Once an image is posted and populated on the internet it may be impossible to remove it from the web.
If you took away all the images we see in everyday life, such as in the newspaper, on the web, magazines, art galleries, or in marketing & advertising, those worlds would be a pretty dull place.
The fact is we’re visual creatures, and we like to look at things. Viewing photographs of friends and family is such a part of who we are. Ever since people of ancient times drew drawings in caves to tell their stories, we as a people, have a need, a want, and an appreciation, to document our lives and tell stories.
Of course it makes sense, therefore, that we want to share our images with others. Whether images are of a personal or business nature, the internet has opened so many doors to share imagery.
But here’s the downside: image theft via the internet is on the rise.
For photographers and copyright holders, this has become a big concern. However, we accept it as part of our profession and take steps to avoid image theft as best we can.
But for the average person innocently posting images on the web, the opportunity for your image to be stolen and used by third parties for who knows what, is a real concern.
When I read an article about an image of a young girl which was stolen on the internet and ended up on a pornography site, I decided it was time to educate my clients, and give them options to protect themselves.
For our wedding and family clients who want to post images on personal web galleries or on social networking sites such as Facebook or MySpace, we can provide web resolution images which are water-marked across the center of each image. Only these images are granted web and email usage rights. The watermark is low in opacity but because it stretches across the middle of the image, it’s pretty much impossible to remove. This is a huge deterrent to image thieves. High resolution images are provided only with a license for personal printing. They are not to be used or converted for use on the web.
Speaking of Facebook, did you know that Facebook outlines in their terms that any user content you upload to their site automatically means they can use your content any way they wish without your permission?
You can read Facebook’s terms here.
Be prudent when posting images on the net or sending images via email. Protect yourself and don’t post or email images that aren’t watermarked, and if possible, properly tag the image’s metadata.
You may also want to read: