As many of you know, I was a victum of a copyright violation from a then Gather member who used one of my photos in a calendar she had for sale on Zazzle alittle over a year ago. Gather and Zazzle did kick the violator out, but that's as far as it went with any steps to increase the security of our photos, articles and poetry here on Gather.
Gather just doesn't seem to think it's a big deal... but it is! It's a crime (stealing) and it's happening all across the Internet. I had hoped at the very least that Gather would add the "no right click" feature to this site, as many other sites on the Internet have... but it landed on deaf ears. Yes, there are some people that are computer savvy and can get around this feature, but the majority of people would be stopped. Having this feature alerts the person trying to dowload content off a webpage that what they are trying to do is against the law.
Well, I came across a well written article explaining the most common copyright violations on the Internet, what can happen if you are found to have violated a copyright, and what you can do to protect yourself.
Since there are alot of us here on Gather concerned about this matter and some of you have also been violated, I wanted to share the link to this valuable article:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Copyrights: Who Cares Any More?<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 32
Makes me sad, too. Although nothing stolen photographic wise yet. I did have an article stolen off Associated Content, though.
on my side...I don't save the photos that I put here...so if I need to retrieve one, I need the right click feature to re-save it to my computer for what I need it for. yeah yeah...I should put my photos on discs...I know this too :)
Having been in various online art communities for a while, I share your view. It angers me when people take what isn't theirs.
I know I hear people asking others to "burn a CD" that they bought. I mean, go out and buy your own CD instead of just stealing it. People don't think twice about telling others to rip off other people's work.
That said, she does provide helpful links to sites that assist with copyright protection.
Sue,
I'm glad that you posted this, as this subject has been on my mind recently. Back in early 2008 Gather stated that they would like to look into the establishment of a 'Member Advisory Panel'. This panel would review methods for protecting member content and then make recommendations to Gather. Gather's statement was precipitated by a series of member concerns relating to content theft and other weaknesses that exposed member content to other risks.
Nothing ever materialized surrounding this panel however, and therefore I inquired about it again around the end of last year. I was informed that Gather would revisit this subject after a specific site update, which is now about 6 months behind us. Hence, it is likely that nothing will be done as the concept is continually relegated to a forgotten corner of the Gather universe. However, I would still suggest bringing it up to Gather again, as perhaps the response will be different this time...or provide further emphasis to what has already been communicated/acted upon.
I wasn't at all surprised to learn about that poet.
Marilyn