Real Estate Blog - Welcome to Flickr!

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Welcome to Flickr!

GREAT video!

Notice the parallels between the video and on line photo thieves' rationalizations.

"It was just there for the taking."

"I didn't see anyone."

"It was calling my name."

Is this the era and the generation that will destroy the value of intellectual property rights?

Until more people are more concerned about intellectual theft, it may well be.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Mike Jaquish, REALTOR®

919-880-2769 www.MikeJaquish.com

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Broker Associate, KELLER WILLIAMS® Realty, Cary, NC

Posted by Mike Jaquish Cary, NC, Real Estate on 10/16/2009 10:32 PM

Comments (50)

Flickr in the ActiveRain Channel

flickr, photo thieves

Originally posted at: Cary, NC, Real Estate Focus: Welcome to Flickr!

Post is included in group: "Whacked"!!!
Post is included in group: The Ninety-ninth Percentile
Post is included in group: Club Chaos

50 Comments on Welcome to Flickr!

OCT

Where are we heading? "Thou shalt not steal", something we learned at an early age in my day.

Mike, Isn't that amazing that people would just walk by and take the artwork!!! I do see the parallels between the video and online thieves.t What is sad is that the general public for the most part doesn't!! I'll be honest before starting on the rain I did not realize taking an online photo was theft. To be honest though at that time I didn't even know how to take someones online photo. Thank goodness by the time I learned I also learned that it was wrong.

Mike: some people think its normal to steal. They make a career of it. Great video!

OCT

My son went to the beach for a composition, and used a very expensive time lapsed video camera. He left because he didn't want to sit for 11 hours watching waves -- which he later used in his composition. No one stole that.

I was in New York on the subway, going to JFK. I had my hands full with luggage, carryon, and forgot my purse -- with money, ID, tickets. Someone turned it in, nothing was taken and they brought it to the airport for me.

Most people don't steal. And of the ones that do, they shouldn't make everyone jaundiced, IMHO.

Wow, I cannot believe that many people would just walk away with a photo on display. I like Carla's story about her missing tickets. In the end, I think most people are not theives :-)

Eric,

Me too.

Marchel,

I am not sure but what the taking of the artwork is staged for the making of the video. I truly hope so. Unfortunately, I think many people who take others photos do know what they are doing and see low chances of being caught.

Lloyd,

Thanks! I wish I could take the credit.

Carla,

Ithink you are right, and I know that there are great people all around us, as evidenced in your story.

Marcia,

I like Carla's story, too. And I have been the guy who found the purse before, so I know it to be a true story.

I thought it was NOT staged. I thought it was for real. Either way I get the point.

I would like to think it was staged to make the point...

I think most people are not thieves. I like Carla's stories.

This week someone in Columbus tweeted asking if people took their laptops to the restroom with them when they were at a public place working or if they just left them on the table. He said he dragged his laptop to the bathroom with him. I did not see responses.

I believe people should be allowed to share if they want to. I think a lot of members here (in ActiveRain, not on this post) sound very moralistic and look like idiots when they say over and over, "my content is all mine" and "I take all my photos" and warn one another you could get in trouble if you share a photo with a Creative Commons License that allows commercial use because ____________ . You go to their blog and their content is garbage and their big old fuzzy photos are oversized and indistinguishable but it is all theirs... they don't outsource anything...

Or they tatoo their photo with an ugly watermark right in the middle so that no one will steal it. I have seen someone who had a photo stolen on the internet turn into a complete watermarking nut and ruin a bunch of images with "MINE" "MINE" "MINE" to prevent anyone from using them. I feel she was a victim but she went on to victimize herself by ruining her content.

Great video you found Mike, I hope folks read it. I only search Creative Commons and can modify when I look on flickr.

Then I link back to the author.

Flickr is a great resource for photographers who want to share, but you NEED TO LOOK AT THE LICENSE the photographer attributed to it.

I've had to add a disclaimer at the end of my blog, my copy was taken word for word and I do watermark a few blurry and non blurry photos because those photos have appeared on other peoples web pages. My content and ideas were promoted as their own.

Love the video Mike!

Great video! Thanks.

I can't uderstand why people just don't use photos that they can download and use legally and for free. There are so many good websites out there that specialize in royalty free photos for absolutely no cost.

I have handled Flickr photos exactly as Missy described above. I enjoyed the video - I was surprised that people were willing to take stuff in broad daylight.

Cool Video. I use picapp which are royalty free on my Wordpress blog, and often pay companies like www.123rf.com for blog pictures.

Whether the video is staged or not, it's a sad commentary on morals and ethics. Like Missy pointed out, there are different licensing categories on Flickr, and working within those there are plenty of great photos and images to use.

The little voice in your head...remember my dad had a shot glass and it got used maybe 4 times a year max. It had a devil..with horns and advice "Let your conscience be your guide". Here's a series of videos though that warn..don't judge too quickly.

