Stealing images from the web

[IPT]

I know it is as simple as a right click. I know you can disable that. I also have put a clear layer over a display image to help the casual user from poaching it. I also know that someone with computer savy can still get it if they wanted (though I have no idea how because my "savy" is still growing ).

Anyway, I am curious about something. If images are placed in a SWF format (correct me if I am wrong, but that is basically what all these interactive photo galleries (with scrolling thumnails and large display areas that images apear in) are that play on the Flash players, right?) are they any harder to steal?

 

[IPT]

man, I should really proof read these things for typos before I hit submit...jeeze.

 

[fatrip]

use chrome, it has spell check...lol

 

[BlueCorn]

Anything you can display in a browser can be stolen.

 

[readmeli]

Unless you splash a great big huge logo across it at every angle possible... LOL. We've decided to just put a logo across the center and hope for the best. Parts can still be used but it's the best you can do!

 

[TWallace]

Anyone can always steal your photo by simply screen shotting it. Doesn't matter if you put a clear div over the image or disable right clicking (an awful technique by the way). With a clear div over the image, you can still just view the page source to find the image link. Obviously the easiest way to "steal" an image is to right click on it and copy or save it. Putting it in a SWF or adding a clear div over it will prevent that, but they can still screen shot it.

I'd just put a subtle watermark on it and move on. If someone's determined to steal the image, they'll get it.

 

[IPT]

I'd just put a subtle watermark on it and move on. If someone's determined to steal the image, they'll get it.

Yeah, that's the truth (for someone who really wants it, and knows computers). I didn't even know about screen shots untill a few weeks ago. I was always a right click guy if I wanted to save something. I noticed on the flash pages I built it just revealed the Flash player stuff. I guess for the lay-person like me it might be an additional layer of protection, but as has been said, if it's online and someone wants it they could get it. Oh well...that's why a lot of my gem images never make it online...or are downsized considerably.

 

[Reef Bass]

Yeah I'm an internet development professional and to my knowledge there is no way to stop online image theft. The brower literally downloads the shot to display it so even if you disable left clicks, etc., that file is sitting in your temporary internet docs folder.

Ironically, imho, the biggest "image thief" is Google. Not that they are stealing the images, but by providing links to them, they enable it / make it sooo easy.

I only post low res (such as 900x600 72 dpi) versions of my shots, and I've watermarked them and filled in IPTC info so that honest people can get ahold of me if they wish to use the image. Dishonest people, by definition, aren't going to respect copyright laws, let alone common courtesy.

 

[acro76]

It happens all the time, and unfortunately all you can do is call people out on it when you see it or hear of it. Usually an email is all it takes for most to cease and desist.

What always makes me laugh about it is that most offenders think they did nothing wrong, "since it was on the internet, and anyone could view it". So this somehow made it okay for them to profit from it.

The reality is any photographs you put on the internet can be used without your consent.

 

[OcReefMaster]

Yeah, that's the truth (for someone who really wants it, and knows computers). I didn't even know about screen shots untill a few weeks ago. I was always a right click guy if I wanted to save something. I noticed on the flash pages I built it just revealed the Flash player stuff. I guess for the lay-person like me it might be an additional layer of protection, but as has been said, if it's online and someone wants it they could get it. Oh well...that's why a lot of my gem images never make it online...or are downsized considerably.

Or if you have a mac you don't even need to right click, just drag and drop.

 

[Reef Bass]

One can drag images out of IE on Windows machines too.

 

[submersible]

Is it illegal to use someone else's picture if its not copyrighted? How do you copyright an image?

 

[IPT]

LOL -if it IS copyrighted it is illegal. If not, then I suposse it's fair game. Most people put a copyright symbol on the image. That at least is the first line of protection. At the very least a potential thief can't say they were unaware it was a protected (copyrighted) image. In all likelyhood it takes more the legally copyright and protect an image but I am not aware of the specifics. Maybe someone else will post if they know.

 

[BlueCorn]

Is it illegal to use someone else's picture if its not copyrighted? How do you copyright an image?

It's copyrighted and owned by the photographer the second the shutter is pressed. You're confusing copyrighting and registering. To be able to seek damages, the image needs to be registered with the copyright office. Even if it's not registered, if the image is used commercially, the owner is entitled to it's fair licensing fee.

 

[IPT]

. I knew that Beerguy would know the full skinny on this. Makes sense to me. Sadly more often than not the cost of chasing down damages within the court system probably outweighs the value of the image. As stated, often all that is required is a contact requesting the image be removed.

 

[xtm]

On my mac, it's simply cmd+shift+4 and it'll take a snapshot of anything - regardless of the format (flash, video, photo etc) I think the best way to protect your images is by uploading tiny copies - somewhere along 240x380 px dimensions which is almost unusable for most prints, and add watermark. Other than that, the only way to prevent it is to not upload your images to begin with.

 

[Brett9917]

I stole my avatar from flickr... :worried2:

 

[o.c.d.]

On my mac, it's simply cmd+shift+4 and it'll take a snapshot of anything - regardless of the format (flash, video, photo etc) I think the best way to protect your images is by uploading tiny copies - somewhere along 240x380 px dimensions which is almost unusable for most prints, and add watermark. Other than that, the only way to prevent it is to not upload your images to begin with.

That's cool I didn't know that. How do you tag a photo with a Mac is it a couple simple key strokes. I'm running Aperture 3 if that makes a difference.

 

[Brett9917]

That's cool I didn't know that. How do you tag a photo with a Mac is it a couple simple key strokes. I'm running Aperture 3 if that makes a difference.

Aperture 3 calls them keywords, but if you are trying to add them to photos, the hot key is alt + ` That gives you like preprogrammed keywords.
I don't like that option it gives, so ctrl + d will bring up the "Metadata" tab from the inspector. If you have it on "General Info", you can change the name, add a caption, as well as keywords.

I hope that is what you meant, and I hope that helps.

 

[Reef Bass]

On a Windows pc one can use a free exif viewer from Opanda here to view the exif (exposure) and iptc (contact) data. Right click the image and select "view exif / gps / iptc info".