My images have been stolen- what should I do?

[Snakeguy101]

Hello, according to my photobucket account, I have had 18,363 new image views. When I looked into the stats for the images I found that 95% of these views were from a website that I did not give permission to use my images. I was told the website was runryder.com but I cannot find my specific images because it does not specify where they are on that site but it is clear that they have been embedded somewhere on that domain. Should I remove the images from photobucket, try to find a contact for the site administrator, or what?

Thanks.

 

[RockstarPhotography]

I would contact an attorney.

 

[Boomn4x4]

They havn't been stolen.... you gave them away. Remember that "Click here to agree to these terms and conditions" button that you clicked "I agree" on when you signed up????

6. Proprietary Rights in Content on Photobucket.
o 6.1 Photobucket does not claim any ownership rights in the text, files, images, photos, video, sounds, musical works, works of authorship, applications, or any other materials (collectively, "Content") that you post on or through the Photobucket Services. By displaying or publishing ("posting") any Content on or through the Photobucket Services, you hereby grant to Photobucket and other users a non-exclusive, fully paid and royalty-free, worldwide, limited license to use, modify, delete from, add to, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce and translate such Content, including without limitation distributing part or all of the Site in any media formats through any media channels, except Content marked "private" will not be distributed outside the Photobucket Services. Photobucket and/or other Users may copy, print or display publicly available Content outside of the Photobucket Services, including without limitation, via the Site or third party websites or applications (for example, services allowing Users to order prints of Content or t-shirts and similar items containing Content).


In other words.... by putting your photos on photobucket, you grant anyone who can find them the right to use them

 

[Geaux]

I'd replace it with an image that says DON'T STEAL MY IMAGE ... with an inappropriate picture, same file name

 

[~Stella~]

I would try to find the image(s) on the site, take screenshots, and then decide what you want to do.

You want them to simply cease and desist? Call them and tell them. Another option is to offer to sell/license the image for their use in lieu of legal action - have a price in mind before you contact them of course. And third, if you want to simply punish them for the theft, then yes, contact an attorney right away.

 

[Overread36]

Ohh that photobucket TC has changed since I last read it - used to be (as I recall) that it was only photobucket that got the royalty free licence - now its everyone!

Pro tip - move to flickr where they don't keep such terms and conditions

 

[~Stella~]

They havn't been stolen.... you gave them away. Remember that "Click here to agree to these terms and conditions" button that you clicked "I agree" on when you signed up????

6. Proprietary Rights in Content on Photobucket.
o 6.1 Photobucket does not claim any ownership rights in the text, files, images, photos, video, sounds, musical works, works of authorship, applications, or any other materials (collectively, "Content") that you post on or through the Photobucket Services. By displaying or publishing ("posting") any Content on or through the Photobucket Services, you hereby grant to Photobucket and other users a non-exclusive, fully paid and royalty-free, worldwide, limited license to use, modify, delete from, add to, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce and translate such Content, including without limitation distributing part or all of the Site in any media formats through any media channels, except Content marked "private" will not be distributed outside the Photobucket Services. Photobucket and/or other Users may copy, print or display publicly available Content outside of the Photobucket Services, including without limitation, via the Site or third party websites or applications (for example, services allowing Users to order prints of Content or t-shirts and similar items containing Content).


In other words.... by putting your photos on photobucket, you grant anyone who can find them the right to use them

WTF? That makes me grumpy!

 

[quiddity]

If you are going to seriously persue this I would not contact the offending site until getting some legal counsel first.

 

[Snakeguy101]

They havn't been stolen.... you gave them away. Remember that "Click here to agree to these terms and conditions" button that you clicked "I agree" on when you signed up????

6. Proprietary Rights in Content on Photobucket.
o 6.1 Photobucket does not claim any ownership rights in the text, files, images, photos, video, sounds, musical works, works of authorship, applications, or any other materials (collectively, "Content") that you post on or through the Photobucket Services. By displaying or publishing ("posting") any Content on or through the Photobucket Services, you hereby grant to Photobucket and other users a non-exclusive, fully paid and royalty-free, worldwide, limited license to use, modify, delete from, add to, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce and translate such Content, including without limitation distributing part or all of the Site in any media formats through any media channels, except Content marked "private" will not be distributed outside the Photobucket Services. Photobucket and/or other Users may copy, print or display publicly available Content outside of the Photobucket Services, including without limitation, via the Site or third party websites or applications (for example, services allowing Users to order prints of Content or t-shirts and similar items containing Content).


In other words.... by putting your photos on photobucket, you grant anyone who can find them the right to use them

I thought that only applied with sites affiliated with photobucket.

 

[Overread36]

I thought that only applied with sites affiliated with photobucket.

That's how it used to read - but this new TC clearly reads that any users of the service (ie anyone) can use the images. I'll bet there are a fair few users there who have not noticed this TC change (because they don't have to tell you about TC changes at all)

 

[Stradawhovious]

If it's being viewed through photobucket, it's just linked.

Delete the photo from photobucket. That should solve it.

 

[Boomn4x4]

Pro tip - move to flickr where they don't keep such terms and conditions

Flikr has similar terms and conditions.

Yahoo's Terms and Conditions. (only pertinant infomation posted)

CONTENT SUBMITTED OR MADE AVAILABLE FOR INCLUSION ON THE YAHOO! SERVICES:

With respect to photos, graphics, audio or video you submit or make available for inclusion on publicly accessible areas of the Yahoo! Services other than Yahoo! Groups, the license to use, distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, publicly perform and publicly display such Content on the Yahoo! Services solely for the purpose for which such Content was submitted or made available. This license exists only for as long as you elect to continue to include such Content on the Yahoo! Services and will terminate at the time you remove or Yahoo! removes such Content from the Yahoo! Services.

"Publicly accessible" areas of the Yahoo! Services are those areas of the Yahoo! network of properties that are intended by Yahoo! to be available to the general public. By way of example, publicly accessible areas of the Yahoo! Services would include Yahoo! Message Boards and portions of Yahoo! Groups and Flickr that are open to both members and visitors

 

[e.rose]

If it's being viewed through photobucket, it's just linked.

Delete the photo from photobucket. That should solve it.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[rickabobaloey]

To be quite frank, if you're posting the images online on a free photo hosting service, then I'd expect T&C similar to that. If you're paying for the space, that's quite a different story.

I use flickr and post all my photos publicly. None of them are of sufficient quality to warrant me trying to market the photos. In fact if someone did "steal" my photo to use for their website/business etc. I'd actually be flattered.

 

[Snakeguy101]

I actually just started paying for photobucket pro the other day so I could store more images... I think I am going to delete my account with them if this is their terms and conditions though. Thanks for your help.

As a side note, I would give out my images to people who ask but those who do not ask piss me off enough to want to take action. It is just a matter of principal.