by Sonia M.
Member since:
July 22, 2006

Photo used without permission

April 29, 2012 09:44 PM UTC
views: 0 | 11 people recommend this | comments: 66

I was replying to a comment just made on a photograph I posted November 24th, 2006 here in Gather.  The photo above is the salad my friend Sue made for our Thanksgiving Dinner of November 23rd, 2006.

After replying to the comment and re-reading the earlier comments, I decided to do a search for a recipe for that salad and see what would come up...

One of the things that came up during the search was a series of photos of the same style salad by different people.  One of the photos looked mighty familiar and when I clicked on it, darn if it wasn't my photo being used to illustrate a recipe for the salad and no credit given.

The recipe site can be found here:

http://www.cocinarecetas.net/ensalada-de-nochebuena.html

and BTW, whoever posted it did a terrible job of writing out the recipe ingredients and method of preparation.  There is no name for whoever posted it.

The original Gather post by me can be found here:

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976846087

I posted a comment in both English and Spanish requesting it be either taken down or proper credit given...not that I think anything will be done...

There probably is no recourse, as the site does not give any indications of any one person affiliated with it.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....!

 

 

Comments: 66

William M. Apr 29, 2012, 9:46pm UTC
Anyone who knows you knows you are not going to post anything you should not.
Sonia M. Apr 29, 2012, 9:54pm UTC
William, no one has said I did...I'm sorry if that was the impression I gave.
Someone else has used one of my photos and not given credit. That is just not done.
William M. Apr 29, 2012, 10:09pm UTC
I understood they had used yours without permission. I thought someone had seen it somewhere and thought you had used it without permission. Sorry for the mistake.
Sonia M. Apr 29, 2012, 10:37pm UTC
;-)
William M. Apr 29, 2012, 11:52pm UTC
;-)
Jeff R. Apr 29, 2012, 9:49pm UTC
That is too bad...
Sonia M. Apr 29, 2012, 9:54pm UTC
Yes, it is!
JOHN BECK Apr 29, 2012, 9:53pm UTC
Plagiarism is alive and well, unfortunately.
Sonia M. Apr 29, 2012, 9:55pm UTC
Too much so, John...Thank you!
Sandra H. Apr 29, 2012, 9:55pm UTC
Sorry to hear someone took your photo and used it without permission.....Unfortunately, I think it happens a lot.
Sonia M. Apr 29, 2012, 9:57pm UTC
Yes, it does, Sandy....Goodness knows how many more are floating around

I found it by chance, as I wasn't actively looking for my photos being used...
Tim T. Apr 29, 2012, 9:58pm UTC
I agree with Sandy.
Sonia M. Apr 29, 2012, 9:59pm UTC
I know it happens, Tim...still, that does not make it right...
David W. Apr 29, 2012, 9:59pm UTC
The hazards of the WWW. I found one of my poems on a site I never subscribed to. At least they used my name.
Sonia M. Apr 29, 2012, 10:01pm UTC
Oh, wow, David.

I might have to find a way to mark my photos where it can't be cut off...
The way Picasa does it now, the photo can be cropped and my name cut off...at least, I haven't found how to move the mark to the middle of the photo.
Debbie W. Apr 29, 2012, 10:11pm UTC
I think this happens every day, all day, as there is just no way to monitor stuff like this. So sorry it happened to you.
Sonia M. Apr 29, 2012, 10:30pm UTC
Thanks, Debbie
Madame Donna C. Apr 29, 2012, 10:14pm UTC
Sonia, I'm feel so sad that this happened to you. It's been happening to me for quite some time both here, yes on Gather, and other sites. I've found my recipes posted and others claiming credit and plenty of my photos here and abroad (and my photos aren't even good enough to steal). I hate to see it and yet it's rampant. It seems that no one has any respect for creativity or creative license any more. I got lucky with a couple of steals that I went after legally but it's costly and time consuming. Meanwhile, it just happens again and again on the internet. For some time, I watermarked my photos but good thieves just photoshop it out. Excuse me for saying so but it's a "piss off" whether it is written or photographic material.
Sonia M. Apr 29, 2012, 10:33pm UTC
Yes, it is, Donna...and you don't need to excuse yourself for saying it. It does really 'piss me off" too. I think I remember a particular incident where you were able to sue successfully.
Madame Donna C. Apr 29, 2012, 10:53pm UTC
Glad you remember! It was worth every penny I spent to make some plagiarizer pay me back! And I made more that way than what I would have made by a simple sale of my work. By year's end I'll have a personal attorney who won't charge me and I hope to go after everything out there that I couldn't afford to prosecute. I just hope those "douchebags" take down the work they stole before I get into litigation mode! haha, Finally revenge will be my comfort.
Sonia M. Apr 29, 2012, 11:35pm UTC
I hope you can, Donna. At least teach a few people the lesson that plagiarism is another name for stealing...plain and simple.
Sonia M. May 5, 2012, 4:35pm UTC
Donna...this is a follow up