Mike To me the last scene was most telling - the guy has him look back to his other photo and then ran away Sign of the times Karen

I believed the video, until the last guy did the head fake about "somebody is taking your other photo" and than runs off. But the point still stands

Mmmm. . . . . . I seem to have a disconnect. . . . . . . This doesn't look like theft of intellectual property. . . . . . This is the theft of personal property. . . . . . . . . This looked like plain old robbery to me.

People just walked off with photos because they spoke to them??? Is that like killing people because your Wheaties told you to??? People are wacked...can't believe it. Interesting way to make a point though...I like the video...maybe I will take it!!! :o)))) LOL!

I wonder if all these were actors to illustrate a point or it actually happened? If it was a set, then I know it would happen in real life. If real, I'm not shocked. I spent four years in the military and I had my fellow comrades steal my undershirts, boots, shoe polish, you name it. Theft in the workplace -- pens, paper, etc. occurs all the time as well. So sad.

Maureen,

I would defend any idiot's right to manage and control their content and photos as they desire. "Garbage" content is a subjective assessment that serves to diminish the value of that right, I think.

And I agree. I will not watermark my humble photography to stop a thief.

Missy,

Flickr even says you need to ask personal permission prior to using a photo, without mention of CC licensing.

Cynthia,

I am sad to hear that you damage your stuff to make it less attractive to thieves.

Jean,

Thanks! You are welcome!

Michael,

Because it is too easy to swipe them. That is why. And apparently it sure beats taking photos.

Jason,

Again, Flickr says to contact the artist prior to use.

Joe,

Thanks for chiming in. I will check out both links/services.

John,

Well, if it was staged, and a complete fabrication with no link to reality, it would only be a fantasy. I wish...

Andrew,

Funny ads.

Karen,

If any of it was staged, I am guessing the last scene was it. I hope.

Daniel,

That last scene was punctuation, wasn't it?

Lenn,

I think way too many people disconnect illicit taking of intellectual property from personal property theft, and that the video is one way to make that point that theft is theft. Unfortunately, like you, I think most intellectual property thieves know what they are doing and just think the risk of being caught is low enough to proceed.

Jeani,

It's the voices.....

Chris,

I thought that stuff just "walks away."

The " DontScrewUs.org " folks have a pretty good Manifesto. #1 says it, IMO, but #9 which refers to the cost of their gear shouldn't be taken as license to swipe stuff done with cheap equipment, either...

Mike -

great illustration of what we discussed at lunch!

These things are very hard to stop though, because of a blurred line between public and private these days. I don't condone intelluctual property theft in any way. But admit it, we all borrow a lot from other people. You can't create something completely on your own.

Go to Saudi. The jewelry companies close their shops for prayer with a mere tarp over their display. Thefts? Not gonna happen. Our country is waaaaay to tolerant on this activity and this is what we have. Welcome to our new country. It is quite sad to see.....

David,

Definitely on point, isn't it?

Sal,

What is blurry?

Tim,

Hmmmm... I think I will stick in the USA.

I use the same process Missy does... Creative commons license.

And I have a great story about a case full of Nikon lenses and LAX... luckily it wasn't me.

Lane,

Do you contact the owner of the work, as Flickr requires?

I'm not sure how Flickr works as far as sharing. I just go out and take my own pictures.

It should be interesting to see how intellectual property develops in this new age though I would expect people will still keep their rights if they don't give them away.

Hi Mike, An interesting video. The results are not really a surprise, the characters made it seem that this was staged and not random. On the other hand if it was not staged then the persons were easily identified for any good prosecutor.

I think most people, the vast majority know the difference between what's right and wrong. If they choose to make an exception to that which they know to be right , sadly it will have consequences. Is there a large number willing to make that exception? In my view no. I could be wrong here but the basic tenant of honesty is not generational, crosses all boundaries of nations, religions and social classes and guessing that the temptation ( even with intellectual property) is really no greater today than before there was such an abundance of it.

If that guy offered to give those artworks away ( not staged), you would also know that most would walk away and not take them even if offered. That is based on the more prevelent belief that if somthing is free it has little value.

There are numerous social lessons that can be drawn but I will stick to the idea that most people are honest and are not tempted very easily. As for the ones that are, they are not reading this, as they are out and about and likely very busy, :-)

OCT

Good video Mike. Interesting to see the different responses of people when they get caught doing the wrong thing.

pretty powerful stuff.. very thought provoking post... wonder how people would act in different areas...

stealing photos off the internet is not near as bold as on the street... much easier to justify..or act innocent...

thanks

Christine,

Flickr sharing is based on the members' willingness to share, or desire to not share. Visitors to Flickr need to heed the differences.

William,

I think most people are honest too. I also think that we always have the opportunity for a minority to mess things up for others. And I think that rationalization of behavior is a powerful force.

Don,

Thanks. It is food for thought.

Debra,

Right. It is easier to rationalize gathering something less tangible as taking something of little value. Because it is easy to take.

Mike, congrats on the feature and sharing a great video that makes it's point quite clearly. I don't think there is any reason to read anything deeper into it than what seems to be intended...whether it is staged or not (I would find it funny if real estate agents had a problem with "staging" to make a point) it is creative people using their talents to say creatively that "Stealing is stealing. Don't do it."

