Help my images were lifted off my web site AGAIN!

[Pam]

Ok, I need some advice. Once again I find that some of the images on my website have been used by another studio to promote a class they are teaching. Please don't ask me which studio because I want to give them a chance to resolve this and give me their side of how it happened before ratting them out. What I want advice on is what some of you might concider a fair out come. Oh I forgot to mention that it isn't only the images but some of the text as well. Slight changes to word here or there but that is all.

Because this has happened so many times in the past (not with them but others) I don't think removing the images is enough this time. After all it is a pdf document the have put up and who knows what they might have in print in the store. Some might say that I should feel flattered they used my images but I don't. I took the time and effort to take the pictures as I created the piece and then write an article about it. If they had asked FIRST and gave me credit it wouldn't be an issue. I am tired of having MY work being used to promote and represent others. The funning thing is I have traveled to teach this class across the country and I see they do have other artist come and teach there. Heck I amj teaching this next month in Chicago!

By the way, the site and article is plastered with my copyright info. Thanks for any advice.

Pam

[Graham]

I guess you'd stop short of organizing a lynch mob, eh.
Unfortunately, that's my best suggestion. It's the  way. 'Cause we don't 'llow no guns.

[Pam]

And that's why I lov ya! By the way Graham, they are up your way but on this side of the border. How you and those wild knees doing?

[Pam]

OK...I sent an email (as adviced by lawyer for proof of notification) and they called me back right away. The excuse is that they were in a hurry to get something up on the website about the class. They feel just taking it down is ok. I'm not inclined to accept that with the excuse given. They still don't see it was the wrong thing to do in the first place. The link to the pdf is not working now so I guess I will have to wait and see what happens next. I did download the pdf file and it contains the creation date and time plus the person who made it listed their name as the author so I have the proof if needed that it did in fact exist.

I noticed work by other artists were also included. Would you tip them off as well even though they removed the link to the pdf file?

[Hartache]

Yes, tipping off the others is the first thing I would have done.

[Gary]

You can password protect pdf files on your server using htaccess.
Here's a generator that will protect directories and more... http://tools.dynamicdrive.com/password/

[Pam]

Thanks Gary. I do know that I can password protect thing and might be heading that way but you know me. Love to share info and that is why I am always in this fix. I do have to learn how to make it so people can't right click and down load my images. I guess I have something to do now that I am layed up with a broken foor.

To update everyone.... I spoke this morning with a fellow glasser who does know the parties involved and was told they are basically nice people. They have removed the link to the document and renamed the course. There isn't a course description for it yet though. They also said they will put a link on their site to my studio's site. I did ask them to weed through their site and remove any and all content that might have been taken from other sites. If they do this I will be satisfied. I didn't do this just for me but also for the other artists and studios that were used. I feel confident that they now know it was wrong and they will not do it again. That is what I wanted all along. I'll keep an eye out on the site for the next few weeks to see if they do remove all offending items. I really want to give them a chance since they offer some wonderful classes here in the north east and heck, I can't teach every where, someone else has to too. ha ha. Who knows, in the long run and when every thing is done, maybe I might have made yet another glass pal.

[Pam]

Since I brought up this subject, I thought I would share this site with you all. It helps explain in plain english some of the myths about copyrights and the internet.

http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html

[Graham]

My computer says:

"The URL is not valid and cannot be loaded."

I don't think that's a myth!

[Alan]

My computer says:

"The URL is not valid and cannot be loaded."

I don't think that's a myth!

Try it now - I fixed the link.

[zapster]

"We" know the feeling..

The welding site I am admin. on...
Gary had to sign up to see the Dover pics before I posted them here..
I asked upper management about it and here is the responce..Basically....

"People should take the 2 mins to sign up to see pics..
Before we went to "No Outsiders" there were "Experts" that would take someones welding project pics and post them on other welding sites just to "Drag People Thru The Mud" and slander sites/buisnesses just because these "Experts" don't like what he/she did..."

I tend to agree.

Lets face it gang..
There are these dumbasses on every site.
I have actually had some of my own welding jobs posted elsewhere and these "Experts" claimed to have done the job themselves because they really do suck at welding..

BTW I teach TIG welding every so often..Yes I am Govt.Certified..

It will never end and I guess that's the way it is..

...zap!

[Graham]

http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html

That's an excellent article. Thanks Pam and Allan (for cleaning up after fumble-fingers).
I've already posted that link (the author says we can do that) on another board. It answers some of the questions - in nice simple language that even I can understand.

[Pam]

Try it now - I fixed the link.

Thanks Alan.