Copyrighting Images by Danita Hickson

Ditto – much of the stunning images on here need protecting!

Something should be done about it. Hopefully soon RB will catch on and make us all feel a little more comfortable on the site with our work.

I have to echo what everyone else has said …this is an important subject I would think for all artists, photographers, and writers.
I was told a long time ago that nothing is ‘really’ safe on the net when it comes to other people taking pictures, photos, etc that don’t belong to them.

I hope there is an answer and a way to protect us all, I do know that on some sites you can’t right click and save an image, but even so…there’s still ways to copy a picture without right clicking. :-(

Barry

Following from our FAQ’s may help to answer. In relation to right mouse button clicking. This does help stop copyright violation as anybody who want to steal an image can easily get around it. Anyway rest assured this is an important issue to us.

“We only display your images online as low resolution thumbnails so it can’t be copied and reproduced in large formats. The large files you upload into your portfolio are kept secure on our server and only used to print orders for your artwork.

As a further layer of protection, you can activate a copyright watermark that will be displayed on the large versions of your images. The watermark can be activated at mybubble→account→edit your profile.

Supporting copyright is an essential principle at RedBubble and forms the backbone of our User Agreement."

There will be some here on RB that say if someone steals an image they werent going to buy it anyway :-(

I would like to see “something” implemented that helps protect the images or atleast identifies them to the owner/artist. There is always a way around the right-click thing and the small copyright mark currently used can be easily removed. What about a bigger but transparent watermark across the image? Or the “option” for an individual to disable the largest preview? One CAN do more with the large preview than the small – I have tried it.

I have included a sample of a watermark that is actually ON the image
and whilst there may be some who attempt to remove it, it would be
a pain compared to removing the current one. Just my two cents.

sample

I would not even mind if my images (on this site) had a redbubble watermark
across them.

The trouble with that approach Cheryl is it really spoils the enjoyment of the image, and is off putting to buyers.

It is hard to get a good idea of an artwork or the asthetics of a piece with a whopping big watermark across it. At the end of the day, if someone really wants to steal a low quality copy of your work, they will find a way to do it. If you are that worried, dont post it.

I take comfort in the fact that with so much high quality artists at work on Redbubble, noone will bother stealing my stuff. The proverbial Datsun next to the Porcshe.

Cheryl

The big issue with bigger copyright mark is that they dramatically reduce sales and the overall look and quality of the site. We tried them for a while and the community responded that they hated them. This is a diffiult issue for us all. None of the images which can be stolen are of sufficient quality to be reproduced in any usable form and this is the best (but not perfect) protection.

Right click disabling is useless against anyone other than a computer newbie. All I have to do is Print Screen and bang, I have the image.

A watermark option should probably be available for those who want it IMO – I agree with James that it does put people off browsing but that’s up to the artist if they want to do that.

I don’t, anymore. I actually think the amount of people who would save it and PRINT are in the minority, and once they print and it comes out crappy because of the resolution that will put a few of them off doing it again. I’m in the camp that believes that the kind of person who would steal, save and print down at Kmart one of the photos is not going to shell out $200 for a framed print.

MOST people IMO who will save the print are just going to be the “hmm I like this and want it on my desktop” people.

How about a watermark across the image, if the person clicks on “larger view”- at least then they can only steal the smallest version, which is less usefull?

i do believe there was a thread in RB somewhere about this same thing.. except it went on and on and on and on….

The RB guys have a duty of care to protect artists. They should kill the ability to copy high resolution files.

My Dear Fellow (no-sexism-intended) Bubblers,

When I first came across this site I did not jump in feet first and ask questions later. I studied the site and all its forums and actually found out a few things which made me feel confident in uploading the BIG high resolution files for my Portfolio.
The point that gave me the greatest sense of security is that RedBubble, while archiving our “best ‘n’ greatest works” for sale, makes a low resolution copy that we see on the screen. These images are close to useless for any “copyright thief” and I feel this is security enough for me.

As for disabling the “right click” option, I don’t see how that would stop any “would-be-thief-of-fine-art” from steal these low resolution images as anyone can by-pass right clicking and use a screen capture program.

