock;

"We discovered serious copyright infringement issues within your portfolio of
images on Shutterstock Images, LLC. Based upon our investigation, we have
determined that you made a material misrepresentation to Shutterstock Images, LLC."

Sorry mate but it sounds to me that there may be rather more to this issue than you are actually disclosing to us. Shutterstock did not act in haste and only terminated your account several weeks after they suspended it. The time-scale alone suggests that the matter may have been properly investigated by Shutterstock before taking the action that they did.

i show you all information that i recived from them, what i recived from them, what is reason, maybe they discovered something, but i don`t  know what, they ask me only about this photo, and photo was the reason, i think, they didn`t told me nothing else, so to my opinion the reason is this photo created with filter forge, i wouldn`t waste time to speak something without sense...

Quote from: velocicarpo on May 18, 2011, 22:18

Quote from: copyrightdesign on May 18, 2011, 22:10
OK, this is all my imagination, i didn`t receive this email from shutterstock, i am guiltly because i used filter forge, i didn`t work at shutterstock, ALL OTHERS ARE RIGHT, just keep uploading... and make money, you all have rights to create what you want. my account is terminated. shutterstock is right. everybody are happy.

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST


I AM AWAKE....

Duuuude, calm down...nobody is forbidding you to speak or whatever. It is understandable that you are upset when you tell the truth, but you will have to understand that the community cannot trust everybodys word when he was previously unknown. Showing your Port would have been an advantage to you, but off course you are not "obligated" to. Just relax a bit...

I am calm, my best agency was shutterstock, on bigstock i had about 50 photos, on others i didn`t have nothing special, less than 500 photos, with low sales, like i said before i had filter forge  photos, metals, wood, textures....this is my house i can show you or not, that is my full right. Shutterstock has own house and they own rules, i was thinking that maybe they are wrong about my case...

OK, this is all my imagination, i didn`t receive this email from shutterstock, i am guiltly because i used filter forge, i didn`t work at shutterstock, ALL OTHERS ARE RIGHT, just keep uploading... and make money, you all have rights to create what you want. my account is terminated. shutterstock is right. everybody are happy.

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST


I AM AWAKE....

Quote from: Starbucks on May 18, 2011, 21:53
No, because I need to retain my anonymity. My portfolio has nothing to do with the issue you have brought up in this post, but your portfolio absolutely does. It should be quite obvious why I requested to see your other images. Your anger over this is understandable, but you can't possibly expect us to side with you based on incomplete information provided from only one side of the altercation.

A few Google searches have revealed that you created several blogs, one named "SHUTTERSTOCK IS BAD". A quote from one of your all-caps posts:

"IF SOMETHING HAPPEN TO ME OR MY BLOG, THAT IS SHUTTERSTOCK, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DESTROY ME IN ANY WAY, THIS IS THE TRUTH"

The irrationality of statements like this really damage your side of the argument. I will, of course, not post links to this because of your wish to remain hidden.

I don`t understand this, i said i am using filter forge, and it`s forbidden at shutterstock, i said what happend to me, i said what i saw, i had filter forge photos and that`s it . I UNDERSTAND IT`S FORBIDDEN TO SPEAK AT ANY WAY, OH MY GOD THIS MUST BE MY IMAGINATION, PLEASE WAKE ME UP, BECAUSE THIS MUST BE DREAM

Quote from: lisafx on May 18, 2011, 21:39

Quote from: copyrightdesign on May 18, 2011, 21:28

No, you have all information about this shutterstock case, and what happend to me, you can like it or not. That`s it. I never post anything on any forum, about somedy, i didn`t  make any complainsts. This happens to me, and because shutterstock terminated me, i wanted to share that information.

The best thing is not say nothing, i can be accused for saying my opinion, and what happend to me. That`s why i didn`t post nothing until now...

^^Condensing the relevant portions from two of your posts.  

I think this may be the problem you are encountering.  Never having posted in this forum before, you have not established a reputation.  Shutterstock, on the other hand, has a very good reputation with most of us on these forums.  

You may very well have been treated unfairly by Shutterstock.  Or you may just be a crank.  Since you are unknown on these forums, there is no way for any of us to tell.  

A few months back a long time contributor to these forums had a similar issue with Shutterstock.  He got a lot more sympathy and support because we all knew him and he had a reputation to back him up.  He has since completely vanished, but that's another story...

If you never bothered with this forum before, why do you care what anyone here thinks now?  I am not sure what type of validation or support you were hoping for by posting in a forum full of complete strangers...  

I never used forum, in any way, i am not using facebook, i am not that kind of person, almost every day i am at computer, i am creating photos, reading books, watching tutorials, i am not moving at all, and now i need to be on forum to be seriously, almost 3 years at shutterstock, that is not serious. ok. i wrote to one submiter who has similar case, about some recycle sign, and his account was blocked, but he is online, and he told me i can wrote to shutterstock or microstock forum, so i did. i wanted to hear what others think about my case? so now and that is forbidden.

attack is best defense. i just post what happend to me, and what i saw, i am not blind, i said only what i saw...

