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Notice:
While browsing the internet the other day, I saw something rather disturbing. I know the WWW is a huge place and that some things are commonplace, but it disturbed me nonetheless.
I was looking at an import car page. It had some links to pictures that the webmaster had claimed that he found in a magazine. I went to those links and LO AND BEHOLD, there were pics from my page!! The URLs are:
Another point: this person claims he got them from a magazine, but he doesn't credit the magazines specifically. He also gives no credit to me. I scanned them and posted them to my web server, and he never even asked me for permission to post, out of courtesy.
How do I know that these pics are specifically mine? My name and information was embedded into the picture by ME. When I saw 'his' pictures, I quickly downloaded them and check the embedded information and found that these were indeed from my page. I had meticulously scanned them so they would look professional. I cut out the outer verbiage that surrounded the pictures in the magazines. They are precisely cut on the left side of the pictures, to where the front bumpers are on the edges of the picture, very close to the cropping. If he scanned them from a magazine and edited them exactly the same way I did, we must be on the same wavelength or something, which I doubt.
I asked him to remove the pictures or give credit where credit is due (me and where the pictures originated from). I got a response from him and he said that he would correct this ASAP, but I've seen no other emails from him since 26 Apr 99. I'll send him this link, and I'm also considering sending this link to his ISP and web host. I want to make as much noise about this as possible.
I will now be watermarking all the pictures I scan with "Ron's Archives". The watermarks will be placed in an area of the photo where it will be hard to remove without making the photo look ugly. It won't be a pretty watermark, it will be very basic. Some will be in the middle of the photo. I do this to stop the photos from being used without proper crediting and copyright recognition. While my name will be on the pics, I will still be giving the photos copyright recognition, by using a copyright statement on top of my archive pages. I won't be taking total credit for the pictures, which is not my right, but I WILL be taking partial credit for the scanning and editing of them. If I find that this does not curb the theft, then I will make the watermarks harder to remove by showing more watermark than picture. I'm sure the majority of my page visitors won't mind much. If so, then there are other alternatives. Maybe an email to ISPs or some type of legal action.
I like the idea of sharing knowledge and the internet is a powerful tool for that, BUT I hate when someone finds something on the internet, puts it on their page, and, through being deceitful or being ignorant, claim that unspecified something for themselves. This isn't the wild, wild west. This is my stake of claim.....my piece of internet, that is being raped. Call me anal, but I spend a few sleepless nights scanning and editing those pictures, and have a certain right to bitch about this.
I'm seeing now that the internet promotes anarchy. This little problem of mine makes me want to support regulating the web. Sad, but true....
Comments? I can be reached at wigglit@wigglit.com. Please, be civil when sending comments...no "internet rage" please.
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