Intrepid misusing images
I am sitting here fuming. This morning I received the Intrepid Express newsletter by email and found that they have used one of my images. This is because I entered a photo competition last year. The terms and conditions stipulate that the photographer retains the copyright but that Intrepid “reserve the right to unlimited use of the photos for company brochures, promotion and advertising”. I assumed (stupidly) that this would be for the competition winners (I was not) and that the photographer would be credited (again, I was not).
Not only that, they have used my image of monks at Ganden monastery in Tibet to illustrate an article about Nepal, and they have reversed it!
My original image can be viewed here: Monks at Ganden
I have emailed Intrepid and am waiting to hear what they have to say…
Karin Taylor
..this is really upsetting Jenny..
..i’m so tired of seeing artists being taken advantage of…
..it’s all in the small print isn’t it….
..i’ve signed away my art before, and i won’t be doing it anymore
..every little piece of usage will have to be contracted from now on
..i’m so sorry to hear about it
..i hope you are compensated
Paul Louis Vil...
I see two sides to this Jenny… one is that it’s a compliment to you and two it’s just not right that you are not at least credited for your work.
Jenny Hall
Yes Paul – of course if it is in the terms and conditions then I have to take that, but I think they should use the image responsibly (ie the correct country, not manipulated) and they should credit people. Those are the 2 points that really get to me.
Stephen Colquitt
Oh my – I saw this image in that email today as well. I want to offer you my support because i think what has happened is very wrong. Cheap pricks.
I very rarely enter online photography competition for this very reason. So many companies use it as an opportunity to expand their photo libraries for a low low price. For some of the bigger competitions they may get thousands of usable images and pay nothing for them.
Its wrong that they dont credit you as the photographer either, and they can do whatever they like (ie manipulation) to the image. Let us know how you go and what they say.
Kylie Reid
Sorry to hear this has happened to you Jenny. Like Stephen said it is their way of building up their photo library for free. I have very little respect for companies that do this.
Mariaan Krog A...
So sorry to hear about it Jenny! Let us know what their response was.
Stephen Colquitt
Did you hear back from them Jenny?
D70Doug
This kind of grab for images is very common now and is putting pro photographers out of work why pay when you can offer a prize and get thousands of images almost for free ?
Something you may wish to check :-)
You say the competition took the rights to publish your image but you still hold the copyright ?
If that is the case check to see if the competition contract allows them to change or alter the image ( something usually only the copyright owner can do )
if the do not have rights to alter the image and they have printed it in reverse then you may have interesting grounds to ask for compensation for the image :-)
I would be checking the contract and possibly sending a polite letter suggesting they may wish to come to a financial arrangement with you in the near future to avoid further action !!!
Check also intellectual property I am sure that has much the same requirements as copyright law.
Cheers doug
D70Doug
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/
Check out this new US law that legalizes multi nationals the right to steal your photos from the net !!!!
Write and complain if you value your work !!!
If you are not in the USA go to:
http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00267
or there is a link in the first paragraph where it says “Non U.S. artists please go here for a sample letter and the U.S. agencies to contact”
Jenny Hall
Thanks for all the advice D70Doug – I’ll get on it. I still haven’t heard from them – what a surprise – not.
D70Doug
Nag and nag and nag and nag then nag some more
Make it worth their while not to ignore you :-)