TWO POSTS IN A DAY…I’m back with a vengeance of Bruce Willis proportions.
OK, not really, I just had to share the most bizarre thing that happened today.
The Canadian and I caught the bus to the city and as we pulled away, I stopped instantly to notice this girl wearing a t shirt with an SX 70 on it. This all happened within seconds. I immediately thought, “Oh wow, an SX70 t shirt!” to then look again and notice that the camera was being held by hands similiar to my own and then to notice the green background which was in fact my own green tank that I bought at Urban Outfitters in Seattle. Those were in fact my hands and my camera emblazoned across some chick’s bosom.
I am 99% sure that some girl is walking around with my photograph on her t shirt. I know that photograph gets around, I’ve seen it everywhere. It’s all over myspace (some guy is using it to advertise his album on his myspace page), has been used on many blog posts and is on We Heart It. I might add someone uploaded it there and it’s been tagged ‘Poladroid’. UGH!
I know that by putting my photographs online I take the risk that they will be used for whatever reason, but that kinda took the cake today. It was so weird!
What are your feelings on this? Should I be flattered? Concerned? Not give it another thought?
Well, see i think if it were used to advertise something like the impossible project i’d be flattered. But seeing as it’s some (i tried to find nicer words but i just couldn’t manda!) low life unoriginal dick-wank who uses other people’s work without consent (i noticed it’s all rights reserved on flickr) just to make money and give more credit to their own name, you should do something about it just to show that the world doesn’t want to allow sleaziness and unfairness, as a method of getting by. You should’ve gotten some credit or a percentage of tee-shirt sales. If you care enough i guess you could take legal action but i’d think that if you ever find the offender, making them remove the item or credit you would be enough. if you ever do find the shirt online. here’s a good place to whinge ;)
http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/blog3/
Hey amanda, I definitely feel for you on this. It’s the fun of being more open with your photography. Did you happen to find out where she got the shirt from?
Also, with the myspace stuff do contact both myspace and the subpage owner – Rupert takes a dim view of IP theft ;)
I’m feeling sort of sensitive about this subject since I discovered Friday that a favorite establishment of mine is using one of my images on their website without my permission. Regardless of scale – some joe schmoe who made themself a t-shirt with your picture on it or another joe schmoe who made a bunch of t-shirts with your picture on it to sell – what we’re talking about here is theft. In my case, the image is simply being used on a website. No product is being produced and sold. Still, even if nobody is illegally profiting from my work, it’s theft. I was never asked for permission and I never granted this business any sort of copyright license for this (or any other) image. I’m angry (as I think you should be) but I’m also just plain depressed. The owner of the business isn’t a friend by any stretch but I know him and he knows me. I patronize his business on a weekly basis. It’s one of my favorite places to go. I don’t think there was any sort of malicious intent involved (it seems most people don’t have a frigging clue about copyright) but I’ve now been placed in the very uncomfortable position of having to call this business owner on his ignorance/shitty behavior. Despite the discomfort, I’m going to do it though. Firstly, because it’s MY image and secondly, because if ignorance was at play here, this business owner is never going to know any better until someone tells him what’s what. It’s just my bad luck that I’m the one who has to do it.
Hi guys, thanks for the advice.
Alex, I didn’t get to talk to the person, so who knows if she bought it or made it herself. I’ve already had a friend offering me legal advice, so if I see the t shirt again, I will definitely try and get a story out of the person.
Joel, I will look into the myspace thing. I tried contacting the guy regarding that one and couldnt remember my old myspace login hehe
Sarah, that really sucks, honey. I am sorry that it has come to this. Is it on a website or in their store? I think you definitely should confront the guy about it. Just be polite and tell him about copyright etc. Take it from the angle that you’re trying to help him for future law suits lol
Thanks for the comments guys.
I came back from my first trip to paris two weeks ago and am so delighted to read about your love for Paris. Totally excited to Laduree mentioned here as I have fallen in love with that place – enough to endure the rain on my last night for the last taste of their macarons… I love your blog and hope you get a chance go to paris one day. it is a beauty…
I’d be a little freaked out! It is stealing, after all.
Hi Amanda! I’ve been meaning to get to your email but had to comment on this. I think it would depend on how the girl came about the shirt. If she made it herself I think you’d be forced to feel flattered since there’s pretty much no protection for you. But if it were a business I’d be furious! A few months ago I found someone on DeviantArt selling a photo of mine as a print. I was particularly upset because it was a self portrait and cringed at the thought of being used as a poster. He was banned after I reported it but that’s it. :/ I think for the time being I’d stick with being flattered as without more information there’s nothing to be done. :(
Morally, unethical. Legally, it’s copyright infringement, plain and simple. In the case of poster Bronwyn above, it is copyright infringement AND invasion of privacy (use of name and/or likeness for commercial purposes).
Oh my! I am so glad I found your blog :) I feel like I have written this post myself! I have never been to Paris as well, but I am so much in love with my idea of Paris :)
I went to Venice two years ago and felt the same way. I always joke about this city that I was waiting for some guy to jump out of nowhere and shout “cut!” and then I’d realize that all of this was just a set-up for a movie:) It was just surreal how beautiful it was!
p.s. I am in love with the pictures from the etsy shop you linked to! Thank you for sharing :)
Oh, and in case you haven’t seen this ( which I highly doubt, but still..) check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oWGD5yYS9g
I just saw that I have left my comment under the wrong post, I meant to post it under the “Paris Beckons…” one. I’m sorry!
Have a great weekend!
x
love the post thank you.
It sucks that your photos are being used without your permission. I’d have felt outraged, then approached the girl to tell her that the photo on her shirt was mine, then interrogated her endlessly about it…
At least you know that your photos are garnering a lot of attention, so perhaps it is a good time to start selling them for your own profit instead of others’? Maybe not prints, as you are busy moving, but cafepress shirts, stuff that other companies can print and ship for you.
Wait, you were on a bus pulling away from the stop. Next time! :P