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Author Topic: Stolen pictures on shutterstock?  (Read 16526 times)

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« on: March 10, 2017, 08:20 »
0
Hi everybody,

Does anybody know why https://www.shutterstock.com/g/ESB+Professional  exist? It looks like all stolen photo's or is it a test account of shutterstock itself? Or did somebody just stole our photo's and put the into another account?

Greetings, Robert


« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2017, 09:15 »
0
If you find your photos in that portfolio, you should alert Shutterstock to it. As far as I know, your images should only appear in your own portfolio.


edit: I will send an email to SS support on Mon. Hopefully they will investigate and do something. Since none of the images I found are mine, not sure they give a rats a$$ what I say, but this stuff hurts everyone.
« Last Edit: March 11, 2017, 08:48 by cathyslife »


Mir

« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2017, 10:08 »
0
What is your opinion about these two pictures, they are not the same but one of them seems very inspired from the other one. The first person has such a mixed portfolio.

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/set-cute-penguins-352431668?src=Vrdy30r2YLivsjj_TJ23Bg-2-66

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/cute-hand-drawn-penguins-set-merry-329821625

« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2017, 11:49 »
+1
Who stolen from who here is the question.

« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2017, 12:07 »
0
the images that have some added elements are stolen since it's a lot harder to subtract something from an image ;)

« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2017, 12:20 »
+1
the images that have some added elements are stolen since it's a lot harder to subtract something from an image ;)

On the other hand, it is easier to de-saturate that Westminster photo, than to add color to it.

Moreover check these 2, from the same two "competitors"

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/big-ben-sunny-day-london-223808896
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/big-ben-sunny-day-london-225089575

The clouds are identical, except for the sun flare added by Iakov Kalinin, so for me Iakov is the thief here.
« Last Edit: March 10, 2017, 12:42 by Zero Talent »

« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2017, 12:56 »
+2
Or these 2:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/big-ben-sunny-day-london-263670233?src=xJd1LeBPfO6Oiq89k1vHNg-1-8
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/big-ben-cup-coffee-london-uk-445101400


Again, uncanny identical clouds. Iakov clearly added that table and coffee cup in the foreground.

Iakov Kalinin seems to be the thief, unless we are dealing with the same author and two ports.

« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2017, 12:56 »
0
Multiple photographers could be sharing the same shoot in the case of the second and third examples of post #2, since the photos are not identical.

« Reply #9 on: March 10, 2017, 13:45 »
0
But look at the image numbers - ESB professional is 225,089,575 and Iakov Kalinin is 223,808,896. Not sure how you steal and get an *earlier* image number. And in ESB pro's port is an even earlier number of the same scene, 220,682,149

Plus if you look at ESB profession and pathdoc's portfolios there are other images where ESB professional has only one or two and the other artist a whole series

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/ESB+Professional?searchterm=lightbulb&search_source=base_gallery&language=en&sort=popular&safe=true
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/pathdoc?searchterm=light+bulb&search_source=base_gallery&language=en&sort=popular&safe=true

and

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/ESB+Professional?searchterm=money&search_source=base_gallery&language=en&sort=popular&safe=true
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/pathdoc?searchterm=money&search_source=base_gallery&language=en&sort=popular&safe=true

But then you have this almost identical pair and ESB Professional is the lower number - I did a quick look but couldn't find a common source (I wondered if they were both taking images from another person and adding their own lens flare)

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/people-bokeh-street-london-223809385
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/people-bokeh-street-london-221639851

If it's one person with multiple portfolios, that's against SS rules I think, unless they have permission
« Last Edit: March 10, 2017, 20:24 by Jo Ann Snover »

« Reply #10 on: March 10, 2017, 13:55 »
0
Why not just ask directly to both?

The one who gets very angry is the real owner of the pictures.

Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #11 on: March 10, 2017, 14:36 »
0
The palace of westminster one isn't just the same shoot it's the same image edited.  Look at the vehicles on the bridge.

There are shots from multiple authors in the esb port. Look at  my links. If he has earlier numbers could it be that he got them from another source.  For example nicking istock exclusives images and selling them on ss, then the authors stop being exclusive and sign up to SS too? Could both authors be getting images from a third source? I thought someone had stolen a vector recently,  turned out both he and the person I thought was stolen from were lifting from wikipedia. Can't look into it too much right now as I'm on my phone.

Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #12 on: March 10, 2017, 14:42 »
0
https://m.shutterstock.com/images/565414027
https://m.shutterstock.com/images/491399815

Another user with images repeated in that portfolio. What is going on?

« Reply #13 on: March 10, 2017, 14:54 »
0
how do they both get the model releases?

« Reply #14 on: March 10, 2017, 17:13 »
+2
how do they both get the model releases?

Someone's making sh*t up?

