*NOTICE* MESSAGE TO AGENCIES, RESPECT COPYRIGHT, DON’T STEAL PHOTOS OR IMAGES

[luv2bebrown]

These agents stealing images actually deter me from using Dubizzle.

If I look for a property, I want to see real images of the actual interior, not 10 stolen images of the exteriors. If I see an agent has used stolen generic pictures, I actively ignore that particular ad posting.

Dubizzle is such a pain these days because it is full of this spam.

[gerald.d]

Originally Posted by luv2bebrown

These agents stealing images actually deter me from using Dubizzle.

If I look for a property, I want to see real images of the actual interior, not 10 stolen images of the exteriors. If I see an agent has used stolen generic pictures, I actively ignore that particular ad posting.

Dubizzle is such a pain these days because it is full of this spam.

Not long now, and this will be getting massive exposure.

Pretty much every photographer in the Middle East, and quite a few extremely famous ones wider afield, will get to know all about this later this evening.

[gerald.d]

http://gulfphotoplus.com/news-detail.php?id=333

[gerald.d]

<snip>
For once, an agency that appears to take this seriously.

[propertymagnet]

Good for you Gerald, its must be really really frustrating. About 4 years ago I refurbed one of my apartments in Dubai, and I rented it out short term, so naturally had a website created to enable me to get rentals , so of course my apartment which has the bathroom and kitchen changed looked completely different to the other apartments in my block. Not long after creating the site I started to get phone calls from friends of mine asking me if my apartment was for sale, I was panic stricken, thinking that somehow estate agents were going to sell my property without my knowledge.(doh!) What had happened is they stole the images from my website and were using them to sell apartments in my building.Some of the agents were british as well, but because in Dubai every agent just copies everyone else, it was hard to find which one of them instigated it all. before you could count to ten my apartment images were on scores of estate agents websites. So not only had they stole my images, but they were also 'pretending' that my apartment was the finished products of how apartments were in our building,again this is wrong also. So I admire you for standing up for what is right.
don't get me wrong im not at your level of photogaphy, but i do have a keen interest and a bit of experience on the subject, and its horrible to see other profiteer from your hard work. Go get em!

[gerald.d]

Been interviewed and photo taken for an article in The National tomorrow.

Not sure what lens their photographer was using, but there was something very wrong with the shots he took as they distorted my body a lot. He assured me he'd correct in Photoshop though.

/edit

Hello Mr Koryzma! Stalking me around the forum now, are we?

[Mr Koryzma]

Originally Posted by Dubai_Steve

I agree probably more than you imagine. Without the internet the word of mouth about Dubai, the focus and the inward investment would not be half of what it is today. And this site is probably the best out there on Dubai and Google for spreading the word.

You don't say! Spread the word Gerald

[gerald.d]

Hello Mr Koryzma! Stalking me around the forum now, are we?


Last edited by gerald.d; Today at 08:20 AM.

Today, 08:27 AM
Mr Koryzma

Damn I'm good.

[gerald.d]

http://www.thenational.ae/business/m...yright-wrangle

[Face81]

The title of this thread needs to include SSC forumers who copy and paste posts / photos in to other online forums without citing a source

[gerald.d]

Originally Posted by Face81

The title of this thread needs to include SSC forumers who copy and paste posts / photos in to other online forums without citing a source

If you ever come across someone doing that with any of mine, just let me know and I'll sort it out.

[Face81]

Originally Posted by gerald.d

If you ever come across someone doing that with any of mine, just let me know and I'll sort it out.

Thanks

I've sent you a PM

[gerald.d]

Originally Posted by gerald.d

<snip>
For once, an agency that appears to take this seriously.

Update on this one, because it's quite an interesting tale...

Originally, that post had details of another agency infringing my rights, both on Dubizzle and their own website. It is actually pretty rare for an agency to even have a semi-functioning website, so I decided to go after them directly as well.

I got the personal details of all three registered brokers with this agency through the RERA website, and then called them all.

The first to call me back was the first listed individual, who turned out to be their Emirati sponsor. I explained the situation to him, and he very kindly informed me as to the correct person to speak to regarding the matter.

5 minutes later, this individual called me.

He came across as very apologetic, and promised to not only remove all the images from the offending adverts, but also to pay up to settle the matter out of court. The standard rate for licensing an image to use in a property advert online that runs or a month or so is around $200 (per ad). Where a photographer discovers their work is being infringed, the typical action is to fire off an invoice for 3x this amount.

In this instance, I had discovered 6 separate adverts using the image, so I informed the individual concerned I would be sending him an invoice for $3,600. He - verbally - agreed to pay it, and begged me not to issue DMCA takedown notices to his hosting company. Which I agreed not to.

He also assures me categorically that the 6 instances I found were the only instances of him using the image.

Fast forward a week, and I get around to sending him the invoice.

Lo and behold - he replies within the hour pleading poverty, and that he doesn't have the money to pay it.

Naturally this pisses me off somewhat. Emails are exchanged, he offers to pay half, or perhaps to pay in installments.

So I send him notice that I will accept two cheques. One dated August 18th, one dated September 30th. Which I think was actually pretty lenient.

Come August 18th, and the cheques don't arrive. So I give him a little nudge. Again, he pleads poverty (remember - he had previously offered to pay 50% immediately).

So, I decide to ponder what to do about it over the weekend.

This morning, I stumble - quite by accident - on another property listings website that his company advertises on. And guess what - I discover a further 5 infringements!

I've just emailed him about this, and said that he has until 1pm today to deliver the cheques.

On the assumption that he won't, I was wondering out of the following 10 entities, which order to contact them in about this:

1. His website hosting company.
2. His CRM provider, and independent company who are effectively the back-end to his website, and who are hosting my images on their website.
3. His CRM provider's website hosting company.
4. The website hosting his adverts that infringe my intellectual property rights.
5. That website's hosting company.
6. The press
7. A lawyer
8. RERA
9. His sponsor.
10. The police

Now, I suspect that some of the above won't be remotely interested. But I'm sure quite a few of them will...

/edit
Just discovered something that makes things even more interesting. It turns out that the CRM company in question actually carries out the watermarking of images provided by the agency. Might seem like a small point, but it's actually crucial, because it means that they cannot claim Safe Harbor as per section 512 of the DMCA. Hopefully, this should mean they will be extremely motivated to sort this out.

[Imre]

Originally Posted by gerald.d

Update on this one, because it's quite an interesting tale...

Good job Gerald,

Did you mean 200 usd/ad/pic or 200 usd/ad ?

I will start to send out the invoices after the Eid

[gerald.d]

Originally Posted by Imre

Good job Gerald,

Did you mean 200 usd/ad/pic or 200 usd/ad ?

I will start to send out the invoices after the Eid

200usd per image, per advert.

If an agency reposts an advert for a property so that it is on Dubizzle's site twice, invoice them twice.

[Imre]

Thanks

[gerald.d]

Originally Posted by Imre

Thanks

Good luck

[Imre]

Happy Eid!