Beware Photo Stealers!
I really do apologize for the rant you're about to read, but I just wanted to voice my opinion on websites and news sources using photos without proper permission or credit.
I just received an email back from "Occupy.com" regarding an illegal use of my photos on their website and they responded with this: "...particularly on a news story like this where a rare, great image exists and it is timely for next day publication - we may not go to the trouble of requesting authorization to use. We also very rarely use photo credits except for images that are original to us."
It's great to see that independent news outlets respect photographers' time and hard work. Lol. Photographers: Make sure you get the "Google this image" plugin for your web browser and constantly seek out those using your photos without your permission. This plugin has saved me so much grief and has helped me keep on top of those using my photos without permission. Am I crazy for emailing these sources and either requesting that they take the photo down or provide proper credit? After all, seeing my work on a website accompanying a great article with absolutely no mention of my name and theoretically claiming the photo as their own gives me a queazy feeling. I fear that that one great shot I'm proud of will spread like wildfire and end up who-knows-where. I know that posting photos online provides a risk for such acts, but in this day and age, sometimes online publicity through personal portfolios is a great way of achieving business and potentially making those connections that we need to survive in such a trying industry. I understand that watermarks can prevent this to a point, but what are your thoughts on this being a necessity for security?
I suppose I should give them the benefit of the doubt for offering to give me credit or to remove the photo entirely, however I can't help but wonder how many other photographers may be suffering due to either ignorance or lack of understanding in websites such as this.
What are your thoughts? Am I blowing this completely out of proportion?
(End of rant, and I'm sorry if this sounded angry!
) 
garyrhook wrote: No, you're not whacked.
It's possible that this qualifies for editorial use, which is one of the conditions of "fair use." You might not have any recourse, if it truly is a news story. Agree that, at the very least, attribution is appropriate.
occupy.com is registered by, and hosted by, enom.com. You can submit a takedown request with them (possibly a DMCA takedown notice?). This only works in the US, unfortunately.
A lawyer would be best suited to address this issue.
Partially I agree, but this is not under Fair Use. Even national news sources have to get the photographers permission to use a shot. Of they do not then it is a violation of your Copyright. I agree on consulting a lawyer on this one. Also I would suggest you start an account with the US Copyright office, and register that, and any other photos you post on the web that you wish to protect. They owe you more than just credit for your work, especially when they steal it. Funny how a group that speaks of the injustice of the 1% stealing everything from the little guy is the one stealing fron the same little person. Oh the hypocrisy of it all.
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