I have had my pics stolen by the Nation Newspaper and used in their tourism magazine. I have had it stolen most recently by the Guardian as indicated by Wizzy. I wrote to them but no response. I also had one of my photographs stolen and used for an advertisement in Guyana. I have had many pics, on one occasion, someone stole 14 photographs at one time!

It is so tiring and exhausting having to deal with this kind of dishonesty.

The disrespect to us, as bloggers, is becoming unbearable. I can certainly identify with you Chennette with the amount of time and money it takes to post. People don’t seem to understand that ingredients have to be bought before any cooking takes place and then posting pictures is another problem by itself. Blogging is hard work and to have your content and pictures stolen from you is unfair and utterly disgraceful.

Now that media houses have joined in on the “poaching” (like that term ) soon bloggers like me and probably the rest of us would wonder why post when they’re going to steal it anyway! That would be sad. It’s strange and disheartening to see that we are being “advantaged” by our own people. What a nice picture we paint for the rest of the world to see. Even online there is the same “dog eat dog; crabs in a barrel” mentality.

I have to agree with andre that it’s really a “wild wild West” online here in the Caribbean… I just wished I could have shot a few thieves and gotten away with it true wild wild West style.

YeeeHa

So Chennette, Sarina, Lilandra, Wizzy and other commentors please protect your self: watermark your pictures and put up your copyright big and bold where everyone could see. And while you’re at it, do a privacy policy and disclaimer, that way people will see that you’re serious.

And also trust no one online …not even “big name” websites!

I have been a “victim” of this type of theft but not by a big “educated” media house. The way I see it is that policing your photos is difficult and I actually have no problem in people using my photos on blogs and commercials web pages once my watermark is attached. But that doesn’t always happen and right now I yawn when I see the odd photo popping up in the most unlikely and sometimes flattering places besides media house publications. My photos have appeared on TV without credit and I don’t have lawyers on retainer

Like Sharon, I also upload reasonably low resolution photos so I can sleep better. One internationally popular photographer recently told me to not make available any photos on my website I want to have full control off. On the web the law of the jungle prevails and I am not sure I understand how to manage that type of lawlessness.

There are also too many images on the web where the origins cannot be traced (no watermarks or IPTC info), much less ask permission to use. As for media houses not respecting the work of bloggers, I think that is changing as more and more local journalist and photo journalist also have blogs and websites with their original work.

okay
yeah we need to
*sigh*