Take a look at the "same model" search for the two workout pictures (that doesn't show on the mobile site, but does on the desktop version). The ESB professional port has 63 "plain" photos and the vectorfusionart port has Photoshopped versions of the same images

https://www.shutterstock.com/search?models=20154121,20154124,20154112,20154106,20154094,20153914&context_photo=491399815
https://www.shutterstock.com/search?models=21124357,21124354,21124345,21124336,21124333&context_photo=565414027

If you look at the image numbers, ESB's are the earlier ones

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/portrait-aggressive-shirtless-boxer-standing-gym-491395519
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/portrait-aggressive-shirtless-boxer-fitness-gym-565426588


« Reply #15 on: March 10, 2017, 17:45 »
+5
This is so weird, I'm not sure it can be right - I'm wondering if SS's database is totally and utterly corrupted. What I think I see is that two different contributors, ESB Professional and Sergey Nivens have the same images (with different image numbers) in their portfolios and are using the same model release for both.

When you do a "Same model" search, the URL shows a number for that model release. If you look at the case I posted above, you'll see the the vectorfusionart copies have different model release numbers.

But take a look at these two photos which are identical in model and doors, but with different skies/mountains behind them

ESB Professional (earlier image number):

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/businessman-standing-front-opened-doors-making-340334069

Sergey Nivens (newer image number):

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/open-new-doors-opportunities-394845343

Do a same model search for each and you get the same model release number for both

https://www.shutterstock.com/search?models=16512749&context_photo=340334069

https://www.shutterstock.com/search?models=16512749&context_photo=394845343

Both sets of results say 5,507 images use that release. If that wasn't weird enough, click on any of the images in the ESB Professional "same model" search and the image you get is one of Sergey Nivens!

Take this image from ESB Professional - click on any one of the "same model" thumbs shown on this page and you are taken to images in racom's portfolio. This woman's model release number is 14049070 for both contributors

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/nerdy-scholastic-young-woman-wearing-geeky-318060599

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/young-woman-short-red-hair-white-583304458

I'm truly stumped for an explanation. Even if someone had made a copy of a model release it would have a different number in SS's database, but these have the same number...

« Reply #16 on: March 10, 2017, 18:11 »
+1
Same shared model release number with different photos in ESB Professional and Dean Drobot. Model number 17517719 shows up in both their ports 4,343 times

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/portrait-young-amazed-woman-showing-blank-357711818

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/happy-attractive-young-woman-plaid-shirt-357711977


« Reply #17 on: March 10, 2017, 18:48 »
+3
Actually sounds like collusion.

« Reply #18 on: March 10, 2017, 20:12 »
+4
Actually sounds like collusion.

If it is, then Shutterstock knows about and enables it in some way. Identical model release numbers isn't something a contributor could do on their own.

« Reply #19 on: March 10, 2017, 21:19 »
+3
Again, uncanny identical clouds. Iakov clearly added that table and coffee cup in the foreground.

Iakov Kalinin seems to be the thief, unless we are dealing with the same author and two ports.

I think it has to be ESB Pro who is ripping off multiple other artists. I can find the other people - Dean Drobot and Iakov Kalinin etc. on other sites, but not ESB Professional. Also, I found one of ESB best sellers on SS is in Iakov Kalinin's portfolio on 123rf but uncropped there (if you look at the enlarged preview you can see the images are identical except for the extra info that's in the 123rf upload by Iakov Kalinin

https://www.123rf.com/photo_51111249_westminster-bridge-at-sunset-london-uk.html?&vti=mnz407sfa2a8wgt20m
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/westminster-bridge-sunset-london-uk-362072633

You also see on 123rf one of Dean Drobot's photos in his own portfolio which ESB has on Shutterstock as his

https://www.123rf.com/photo_49774464_funny-playful-young-woman-in-checkered-shirt-holding-halves-of-citrus-fruits-against-her-eyes-and-ma.html?&vti=lgf4ayntll6rvfr313
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/funny-playful-young-woman-checkered-shirt-357710990

Add to that the DT porfolio with the same image and a portfolio that matches the others in content (first name is different)

https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-funny-playful-woman-holding-halves-citrus-fruits-against-eyes-young-checkered-shirt-her-making-duck-face-over-yellow-image64153295

Same thing with the Sergey Nivens images that ESB has copies of. You can find those on Dreamstime (for Sergey Khakimullin) but nothing for ESB professional anywhere else (that I can find)

angelawaye

  • Eat, Sleep, Keyword. Repeat

« Reply #20 on: March 10, 2017, 21:37 »
+5
Makes me sick to my stomach ...

« Reply #21 on: March 10, 2017, 23:04 »
0
Again, uncanny identical clouds. Iakov clearly added that table and coffee cup in the foreground.

Iakov Kalinin seems to be the thief, unless we are dealing with the same author and two ports.