So sleep easy as your brains bubble away in idle. All is well in RB Land. 8-)

God bless all,
Dennis

PS: I would rather spend time bitching that if I want to see if anyone adds more replies to this thread, I have to come back and hunt for it instead of being notified by email that there is a reply here. That’s my two bob’s worth!

for my bobs’ worth, i agree with RICKI KEAN…

a watermark across the image, if the person clicks on “larger view”- at least then they can only steal the smallest version, which is less usefull?

and may god bless our cotton socks too….and who is bob?

Thanks to everyone who commented. As for the right click option….it was just a example that I was using but after reading all the replies, especially pilgrim’s and inPort, I feel at ease. Unlike you inPort, I jumped in feet first without researching so I am grateful to your info and advice! I love this site and the community and hope to make a name for myself!

Thanks again to everybody!!!

YOU CAN ALSO PROTECT YOUR WORK BY SIGNING THEM YOU CAN DO THIS IN ADOBE PHOTOSHOP WHICH I AM EXPERIMENTING WITH RIGHT NOW… I DO HOPE THAT REDBUBBLE IS ABLE TO PROTECT US… I THOUGHT WHEN I JOINED THIS SITE THAT MY WORK COULD NOT BE STOLEN. NOW I AM WONDERING ABOUT IT ALL.

Charlene – your work can be stolen anywhere online if they really want to.

Rick’s suggestion is pretty good, but I would prefer that as an artist option.

Darryl – The copies are low res – the public don’t have access to the high resolution copy that you upload. I’m pretty sure – the bubble boy and girls can correct me if I’m wrong.

The only real 100% foolproof way of protecting your image to is never upload it to a website such as RB. Watermarks suck -period. You cannot disable right click on websites. As long as the large originals are protected, its all good. If someone wants to pinch a low-res sample from your RB portfolio, then there aint much that can be done.

Daryl
Not sure if you have read these posts but we do protect the artists as you cannot take high resolution files. The most a copyright violator can get is a low res file which is not useful for any production purposes.

There are non-visible watermarks such as Digimarc. These might be worth looking at although there are costs. Anyone have any experience with these?

There ia a way to protect images online using Adobe FLASH and a “scanning” gradiant that constantly moves back and forth over the image. There are a few tattoo sites that sell tattoo flash using this method to deter screen captures. It still isn’t fool proof but even the most technical users would have difficulty ripping .

http://www.tattoojohnny.com/
Search for a tattoo design and you will see the effect I mentioned

My logic is that if someone really wants to steal your work without paying for it, they’ll find a way to do it. Anything you can see on the internet can be copied one way or another. Basically, if I don’t want it stolen, I don’t exhibit it online. It’s a harsh truth but very real.

Disabling the right click is a pain in the ass (in my humble opinion) for everyone. It’s one of those things that makes the majority suffer in order to stop a tiny minority doing the wrong thing.

I had a friend of mine “confessed” to me that she had right click and saved one of my images and then had it printed. So I bought her a laminated print of the image. When she saw how crap her print out was compared to a legit print it was evident how little she got for her effort.

And just to throw this one into the pile…

The more “well known” your work is the more likely you are to sell further copies and the more the value of the original goes up. Examples of this… The Mona Lisa, Guernica, Van Gough’s Iris and self portraits, Pretty much all of Salvador Dali’s catalogue.

So if 2000 people stick your image on their desktop without your permission that is improving your odds of someone going “gee, isn’t that awesome- where’d you find that” and then buying a legit copy.

And what of the people out there who are ONLY interested in web versions for their use, who don’t ‘need’ wall art because they only need a low res or small version of something for use on a website, business card etc.

Are people (here??) now putting NO value on web versions?

Yesterday someone actually asked me if they could save a copy of one of my images I posted online. I nearly fell off my chair. Feel like nominating them for ‘ethical browser of the year’ :-)

I like Ricki’s suggestion about something being done with the large view image. Am happy with the small version.

As for watermarks being ugly or crap – maybe maybe not – but watermarks have never stopped me BUYING something i like the look of. Just my three cents.

This site could be"useful":http://www.fineartregistry.com/

An artist should have ability to upload his own watermarked image and a image that can be used only by redbubble team – not accessible to anone else that they can use to make reproductions of the image when someone wants to sell.