WWW Image Theft

[goamules]

Good discussion on what is a copyright pertaining to images. I appreciate dh003i keeping things intellectual, above the rock-throwing level. I think it's important to hear these views, because as he says they are shared by many of the youth of the world, and many in poor countries.

I'm not saying I agree that images should be a free-for-all. But proportinality does need to be considered. How much "loss of income" would occur if a website uses your image? Would it stop sales? Slow them down? Do you even sell softcopy images?

Supply and demand should also be considered. How many alternate pictures are available, for free? Could I charge "art rate" for an image that is used for "website design?"

What about intent? Does the church site expect to make money off your image? Will more people join, and send them money because of a nice image.

I'd stick with explaining the copyright rules as you've done. After you've implied that you could have been paid for the use, and now they're willing to pay, why punish them? To "teach a lesson" that they now already understand?

I'd wager the market for selling medium resolution images is pretty slim, so when I post something I do it smallish. If someone wants to use the image, credit would be nice, to drive business my way. If someone wants a nice print or original plate they have to pay for that.

[Jehu]

Why not leave it to market forces?

"How much do you want for that item that you own?"

"$500"

"That's too much. I'll give you $300"

"How about $400?"

"Sold."

Maybe I'm just oversimplifying it.

The concept of intellectual property ownership has no perfect answers. Several years ago, a friend of a friend in Las Vegas went to Nashville to try and sell his song. He had been singing it for a year or so at the tavern that he owns. He didn't know the first thing about copyrights. He played his song for a couple of agents but nobody would buy it. He came home discouraged about it. A few weeks later, he heard his song on the radio. He tried to claim the rights for the song but lost. He should've taken some precautions. The affidavits of his patrons didn't suffice.

The song was "The Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time"

Or I was lied to.

[dh003i]

Why not leave it to market forces?

"How much do you want for that item that you own?"

"$500"

"That's too much. I'll give you $300"

"How about $400?"

"Sold."

Maybe I'm just oversimplifying it.

The concept of intellectual property ownership has no perfect answers. Several years ago, a friend of a friend in Las Vegas went to Nashville to try and sell his song. He had been singing it for a year or so at the tavern that he owns. He didn't know the first thing about copyrights. He played his song for a couple of agents but nobody would buy it. He came home discouraged about it. A few weeks later, he heard his song on the radio. He tried to claim the rights for the song but lost. He should've taken some precautions. The affidavits of his patrons didn't suffice.

The song was "The Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time"

Or I was lied to.

I tend to agree with what you quoted being the appropriate way to deal with things both for singers, painters, photographers, etc; negotiating with clients (or setting fixed-rates). If one doesn't want one's work to be duplicated all over the place in a sales-worthy quality, it is one's own responsibility to take precautions.

[BrianShaw]

The song was "The Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time"

Or I was lied to.

No, you weren't led to... that is really true.

[Jehu]

No, you weren't led to... that is really true.

Like I said, it was a friend of a friend that this happened to. He told me of it when we visited the tavern. There were some others there that concurred with the story. It hurts to think about rich people getting richer from "stealing" creative ideas from others.

On a similar note, I wrote a song that turned out pretty good. I practiced it with a Church group near here. I visited that Church a few weeks later and they were singing it. When it comes to religious stuff, people tend to expect give-aways. That's why I hate working for Churches. It figures, my only prejudice is against religious people and I am one.

[sharon333]

That is a rough one. I would figure as long as they give you credit it should be all good.