Northwest Dive Club

Just wanted to make a PSA if you're a photographer who shares your images on social networks.

I recently went to the Nauticam website to research a dome port for my GH5 camera. I was a bit surprised to find one of my photos on the nauticam website used to promote a housing for the GH5. (See attached photo). I and several other people who had photos taken without permission contacted Nauticam and their initial response was that they were not violating any copyright laws and the use of our images was legal. Further, they stated our use of the #nauticamhousing hash tag was implicit permission to use our photos.

As complaints mounted, Nauticam removed the images they had appropriated, but never apologized for using them without permission.

So, just be careful out there. You may not know your images are being used to sell products for which you have not given permission. Especially be careful with hashtags. My image was taken from Instagram but others had theirs taken from Facebook.

There is a thread on wetpixel.com about the ongoing issue:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?sh ... 7&p=394984

Man that's crazy! But it is a really nice shrimp pic I can see how they would love to use it. However they should have asked you first & paid you also for the hard work it took to get such an epic shot!

Welcome to the aggravating world of Internet image theft, where people and businesses feel unapologetically entitled to steal your photos.

Imagine walking through a bookstore and seeing one of your images on the cover of a magazine... Without permission or payment. Mine:
I'm pleased they liked it for the cover. But unhappy they didn't even ask. Grr.

60south wrote: Welcome to the aggravating world of Internet image theft, where people and businesses feel unapologetically entitled to steal your photos.

Imagine walking through a bookstore and seeing one of your images on the cover of a magazine... Without permission or payment. Mine:

world_watch.jpg
I'm pleased they liked it for the cover. But unhappy they didn't even ask. Grr.

Did you take legal action against the magazine?

stphnmartin wrote:Did you take legal action against the magazine?

No. They are a non-profit, trying to do good things. Legal action would have just cost us all time and money.

'Tis a shame. I would have gladly given them permission, but instead they chose to be inconsiderate.

Another time, a photo thief stole -- and was trying to re-sell -- photos from me and several other people. The creep claimed that he wouldn't remove the photos because he "went to a lot of work" to get them and sell them on the net. My god! That time we had the backing of a major corporation who took legal action.

Watermark your photos! And never upload full resolution copies.

60south wrote:

stphnmartin wrote:Did you take legal action against the magazine?

No. They are a non-profit, trying to do good things. Legal action would have just cost us all time and money.

'Tis a shame. I would have gladly given them permission, but instead they chose to be inconsiderate.

Another time, a photo thief stole -- and was trying to re-sell -- photos from me and several other people. The creep claimed that he wouldn't remove the photos because he "went to a lot of work" to get them and sell them on the net. My god! That time we had the backing of a major corporation who took legal action.

Watermark your photos! And never upload full resolution copies.

Apparently "trying to do good things" didn't include being kind to you. Also, non-profit doesn't by default mean they have no money to pay for things that benefit them. Anyway, I feel your pain!

Glenn, awesome pic, sad you got robbed!

There's a guy who keeps lifting my images for his facebook feed. He often gives no credit, or incorrect credit when reposting images. He does it with other undrewater photographers as well. I told him super politely to address the issue, and what does he do? He blocks me!