As with the tv commercial, which ran a few years back, to remind people that copying and distributing dvds and cd is stealing and the campaigns run by music artists to help parents understand that when their kids said 'I got it free on Napster' it didn't mean it wasn't theft. Intellectual property only recently gave people a new arena in which to rationalize their actions. Intellectual or personal, if it isn't yours, ask or leave it alone. Personally, I think it is even easier than that. Do unto others...it isn't like you need to steal intellectual property to eat.

We are very lucky to live in an area where we have as many stories about honest folk as we do about dishonest ones...I've left my garage door open all night with the door to my house unlocked and nothing happened. Yet my neighbors have had their unlocked storage shed opened and tools stolen. There are all kinds of folks in this world and it is what it is.

Thanks, SarahGray,

Nice comment on 'staging,' too. I thought the point was made with creativity, too.

I think we have had folks photocopying printed stuff for a long time, but the opportunity to swipe from the internet is just so easy.

A sad reflection of society today.

My guess is that hundreds walked by without taking before 1 did. They guy that ran off is mind blowing. A great video with a great reminder. I will say, just last week my daughter wallet went missing. It was missing for 3 days. We get a knock on the door. Someone drove to our house and returned it, they found it in a trash where someone had tossed it. Bottom line someone took it, another went out of their way to return it with a pay it forward response. There are always going to be good and bad, let's appreciate the good and let the bad know it is unacceptable and maybe somewhere down the road of life they will get it!

Mike- I paid for a subscription to iClipart and get all my clipart and photo's there, knowing that I'm doing the right thing and not just taking a photo off Google somewhere. Or else I take my own photos. Great video, congrats on the featured blog.

Mike...

John Novak stole my comment :)

For awhile there I didn't know about the derivative works clause. As soon as it was pointed out to me I cleaned up my act. Well, at least most of my act :)

I found out it's not okay for me to scribble all over all people's intellectualy property. Now, I check the rules and regs of every site I even consider using. I'd like to be able to say I have moral fiber :)

TLW...ROAR!

Mike, It would be interesting to know the time elapsed piece of the video. My guess is that a lot of people walked right on by, before those that took it, took it. There will always be thieves and clepto's in the world...lesson-watch your stuff-or have someone keep an eye on it. Women in the grocery store, leaving their handbags in the cart while gathering their items...again-look out for the clepto's! And the Internet is no different. If it's that important, date it, stamp it, whatever you can do to prove it is yours. If it's not sooo very important, go forth and enjoy your day.

OMG....this is amazing . What goes around comes around, as they say. Some day this kind of living will catch up with them.

Thanks for the post.

Patricia /Seacoast NH

There is a huge difference. When someone takes a picture from online, the picture is still there. They have taken a copy. I'm not saying it's OK, but it is totally different. What if someone took a photo of this guy's framed photo. Is that also stealing?

Alan,

Oh, I suppose we still have a few good folks amongst us.

Dianne,

Of course, you are right. And of course, one is wise to recognize that it is not a perfect world, while not letting that fact deter us from our daily rounds.

Linda,

Thanks!

TLW,

Wasn't the third guy in the video John Novak?

Jane,

While dating and stamping, it is worthwhile I think to try to educate folks who would otherwise not know they are doing something wrong. They probably are the ones who can make or break a trend. That is what this post is about, spreading the information.

Georgina,

When someone takes a photo from on line, and uses it for profit, and does not have permission, the diminished value of the original is not justified by the original creator having a copy.

Digital photography allows us to disseminate work very cheaply, but it still should be via permission sought, and only after permission given by the originator.

Dull people taking one of my photos from Flickr used to amuse me. Then I realized how many hours I have in shooting and uploading, and the fact that someone else can steal my time for free in an attempt to profit from my work is now a little aggravating.

If the artist has copyrighted the image of the photo, it may well be theft to take a photo of that framed photo without permission.

Jeeze, why don't people buy cameras and learn to use them? It seems that simple.

Mike, look what happens to people who download music and have the big time lawyers come after them...Yikes!

I like to take my own photos, and when I use someone else's I just ask if it's ok.

David,

Nothing is as satisfying as using stuff I create to augment stuff I write.

OCT

Speaking of licenses, let's talk about the commercial use of Flickr in the first place--regardless of image licenses. It's my understanding that any commercial use of Flickr violates the TOS. I'm not 100% on this, but I remember looking into it. So, putting photos of ones listings on Flickr would seem to violate their terms. Anyone else?

Ian,

Without doubt, the best hosting solution is on your own website, IMO, where you define your own TOS. I see that move as my next endeavor.

But, if I use my own photo from Flickr, at least I am not using someone else's artistic creation.

It IS funny when people lift work from Flickr members and give Flickr credit for it. Flickr owns no images, to my knowledge.

Oh Mike - what an eye opening video. Thanks for sharing and congrats on the shiny new

Pam,

Thanks!

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