Stolen Takers Photo on Gainesville Sun Website = Copyright Infringement

Photographers are seriously one of the least respected "artists". I've lost track now how many times I've found my photos used online and in print in the Gainesville Sun. Who knows how many photos they've used that I haven't seen. And not once have I been asked permission or paid. And rarely properly credited. See how my copyright/contact info is on the photo used, there is a reason for that. This really bums me out. Especially since there is a "buy photo" option and I didn't get a penny for this.

I haven't been employed since November 2008 and yet I have to sit by and watch others profit off of my work? I don't think so! I left a comment and thought they'd remove the photo and/or contact me. Wrong twice. The photo still remains online as does my comment which can be seen in the next image.

Original link:

www.gainesville.com/article/20090507/ARTICLES/905071014/1...

Anyway, I can't afford a lawyer. So I figured I can at least document all the places I find my stolen images. It is frustrating how nobody seems to take me serious.

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Comments

bermarte says:

Send them the bill!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Winkingskunk says:

I agree, send them a bill. Make it for a huge sum, if they can't pay it, they have to take down the photo.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

danajohnhill says:

Whoa! That is some serious BS. If you started stealing Gainesville Sun articles and pictures and posting them online, how long do you think it would be before you got a cease and desist letter? I'm sorry you can't afford to hire a lawyer, especially if this has been a pattern.

In any event, it might be wise to print this screen capture, and send them a real letter, with the URLs where your images are being misused, and demand that they be removed. I feel, of course, that you are entitled to payment, since they've already had them up for who knows how long. But I don't know what the law is about that.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

lady_jade_01 says:

If you can't afford a lawyer, have you tried legal aid?
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

ulrichhellinger says:

Yes, send a bill and contact the managing director. I think a newspaper can´t use stolen or illegal media. This will kill the publishing business.
Good luck.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

orlyscis says:

Maybe call channel 5 on your side?
seriously
they love to debunk shit like that!
thats so not cool, i would definitely call and keep asking to 'speak to a manager' about this. eventually you'll get someone who has some kind of authority.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

orlyscis says:

plus, does that offer an option to BUY THE PHOTO!?
what the fuck!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

irvo. says:

I always thought this........newspapers editors......are criminals!! Just send them a bill!! They should pay for what they took!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Gato Ranch says:

I think the only thing I left out is that I asked the band if they gave the Sun permission to use this photo and they said that they did not. Regardless, I did not give the band permission to give it to them if they had.

I posted up a blog at MySpace about the usage of my photo to cover myself long ago. And on every photo blog there is a notice of use statement and a link to here - FAQ: Guidelines for Usage of my Photos:

blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.v iew&frie...

So that means someone at the Sun went online searching for a photo of this band. You can not download my photos on Flickr unless I have you set as a friend or family. But that photo isn't uploaded here at this time anyway. Had it been, they would have had to made a screen grab to acquire it.

Judging by the low quality of the image in the article I'd bet they grabbed it right out of the band's Myspace albums:

viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction =user.viewAl...

Even in the blog I originally posted the posted, on April 2, 2008, the quality is better:

blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.v iew&frie...
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

jc's photography says:

cant you order them to take it down
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Gato Ranch says:

I did ask them to remove it and they ignored my request.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Gato Ranch says:

Little known fact: I was once the runner up for being hired as the new web designer/graphic designer for the Gainesville Sun. I had several serious interviews, in like 2000. My life would be entirely different had that happened, probably better. And they sure as hell wouldn't be stealing my photos...I'd probably be a staff photographer. What a terribly ironic twist of fate.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Gato Ranch says:

Additional Comments:

Posted 3 weeks ago. ( permalink )

Gato Ranch says:

I found it interesting that my comment was NOT approved by the moderator and therefore does not appear at first for all the world to see. As if what I said was "Not courteous and respectful. Expletive, a false statement, veiled or overt threat and personal attack. Or off topic." according to their standards.

Their standards:

Only moderator-approved comments are shown on this page. To see all comments, please visit the forum. We at Gainesville.com created these forums as a place where our community can exchange ideas on news issues and express their thoughts. Please be courteous and respectful. Avoid expletives, false statements, veiled or overt threats and personal attacks. Stay on topic.
Posted 3 weeks ago. ( permalink )

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Stolen Takers Photo on Gainesville Sun Website = Copyright Infringement

Comments

bermarte says:

Winkingskunk says:

danajohnhill says:

lady_jade_01 says:

ulrichhellinger says:

orlyscis says:

orlyscis says:

irvo. says:

Gato Ranch says:

jc's photography says:

Gato Ranch says:

Gato Ranch says:

Gato Ranch says:

Gato Ranch says:

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