More about "Photo used without permission" - a HOW-TO recovery
Risa G. Apr 29, 2012, 10:52pm UTC
This is just horrific. I can see if someone made the salad and took a picture of it and then posted their picture but stealing your photo and posting it without permission is just awful. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Sonia M. Apr 29, 2012, 11:31pm UTC
They don't care, Risa.... :-(
Steph-in-NE ..... Apr 30, 2012, 1:30am UTC
this is why I make a note on bottom of some of my pictures that I dont want copy,, it is my signa,,,
Sonia M. Apr 30, 2012, 1:22pm UTC
Yes, but the signature can be cropped.

My Picasa program automatically puts the signature with the name of my blog on it, but it places it low on the photo and it can be removed. I would like to learn if there is a way I can change it to place it in the middle...
♥ Christine aka stine1 ♥ Apr 30, 2012, 6:12am UTC
Oh, I know that situation. One of my Triond articles has been used on a website and I cannot contact the one who has stolen it.
Sonia M. Apr 30, 2012, 1:23pm UTC
That is terrible, Christine! I wish you luck in finding how to contact someone...I can't find a way to contact someone at this recipe site either.
August Lady Apr 30, 2012, 8:41am UTC
Wow, amazing that you found it, as it looks like a foreign website, like maybe from South America.
Sonia M. Apr 30, 2012, 1:24pm UTC
Yes, it is a foreign website and gives no clue how to contact the webmaster
Sensational Sadie Sexy Senior Sitizen Apr 30, 2012, 10:41am UTC
It sounds like you handles the situation well. I don't blame you for neing irked though.
Sonia M. Apr 30, 2012, 1:25pm UTC
Thank you, Audrey. Don't know what else I can do in this particular situation except let people know and maybe barrage them with comments
RedBird. B. Apr 30, 2012, 11:54am UTC
With you addressing this, I Hope You can see some Good results.
Sonia M. Apr 30, 2012, 1:26pm UTC
I don't see how anything will result from this except to maybe flood them with negative publicity for using stolen photos.
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Apr 30, 2012, 12:45pm UTC
Disabling the right click feature is such a simple program for site to incorporate, I don't know why Gather refuses to use it. I'm so sorry this happened to you. IMHO, anything you put on Gather, unfortunately, can be used by anyone for anything. It's hurts even more when you are just trying to share with others and something like this happens.
Sonia M. Apr 30, 2012, 1:30pm UTC
Nana, there is no way to know if they stole the photo from the Gather article site itself. Unfortunately, my photo also appears as my own photo also when you goggle the name of the recipe in the Google search engines.

If you type Ensalada de Nochebuena at the Goggle search engine...a bunch of recipe sites will show up with that recipe and also a gallery of photos illustrating that particular dish. Among all of those photos from many different people, mine appears twice; once as mine and link you to my article and the other links you to the Spanish recipe website. Its the way Google search engine operates...
Angela M. Apr 30, 2012, 1:32pm UTC
is this a spanish version of kraft web site I noticed they are an advertiser there
Sonia M. Apr 30, 2012, 1:59pm UTC
No, Angela. The site itself doesn't have anything to do with any company...or at least, it does not show affiliation to any company. Those are just Google ads that show up in related websites...
Angela M. May 1, 2012, 10:31am UTC
well if they are using google adsence then report them to google and they can lose that which is their income
Sonia M. May 1, 2012, 12:30pm UTC
I don't want to stomp on them, I just want them to stop using other people's property w/o permission....but, where do you go to check on Goggle adsence?
Connie C. Apr 30, 2012, 4:15pm UTC
I am betting that happens more than we know too.
Sonia M. Apr 30, 2012, 4:20pm UTC
I'm sure it does, Connie...that still doesn't make it right... :-(
Connie C. Apr 30, 2012, 4:41pm UTC
OH no, it doesn't. I did not mean to imply it did. I just was saying we have probably all been stolen from online.
Sonia M. Apr 30, 2012, 5:10pm UTC
Yes..this was just happenstance I found this one...goodness knows how many more there are out there...
Connie C. Apr 30, 2012, 10:25pm UTC
This comment is just to let you know that this post is spotlighted in the What Is Happening Today On Gather ~ Monday April 30, 2012

Congratulations!

