- Joined
- Jul 8, 2005
- Messages
- 45,747
- Reaction score
- 14,806
- Location
- Victoria, BC
- Website
- www.johnsphotography.ca
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
Okay, now it's my turn to ask, someone's using my images without permission.... sort of...
A couple of years ago, I created this image for Vancouver Island Compassion Dogs, a local non-profit that specializes in providing PTSD service dogs to disabled Veterans:
The intent of the image was to use it as a 'Thank-you' to sponsors and donors above a certain dollar value. Each time they had a corporate donor, their fund-raising chair would e-mail me the details, and I would customize the image with text appropriate to that donor, thanking them for their support. IIRC, I produced something in the order of two dozen.
In the spring, I did a major advertising shoot for the charity and heard nothing. I found out shortly after that the fund-raising chair with whom I had been working for several years, had parted ways with the charity, and the entire several days of shooting and processing was binned. Okay... I'm over that; annoying, but stuff happens.
Looking through facespace today, and came across two different posts using the image:
and
Unbenknownst to me, VICD has now become part of BC and Alberta Guide Dogs. I had no arrangement or agreement with them, and, more importantly, someone is having their way with the image. In both cases the dog's tail has been removed (and NOT very well), and in the second image, they've stretched it to make room for text, again, very crudely.
Now, the question. I have nothing on paper regarding the use of the image, and I'm not bothered that they're using it; I am a strong supporter of BOTH organizations, but I am bothered that someone's hacking up my work, and I'm annoyed that a different organization is using my work without so much as courtesy, "Hey, John, do you mind if we...." to which I would have been happy to give permission.
How best to proceed? I don't want to tell them not to use the image; if it can help the charity, great, I'm all for it, but at the same time, I have a big issue with them editing it, especially removing Sarge's tail!
My first intent is to contact them and stress, that while I'm more than happy for them to continue using the image, if they want changes done, please contact me, and I'll take care of it. I'm less sure on what to do about the banner.... it REALLY bothers me that they've removed his tail, but I'd feel like a bit of a Richard telling them to scrap a $600+ pop-up banner.
A couple of years ago, I created this image for Vancouver Island Compassion Dogs, a local non-profit that specializes in providing PTSD service dogs to disabled Veterans:
The intent of the image was to use it as a 'Thank-you' to sponsors and donors above a certain dollar value. Each time they had a corporate donor, their fund-raising chair would e-mail me the details, and I would customize the image with text appropriate to that donor, thanking them for their support. IIRC, I produced something in the order of two dozen.
In the spring, I did a major advertising shoot for the charity and heard nothing. I found out shortly after that the fund-raising chair with whom I had been working for several years, had parted ways with the charity, and the entire several days of shooting and processing was binned. Okay... I'm over that; annoying, but stuff happens.
Looking through facespace today, and came across two different posts using the image:
and
Unbenknownst to me, VICD has now become part of BC and Alberta Guide Dogs. I had no arrangement or agreement with them, and, more importantly, someone is having their way with the image. In both cases the dog's tail has been removed (and NOT very well), and in the second image, they've stretched it to make room for text, again, very crudely.
Now, the question. I have nothing on paper regarding the use of the image, and I'm not bothered that they're using it; I am a strong supporter of BOTH organizations, but I am bothered that someone's hacking up my work, and I'm annoyed that a different organization is using my work without so much as courtesy, "Hey, John, do you mind if we...." to which I would have been happy to give permission.
How best to proceed? I don't want to tell them not to use the image; if it can help the charity, great, I'm all for it, but at the same time, I have a big issue with them editing it, especially removing Sarge's tail!
My first intent is to contact them and stress, that while I'm more than happy for them to continue using the image, if they want changes done, please contact me, and I'll take care of it. I'm less sure on what to do about the banner.... it REALLY bothers me that they've removed his tail, but I'd feel like a bit of a Richard telling them to scrap a $600+ pop-up banner.