'Stolen' blog images

The Drunken Destrier

I write a beer blog called The Drunken Destrier. Recently a local businesses Facebook page used one of my photographs without my permission, even running it through an Instagram filter beforehand.
Now, the photograph in question is a simple picture of a beer, so it doesn't really mean anything to me; the decision to contact them at all was fairly arbitrary. The problem is, after seemingly refusing to give me credit or take the photo down, they now appear to be ignoring me completely. It's unprofessional and insulting.

What should I/can I do?

onthebeach

You have copyright on your photographs. End of story. You created it.

mneylon

If you can prove that the photo is yours then you can lodge a copyright complaint with both Facebook and Instagram

The Drunken Destrier

They finally gave me credit.

you can lodge a copyright complaint

I was putting that off as long as possible - I love the business.

Thanks for the replies guys.

Corkbah

The Drunken Destrier wrote: »

They finally gave me credit.



I was putting that off as long as possible - I love the business.

Thanks for the replies guys.

credit or not... they still have to pay CASH !!

The Drunken Destrier

not really, I've no problem with people using blog material as long as they link to the original blog

it helps both of us. but without a link I'm getting screwed.

Mrs OBumble

Corkbah wrote: »

credit or not... they still have to pay CASH !!

It depends on your country, of course, but in general they don't: they just have to comply with whatever you, the copyright owner, wants.

There are various suggestions about what you might do here: http://blogger-hints-and-tips.blogspot.com/2010/10/taking-action-when-someone-has-copied.html

Corkbah

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

It depends on your country, of course, but in general they don't: they just have to comply with whatever you, the copyright owner, wants.

There are various suggestions about what you might do here: http://blogger-hints-and-tips.blogspot.com/2010/10/taking-action-when-someone-has-copied.html

so are you saying that if someone breaks the law and uses an image illegally they dont have to pay out ?? or that they only have to pay out if the copyright owner wants.

I've had a national radio station use an image of mine illegally and I sent them a bill for €250, I didn't receive a response within a few weeks so I upped it to €450 .... and informed them further non-payment would result in legal action .... they paid within a week and removed the image.

I do like the irony of using a blog link to back up your post - instead of the actual law.

tricky D

There are loads of examples of this in the photography forum (take a look). Along the lines of Corkbah's post, send them an invoice.

Mrs OBumble

Corkbah wrote: »

so are you saying that if someone breaks the law and uses an image illegally they dont have to pay out ?? or that they only have to pay out if the copyright owner wants.

I do like the irony of using a blog link to back up your post - instead of the actual law.

Nope, that's not what I'm saying.

What they need to do is: to stop using the image, or to find a way to get the owners permission to use it. The 2nd option may involve cash - or various other rewards, including free beer, free publicity, a paying job, a backlink, a very public apology, etc. It all comes down to what the copyright owner wants to achieve.

They may also need to find a way to stop the owner suing them, or reporting them to the various other bodies that take an interest in stopping IP theft.

Obviously you as an owner have a preferred reward. But other people may have other preferences.

I won't be linking to the law, because

1) in general the law is an ass, sometimes not helpful in fixing real-world problems, and
2) this is boards.ie and we're not allowed to give legal advice here.