I hope you have the time to check out the other posts and photos that are spotlighted as well.

Have a wonderful night!
Sonia M. Apr 30, 2012, 11:35pm UTC
Thanks, Connie!

A friend was able to find out the name of the individual, address, e-mail and phone of the owner of the website. It is in Spain. I have sent a Cease & Desist notice. We shall see what happens.
Kerrell Goolsby Apr 30, 2012, 11:47pm UTC
...I hope it works! Keep me in the loop.
Sonia M. May 1, 2012, 12:38am UTC
Thanks, Kerrell
I will be posting results, if anything develops
Connie C. May 1, 2012, 3:49am UTC
I will try to keep up with your progress in this matter. If you post an update and I don't comment, would you please email me?
Sonia M. May 1, 2012, 12:27pm UTC
Certainly. I just hope I don't forget...;-)

Thank you, Connie
Sonia M. May 5, 2012, 4:36pm UTC
Connie, here is a follow up

More about "Photo used without permission" - a HOW-TO recovery
Gary (The Eclectic) Timothy Apr 30, 2012, 11:48pm UTC
Grrrrrrr is right!! I sure hope your Cease & Desist notice is at least noticed. So sad that some folks think that the rules just don't apply to them.
Sonia M. May 1, 2012, 12:39am UTC
I don't understand it myself...I would be so scared someone found me out using someone else's pics!!!
Rachel D. May 1, 2012, 8:29am UTC
Alas, happens all the time. I'm sorry it happened to you.
Sonia M. May 1, 2012, 12:27pm UTC
Thank you, Rachel
Ms Lee P. May 1, 2012, 1:49pm UTC
Awww, but the photo is beautiful and whoever copied it knew a nice tempting picture when they saw one. It looks so good and I can honestly say I've never made this salad before. Shame on them for stealing your photo.
Sonia M. May 1, 2012, 1:54pm UTC
LOL....Ms Lee, you almost make me sorry I went into a rampage in this issue...almost, but not quite... ;-) I do 'appreciate that he appreciated' my photo of such a lovely dish my friend put together, but still....using it w/o permission is, after all....still stealing... ;-)
Jan S. May 1, 2012, 9:34pm UTC
The only way I know to protect your work is to watermark photos. Recipes aren't so easy to protect. Someone can take a recipe and make a tiny, minor change or substitution and it's not a copyright infringement. I can see why this person wanted to use your photo. It looks soooo good! Thanks for posting to Cook it up Big!
Sonia M. May 1, 2012, 11:46pm UTC
Picasa watermarks show up at the bottom of the photos and easily cropped when someone wants to steal them...

I need to find a way to either move it to the center of the photo or in a place where they just can't cut it out...

Thanks, the photo did turn up nice, but it was the salad itself that made it look so pretty!
Donald H. May 2, 2012, 7:53am UTC
Sonia.....notify the site in question using the same info above and see what thye have ti say about it. If nothing happens contact a copyright law atty. You can & will get damages for the act.
Sonia M. May 2, 2012, 12:31pm UTC
Thanks, Doc...although there is no info at all at the website on the webmaster or any other info, a friend of mine who has been the victim (big time) of plagiarism in the past found out who owns it - I now have name, address, phone and e-mail of the website owner. Sent him a 'Cease & Desist' notice. I also made inquiries from Google AdSense, since the website uses their services, and it is completely against their policy for someone to use any material w/o permission, so I have reported him. We shall see what happens now.
lena k. May 2, 2012, 8:08am UTC
no idea
Sonia M. May 2, 2012, 12:32pm UTC
Thank you, Lena
Marsha C. May 3, 2012, 12:01am UTC
sorry this happened...and it happens all too often.
I might be quilty of it and not know. With squidoo we are now required to attribute all photos in our lenses, even if they are in the public domain.
I am having to change out a lot of my photos----I am either finding out they weren't sharable, or it's been way too long and I can not figure out where I found them to begin with.
I'm having some major lessons in copyright.
Sonia M. May 3, 2012, 12:28am UTC
The way to avoid all this hassle is to never use photos that you're not sure where they came from. I use only mine, or those of my friends who have given me permission (and I give them credit) and I request my friends return the courtesy if they use mine.

Sometimes what seems to be in the public domain are photos that show up , like for example on a Google search and they might not really be public.
Sonia M. May 5, 2012, 4:37pm UTC
Here is a follow up

More about "Photo used without permission" - a HOW-TO recovery

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