Photos Stolen from this Forum

[Chris Anderson]

Hello Everyone,

I've already emailed a number of members but I thought I would post here as well. I recently found a chameleon forum from Spain and unfortunately I have found that some of the members there have stollen a lot of photographs from members of this forum. In some cases they have simply reposted them without permission or credit but in many they have even gone so far as to black out the copyright information and photographers name on the photos themselves. In any event, either is a violation of international copyright law and completely disrespectful.

I wanted to post these two links and people can see if the photos, or links to the photos, belong to them:

http://www.camaleones.es/foro/index.php?topic=3627.0
http://www.camaleones.es/foro/index.php?topic=3620.0

In most cases, it appears the photos were reposted on ImageShack and then embedded in the forum. If any of the photos are yours and the use of your image was not approved by you, I recommend you contact ImageShack and request to have the images removed. If you go to http://stream.imageshack.us/content.php?page=email&q=abuse , you can submit a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Takedown Request to have your images removed. It requires particular wording to be official, however, so here is a copy of the DMCA Takedown Request I sent them, which you are welcome to change the URL information and signature information to use yourself:

To ImageShack Media Hosting Company:

I am the copyright owner of photographs being infringed at:

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/6321/ttulo1.jpg (Image on the left)
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/8806/goetzei.jpg (Image on the top right)
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/5607/kinyongiatenuis.jpg (Image on the bottom center)
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/6321/ttulo1.jpg (Both images)

This letter is official notification under the provisions of Section 512(c) of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) to effect removal of the above-reported infringements. I request that you immediately issue a cancellation message as specified in RFC 1036 for the specified postings and prevent the infringer, from posting the infringing photographs to your servers in the future. Please be advised that law requires you, as a service provider, to “expeditiously remove or disable access to” the infringing photographs upon receiving this notice. Noncompliance may result in a loss of immunity for liability under the DMCA.

I have a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of here is not authorized by me, the copyright holder, or the law. The information provided here is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I swear under penalty of perjury that I am the copyright holder.

Please send me at the address noted below a prompt response indicating the actions you have taken to resolve this matter.

Sincerely,

Christopher V. Anderson
[email protected]

ImageShack responded to my first takedown request in about 3 hours by removing the images from their site. I've since found the second thread and am awaiting the removal of those images.

Sorry to waste space with this but since I saw so many photos taken from this forum, I decided I should post it.

Chris

 

[Mario]

Thanx Chris,
also 2 Pics from Thorsten from Tanalahorizon.com i found... i will tell him that some of his Pics are stolen...

 

[txskunk]

Woa

That's just insane, it's dishonest and disrespectuful and I would not want to be a member of a community who doesn't even own the chameleon shown in the photo, or for whatever reason they reposted the picture!, sucks for the member who are getting lied to!

 

[kongchi]

Ty for this Mr. Anderson, internet pirates ftl

 

[Syn]

As an Administrator of the forum that is posting those himself... I would be ashamed. I highly doubt any of those are mine... but WOW!

Edit: I recognize one of Trace's pictures.
http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/5001/dsc002820091107.jpg
look on the second link for "chamaeleo trioceros goetzei goetzei (Xavi)"

 

[Texas Panther Man]

Amazing that you even found those Chris. I guess that whoever it is thought that they could get away with it since they were posting to a spanish speaking forum.

 

[Ace]

I know Spanish .... They didn't people can be bilingual or speak more languages.... But I did see pics that DO look TOO familiar....how disgraceful....what a pity .....

 

[morpheon]

Thank you for the info!

 

[Texas Panther Man]

I know people on this forum speak other languages bro.

 

[Syn]

"The post "adivinad el camaleon" is a quiz about identifiying chameleon species, thats why the water marks where erased, to avoid cheating."

Sounds like a cover up to me, it does not require erasing the whole watermark, just the species name... and that's besides the point! Why aren't they using their own pictures?

I would suggest they remove the entire post and have members submit their own pictures instead of using Google to find them....

 

[reimon]

Hi, i'll splain what happened and if you still want to take off the pictures I'll delete the posts, no problems.

The post "adivinad el camaleon" is a quiz about identifiying chameleon species, thats why the water marks where erased, to avoid cheating.

We understand that you and the other owners can be uppset about not mentioning the source, but is for the same reason. We don't want to steal your pictures and if you want we will delete all the post where are the pictures.

we can´t use our pictures because we don´t have this chams, but if you like we delete all of your pictures with out problems.


best regards.

 

[Todnedo]

The fact that they are using them as a reference is not a bad thing.
The fact they didn't ask for permission to use them is...

 

[Chris Anderson]

Here is a link to the Spanish forum where I have been talking about this with an administrator and some of the members: http://www.camaleones.es/foro/index.php?topic=4535.0

Chris

 

[reimon]

the post are deleted, sorry for use your pictures with out your permission.

sorry my bad english.

regards.

 

[Trace]

Thanks Chris for the heads up! Sorry I have not replied to your email from earlier but I got swamped with last minute print jobs at work today. I'll get back to you tonight along with some ezine biz.

Hi, i'll splain what happened and if you still want to take off the pictures I'll delete the posts, no problems.

The post "adivinad el camaleon" is a quiz about identifiying chameleon species, thats why the water marks where erased, to avoid cheating.

We understand that you and the other owners can be uppset about not mentioning the source, but is for the same reason. We don't want to steal your pictures and if you want we will delete all the post where are the pictures.

we can´t use our pictures because we don´t have this chams, but if you like we delete all of your pictures with out problems.


best regards.

Yes please. I'd like my photo of the Trioceros goetzei goetzei removed. I will check to see if it's done. Thank you.

 

[reimon]

all of the pictures are removed.

best regards

 

[Red Island]

Im sure we can forgive and forget...

 

[Cainschams]

The fact that they are using them as a reference is not a bad thing.
The fact they didn't ask for permission to use them is...

This is how I see it.

If I was asked and told what they were being used for I would have had no problem. Any situation as a reference is fine by me with some CREDIT as long as they are not for an ad.

I am actually a generous person However I do not like people taking my stuff with out asking.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Thats good that they took those pictures down. I reported to Brad posting pictures from this forums on another site. They were posting pictures of my Avatar and some other images from here as of yet they have not taken them down.

Check it out! Its not another forum except they did not ask for permission to post some of my pictures.

http://www.google.com/images?client...tle&resnum=1&ved=0CCEQsAQwAA&biw=1016&bih=600

 

[tdotcham]

haha, the watch dog is in town. dont be stealin no photos!