uploading images warning!!!!!

[Hoogle]

Well Before this turns into a free image editing vs paid etc and is in no way meant as discouraging people from uploading work on here etc.

I dont know how many people follow news in subjects like art and copyright etc. And I am not linking or naming any companies here But There has just been a large case where someone uploaded an image on a well know photo sharing site the image was watermarked but with a water mark easily removed. The image had all the copyright fields filled in and had an extra note in the description this image is the property of xxxx you may not use this without my consent all rights reserved.

Well a well known Internet media company helped themselves to the image published it which then another 60+ sites used that image all without the owners consent. well this was over a year ago the Photographer then tried filing a claim for usage without permission and enabling other people to use it.

Well the case has finished and other than the company having to pay for expenses of the legal case they got away with it and basically portrays the image of if you upload it to the internet then it is free for all to take.

I do not believe this is fair how else are you to ensure your work is seen.

The current European law and seems to be moving into America as this was an America case states that as long as a person made reasonable effort to find the owner of the content and failed then they can use the image. This is thanks to Companies like instagram, Flickr and facebook who states in there pages and pages of terms and conditions upon uploading your images you are handing over permission for the said company to use it as seen fit. Or Something along those lines.

So tips on images you upload to anywhere on the internet.
Watermark your image with contact info and make sure it is not somewhere that can be easily cropped.

In any description of image make a seperate note of copyright and terms that people can use your image with contact info so they can contact you.

Do not make your watermark a logo with no info people may not recognise your logo and automatically know who to contact.

Make sure your watermark cant be easily photoshopped out.

Try and upload low resolution versions of the image as well as watermarked.

I understand if you are showing off work a massive water mark can ruin the effect but look into other options.
Hidden watermarking is possible right click an image in ps and select file info. It lets you embed meta data into the image where you can copyright it and provide contact info.

If you have an online portfolio code into your galleries to disable right clicking so people cant just do save image as.

Use flash galleries which stops people from downloading images as it is displayed as a video.

disable public access to folders on your hosting server to image folders. you would be surprised how easy it is to access files directly in your web browser as you can get the links from page source.


Well I hope this is useful to a few of you but as the laws are still new and still being passed it is to early to tell what is fact or not but as soon as official documents come out with new legislations I will update this thread with proper linkage to the information. (also including tutorials on more creative ways to protect your images)

But anothe fine example how the little guy gets screwed. if you download an mp3 illegally you get caught you get fined and in big trouble.

an amateur Photographer or artist uploads their image a major multi million dollar company decides they want to steal it and it is seen to be ok.

feel free to discuss but dont all go up in uproar until facts are released. Look up the instagram act as it has been nicknamed for more info on the new proposed laws designed to screw over the little guy.

 

[ALB68]

Hoogle,
"Hidden watermarking is possible right click an image in ps and select file info. It lets you embed meta data into the image where you can copyright it and provide contact info."

I found this under File/File Info or ALT+SHIFT+CTRL+I in CS6 didn't work right clicking

 

[sprucemagoo1]

It's very easy for the person steeling the image to delete this information.

 

[Tom Mann]

Excellent advice, Hoogle, and an excellent additional comment by Spruce. I would also add that using Flash or disabling right click saving is easily circumvented by taking a screen grab.

This problem has been discussed in great depth, and the broad consensus is that the only two protection methods that work reasonably well, at least for photos, are the two that Hoogle suggested: Only post small versions of your images or watermark the daylight out of it.

Personally, for the type of images that I am most concerned about, ie, my photographs, I feel quite safe posting images up to around 500 px on a side without a watermark. At 700 px, I start to get a bit antsy, and I would only post 1000px or larger photographic images if well watermarked.

To be honest, if my principal interest was designing logos, avitars, buttons, mastheads, and similar art, I wouldn't have a clue how to safely post such work. A major part of the designer's intellectual contribution is the concept, and once that is in public view, many competent designers could do a decent knock-off no matter if it was posted small or watermarked.

Thoughts?

Tom

 

[dv8_fx]

This is a risk we have to take whenever we upload images in the net - large or small, hi-res or low res. Like you said, any competent graphics person can re-create a logo from its original downloaded size of 50x50.

And as spruce mentioned, anyone can easily delete or alter metadata info.

I'm not surprised if any of the members works here in the forum - be it a challenge or show image - find its way into someone's site or concept incorporated into their design.

All that can be done is to make sure to upload watermarked low-res images with the hope that no one with the sufficient skills will take and alter/duplicate it.

What else can be done? Don't upload to the internet?

That's easy for me to say coz I will never upload a personal client's design in the net. The last thing I need is someone taking the design for their use. And my work always come with my guarantee that its a one of a kind design. Not good if ever the client would later discover there's a few out there just like it. All because someone took the idea.