I think it has to be ESB Pro who is ripping off multiple other artists. I can find the other people - Dean Drobot and Iakov Kalinin etc. on other sites, but not ESB Professional. Also, I found one of ESB best sellers on SS is in Iakov Kalinin's portfolio on 123rf but uncropped there (if you look at the enlarged preview you can see the images are identical except for the extra info that's in the 123rf upload by Iakov Kalinin

https://www.123rf.com/photo_51111249_westminster-bridge-at-sunset-london-uk.html?&vti=mnz407sfa2a8wgt20m
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/westminster-bridge-sunset-london-uk-362072633

You also see on 123rf one of Dean Drobot's photos in his own portfolio which ESB has on Shutterstock as his

https://www.123rf.com/photo_49774464_funny-playful-young-woman-in-checkered-shirt-holding-halves-of-citrus-fruits-against-her-eyes-and-ma.html?&vti=lgf4ayntll6rvfr313
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/funny-playful-young-woman-checkered-shirt-357710990

Add to that the DT porfolio with the same image and a portfolio that matches the others in content (first name is different)

https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-funny-playful-woman-holding-halves-citrus-fruits-against-eyes-young-checkered-shirt-her-making-duck-face-over-yellow-image64153295

Same thing with the Sergey Nivens images that ESB has copies of. You can find those on Dreamstime (for Sergey Khakimullin) but nothing for ESB professional anywhere else (that I can find)
Your analysis looks right.
I'll be glad to see this thief kicked out by SS.


Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk


« Reply #22 on: March 10, 2017, 23:18 »
+9
I contacted Shutterstock and pointed them to this thread for details - it's complicated! - and asked them to please investigate

« Reply #23 on: March 11, 2017, 07:22 »
+3
Maybe ESB is / was  a collaboration of multiple artists who either have split up or maybe even still working together that individually are uploading to other sites.

« Reply #24 on: March 11, 2017, 08:51 »
0
Maybe ESB is / was  a collaboration of multiple artists who either have split up or maybe even still working together that individually are uploading to other sites.


Yes, that is what I was thinking in my post #8. But as pointed out, some look like stolen/altered images, like the one with the coffee cup and the one with the "flare" added.

« Reply #25 on: March 11, 2017, 11:09 »
+1
Maybe ESB is / was  a collaboration of multiple artists who either have split up or maybe even still working together that individually are uploading to other sites.

If that were the case, I don't see how you could legitimately upload identical images to different sites claiming different copyright owners. It would be great if the sites all provided upload dates with images to try and guess at a timeline, but they don't (and I don't want to try and reverse engineer dates from image numbers).

It also doesn't explain how on SS one model release, in their database with a single number, is used in two different portfolios. Possibly Shutterstock has some special deals for prolific contributors that we know nothing about, but with the interface we get to use, I couldn't do that with a collaborator if I wanted to.

At any rate, SS has now been informed and they can do something or not as they see fit. None of the images are mine or anyone I know, so there's no DMCA recourse unless someone knows a contributor to contact whose images are included somewhere.

dpimborough

« Reply #26 on: March 11, 2017, 14:08 »
0
Seems someone on the SS forum says they got in touch with one of the artists and they said it was all "legitimate".

No doubt SS have allowed the top one hundred contributors to do this; afterall they  have to keep them happy as they account for around 20% of the SS offering!

over 20million images  :o
« Last Edit: March 11, 2017, 17:57 by Sammy the Cat »


« Reply #27 on: March 11, 2017, 15:35 »
+2

Possibly Shutterstock has some special deals for prolific contributors that we know nothing about

I'm sure there are a lot of things SS does that we have no clue about.

outoftheblue

« Reply #28 on: March 11, 2017, 16:20 »
+1
Not sure how you steal and get an *earlier* image number.

Not totally impossible. One may steal from another site and upload to Shutterstock before the original author manages to.

dpimborough

« Reply #29 on: March 11, 2017, 17:57 »
+2
Not sure how you steal and get an *earlier* image number.

Not totally impossible. One may steal from another site and upload to Shutterstock before the original author manages to.

Overly complex even for a conspiracy theory :D

« Reply #30 on: March 11, 2017, 20:56 »
+4
special deals, hmmmm where have i heard that before?

has Klein joined shutterstock backroom staff?

outoftheblue

« Reply #31 on: March 12, 2017, 07:53 »
0
Not sure how you steal and get an *earlier* image number.

Not totally impossible. One may steal from another site and upload to Shutterstock before the original author manages to.

Overly complex even for a conspiracy theory :D

You're right, cat. Sometimes I leave Occam's razor at home.

« Reply #32 on: March 12, 2017, 09:42 »
+2
Makes me sick to my stomach ...

I have had several images copied and inspired by this idea-stealing.
It's sad, but we constantly have to keep watch over these evil characters.

« Reply #33 on: March 13, 2017, 01:09 »
0
Maybe ESB is / was  a collaboration of multiple artists who either have split up or maybe even still working together that individually are uploading to other sites.


This is against SS rules!!!!! what

« Reply #34 on: March 13, 2017, 01:30 »
+5
This is a very strange account indeed.  Perhaps they purchased images from multiple photographers and either uploaded them as is, or modified then uploaded them?

There are 572 images of Andresr himself and tons more from his port.
https://www.shutterstock.com/search?models=12508957&context_photo=154636040


 

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