posted on May 18, 2002 06:19:21 PM
I have been selling Star Wars costumes for about a month with good results & just discovered another seller of the same items has copied my ads WORD-FOR-WORD! (I really put some time & thought into them since I was selling so many of the same things.) What REALLY ticks me off is that he/she also stole my photos, including one of MY SON!!! This is bringing out the mother bear in me. Grrrrrrrrr!! Such bodaciously unethical behavior. Did this person think I wouldn't NOTICE?? (Even used my stolen photos in the gallery like a red flag.) I'm still running those ads!
O.K. Now that I've VENTED (thanks for listening), is there anything I can do about this?? My ads weren't copyrighted. Do people actually copyright every ad? And how do I prevent this from happening again?? (Should I say anything to this thief or just keep my mouth shut?) Sigh.
posted on May 18, 2002 09:59:26 PM
In most cases like this, there is not much you can do. But in this case, because they are using the image of your son, you do have legal recourse and should contact a lawyer. Also, be sure to print out a complete copy of the auction.
After that, contact ebay (good luck on that one) and report it..
Good luck.
posted on May 19, 2002 03:44:45 AM
Using another seller's photos or ads is not only an eBay policy violation is it also a violation of U.S. copyright laws. Once you create the work (photos, text), you own the copyright, regardless of whether you register the work or not.
Toward the bottom is a link to a email form where your can contact eBay.
The same thing happened to me where photos I shot were used by another seller. eBay responded in about 48 hours. Their first email was sent to the other seller asking them to voluntarily remove their listings. If the seller does not comply, you can then request that eBay terminate the other seller's auctions.
posted on May 19, 2002 11:47:54 AM
This probably won't work for you, but I have also had problems with people stealing my pictures, because I take up to 10 pictures of each craft book I list, and it is much quicker to copy than scan! I use Auctionwatch for my pictures, so 2 days after my auction has closed, I delete the pictures from there, if someone has stolen them, they lose theirs too I hope!
posted on May 19, 2002 12:01:43 PMamber-That will work unless they have right clicked and copied your photo's and placed them on their own web or photo hosting site.
Of course, if they just copy them, they are not costing you additional AW fees, but they did get to lift your photo's for free!
I would send a bill through PayPal whenever I found an auction that was using my photo's and/or ad copy if it was costing me business.
I have had some of my photo's used and it actually didn't bother me because I wasn't selling the same item at the same time. I did send them an email and suggested that if they wanted to use my photo's in the future to let me know in advance so I wouldn't list list mine at the same time and have people thinking we were "related". They replied with a thank you for me not being mad and an apology, they also stopped doing it.
In this case, Sandhillcrane has had her pictures/copy lifted and moved so switching or deleting won't stop them from being used.
There is the issue of her minor child being used in an ad without her permission. I think this probably could even be breaking some states' laws. Years ago my sister had a photo taken of her then 3 year old girl that turned out so good the photographer wanted to use it in his shop and in his advetising. He let my sister have her photos free and then she had to give him permission in writing so he could display the photo.
posted on May 23, 2002 06:36:30 AM
Thanks to all who replied. I filed a complaint w/ ebay as suggested & I was impressed w/ how quickly they responded. They contacted the seller & they suggested I do the same. I wrote a crisp to-the-point letter that reflected my anger without getting emotional. He wrote back & apologized profusely, claimed he didn't know it was wrong, blah blah blah. I was amazed that buyers seemed to pick up on this plaigirizer - they bid much higher on my items than his!
He DID eventually remove my photos but continues to use a lot of my wording, even copies my headers so it looks like we are the same seller. (This bothers me because he charges 3x the cost of actual shipping & I don't want customers to think I do that). Anyway, I learned a lot. Thanks again!!
posted on May 24, 2002 08:02:56 PM
good job! I have to be honest that I have take a photo before but only to saave time. I only steal photos that I can duplicate and are very generic. If you can really identify your own photo it si untouchable. Do like so many others do and write your seller ID across the image.
As Ebay says:"I wish you the best with your future transactions."
Spud!
Prepare for the worst but hope for the best!! Spuddy98
posted on May 26, 2002 08:36:36 AM
Writing your name across a picture will only stop a seller who doesn't know how to remove the name. Such is easy with many advanced photo manipulation programs. Fortunately, it seems most sellers aren't too advanced in their use of photo programs, and computers, and writing your name across the photo will stop most.
You can put in a html, block which will prohibit copying when anyone right clicks on the page - of course there are ways around that also, but since I use such, I shan’t tell you how to copy a blocked photo...
Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed way to protect a photo against someone who is very computer savvy....on the other hand, normally most who are, usually, seem to create their own photo's.
There is no fail safe protection....
What amazes me is that anyone knows when someone had copied their picture! Who has time to check everyone else’s ads to see what their pictures look like???
posted on May 29, 2002 09:09:52 PM
I'll admit I have copied photos from other auctions because lent out my camera, but I always ask the seller if I can use the picture and no one has told me no yet.
posted on May 30, 2002 01:53:36 AM
check out some of my auctions same user name on eBay and start watermarking your pictures its liek a lock it will keep out the casual click and grab person which is 99% of them the reason they take your pics is they are lazey and dont want to do their own personaly they can use mine all they want to thanks to a little FREE program called picture shark it make puting water marks on your pics childs play then let them advertise for you lol what im looking for is one that not only marks but links as well sooner or later someone will invent it lol
posted on June 1, 2002 05:23:26 AM
I've seen photos on auctions with the sellers ID and email address over the photo...It won't help you in this case but maybe you can for your future items...