Quote from: copyrightdesign on May 18, 2011, 21:14

Quote from: Starbucks on May 18, 2011, 21:08
Well then my conclusion is that you have something to hide.

yes, i hide, i am using photoshop, filter forge, 3d studio max.... and other graphic program like many others. you now everything. i  can be accused for anything. no thanks. mostly i worked on shutterstock, i had metal backgrounds, textures, almost that type of photos, like many other filte forge user, i am using filter forge, but according to shutterstock that is not allowed,

can i see your portfolio?

If i hide something, i will never post on this forum, ever, i was blocked for 4 months, and follow what shutterstock told me about my case, i used filter forge, it`s bad and not moral, but i saw that everybody is using, that`s it. Ok i am bad person,  and i hide something, i don`t know what,

The best thing is not say nothing, i can be accused for saying my opinion, and what happend to me. That`s why i didn`t post nothing until now...

Quote from: Starbucks on May 18, 2011, 21:08
Well then my conclusion is that you have something to hide.

yes, i hide, i am using photoshop, filter forge, 3d studio max.... and other graphic program like many others. you now everything. i  can be accused for anything. no thanks. mostly i worked on shutterstock, i had metal backgrounds, textures, almost that type of photos, like many other filte forge user, i am using filter forge, but according to shutterstock that is not allowed,

can i see your portfolio?

Quote from: Starbucks on May 18, 2011, 20:45
Can we get links to your potfolio on other microstock sites? Your other images might provide a helpful context to this discussion. Thanks.

No, you have all information about this shutterstock case, and what happend to me, you can like it or not. That`s it. I never post anything on any forum, about somedy, i didn`t  make any complainsts. This happens to me, and because shutterstock terminated me, i wanted to share that information.

the truth is that everybody is using filter forge without limit. I would like to show you how many submiters are using filter forge. they all have websites, they all working at all microstock agencies, they are creative, some studios....they can create what they want, they have magic, but when look better you will see its filter forge.

i would like to hear that someone else is terminated beside me, because he has used filter forge to create some photo, until now i didn`t hear that someone is terminated because he used filter forge.

since i am terminated i have a lot time, and am exploring shutterstock, and every filter forge user  that i discovered at shutterstock, they are all still online, with every day new filter forge photos.

shutterstock policy for them is, you can do what you want......with filter forge....

Quote from: sjlocke on May 18, 2011, 16:23
'You have a filter that can put a picture frame around an image. I'm sure there are many of these. If you put a frame around one of your images and submit it, you are using the filter for its intended purpose and that is legal. If you put the frame around a blank image and submit that for the buyer to insert their own image or copy in the blank space, you are, in effect, stealing their filter and reselling it.'

Not really.  You may be selling the results if using the filter, which is clearly allowed, but you certainly aren't selling the filter itself.

I think same, i am not selling filter, only final image render....

this is email from filter forge support

What concerns your rights to use Filter Forge in commercial purposes, according to our EULA you are free to do it -- filter authors hold the copyright to the filter files proper (.ffxml files), while the copyright to the final rendered images belongs to the end user, i.e. you.

However, I'd recommend that you read the microstock regulations and terms of use carefully -- perhaps, they somehow specify and restrict the use of images made with third-party filters. I'd also recommend that you contact them directly -- hopefully they'll be able to explain the situation and take into account our policy regarding the end user's copyright to the rendered images.

i wouldn`t open new account at bigstock even if they pay me... 

and my account at bigstock is terminated, because shutterstock own bigstock, i had about 50 photos, uploaded long time ago, when bigstock was not owned by shutterstock, i didn`t have this photo at bigstock, and i had 2 dollars in earnings, i hope they are happy with this 2 dollars....

Quote from: Microbius on May 18, 2011, 14:43
Been thinking a bit more about this.

It's all very weird, so they just now disabled your account even though they originally asked you to respond by 30th December to avoid account closure?
Are you sure the two things are related and they didn't just shut you down for another reason altogether.
I mean it seems all the Filter Forge stuff was going on 5 months ago or more. Shutterstock are usually very quick to shut down an account if they even get a sniff of a problem.

I think that the email posted in the original post may be a bit of a red herring.

I reckon someone made a new complaint about another file and Shutterstock just figured "this guy's getting to be more trouble than he's worth, bye"

I received warning email 23.december 2010. I wrote immediate to them, same day, and explainded its created by photoshop filter forge.  My account was disabled or blocked,  then i received this answer 27. december

This issue is currently being reviewed with our legal department.  Be advised that this may take some time.  Your portfolio will remain suspended until the investigation is complete.  I will be contacting you if we require any additional information.

and this email is from 25. february 2011 , after 2 months

As originally stated, this issue is under review by our Legal department.  It
is not necessary to continually send emails.  You need to be patient while
your issue is reviewed & you will be contacted when a decision is made.

Consider this matter closed and you will hear from us when a decision is made
regarding your account.

I was patient 4 months. i just asked about my case, nothing else, because i saw on forum that shutterstock sometimes not receive emails from submiters. So now its forbidden to ask?