What is the best way to track online image use infringement? I currently have multiple Google Alerts for various keywords and phrases and this works great when those words and/or phrases are used, I don't believe this addresses the simple act of a copied web image and if it is being redistributed online.
The basis for this question is from a note made recently by a prominent photographer where they stated they had just sent out multiple invoices for image use infringement. I thought to myself how is someone able to find out if an image has been used illegally?
Depends on how much you want to invest. There is a software application out there that you use to "tag" your images and is registered with a company. This is not like using keywords in EXIF data. I believe the company adds your "tags" to their search engine which tries to blanket the web looking for your "tags" and reports back when it finds them. Someone else may know the name of this software.
Not sure how great using google is for searching for your images. I have certain things in almost all of my images keyword list and also in my galleries keyword list. Searching google for those words comes up horribly short.
I am interested in others opinions on this topic, too as I have over 11,000 images in my main website! I can't possible track them all individually myself. Most are protected by my website provider's method. Some aren't due to other specific reasons. And a capture screen program will give just as excellent image for web usage of the same size or smaller image screen resolution and will not carry any of my EXIF data.
We're pretty careful about having our images "out there" unless someone has paid for their use. Therefore I don't actively track for infringement.
However, I'll add this: There's another form of tracking everyone in sales should be doing. License tracking. When you license photos for use, it's usually for a specific time period. It's absolutely startling to me how few photographers track the expiration of those contract periods, allowing their photos to be used for months or years afterward for free. We note all end dates, and 60 days before expiration we contact the client reminding them of the end, and inviting them to relicense or meet with us to select other photos to use for a new contract period. More often than not, the contact results in additional sales and long-term relationship. In the sense that continued use AFTER a contract expires is infringement, we track the heck out of our photos.
Discussion
3 repliesThe basis for this question is from a note made recently by a prominent photographer where they stated they had just sent out multiple invoices for image use infringement. I thought to myself how is someone able to find out if an image has been used illegally?
Thanks for your time.
Not sure how great using google is for searching for your images. I have certain things in almost all of my images keyword list and also in my galleries keyword list. Searching google for those words comes up horribly short.
I am interested in others opinions on this topic, too as I have over 11,000 images in my main website! I can't possible track them all individually myself. Most are protected by my website provider's method. Some aren't due to other specific reasons. And a capture screen program will give just as excellent image for web usage of the same size or smaller image screen resolution and will not carry any of my EXIF data.
Troup
You might want to look into either of two sites; namely "www.tineye.com" and "ImageRights.com"
Don
However, I'll add this: There's another form of tracking everyone in sales should be doing. License tracking. When you license photos for use, it's usually for a specific time period. It's absolutely startling to me how few photographers track the expiration of those contract periods, allowing their photos to be used for months or years afterward for free. We note all end dates, and 60 days before expiration we contact the client reminding them of the end, and inviting them to relicense or meet with us to select other photos to use for a new contract period. More often than not, the contact results in additional sales and long-term relationship. In the sense that continued use AFTER a contract expires is infringement, we track the heck out of our photos.