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When will people learn? you can't just steal MY photos.

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 GREC# 169695

I shouldn't be writing about this in all likelihood, but I'm going to do it and I will keep you posted as things progress.  I've had various photos STOLEN and used over the years.  The first time it happened I was just sort of hung out to dry because my work wasn't registered.  Of course I could send a cease and desist and stop someone from using MY work, but that was about it.  More recently I "settled" with someone.

Now take a moment... just a moment to look at the cover photo of this magazine.  Go ahead, I'll wait.  Check out the cloud details, really carefully.  Now check out my photo.  Yes, my has been registered with the copyright photo. :)  

Tammy's Lake Sinclair photo

Now I have to get back to work.

 

Posted by

706-485-9668  us on facebook

Tammy@Lake-Sinclair.com

(Click on Lane Realty Logo for web site)

Tammy Lankford, Broker/Owner

 

Broker License # 169695  Lane Realty License # H-11420

Real Estate Instructor License # 355089

Call me today for all your Lake Sinclair real estate needs.

 Search for homes on Lake Sinclair now

For readers who are not members of ActiveRain feel free to also add your comments or you can click on the EMAIL me link to the right of this blog and email me.  Thanks for reading.

All content belongs to me unless otherwise stated.  Do not use without permission.  Logos and photographs may also be copyright registered. Please do not use without my express written permission.

                                                                                                                  

          

Comments (51)

Jill Winchel
Royal Shell Real Estate - The Koffman Group - Cape Coral, FL
We make it easy. You make it home.

Looks like an exact match, and a beautiful pic, BTW. A publication should know better. Hope you get it straightened out soon.

Jan 12, 2014 09:56 PM
Richard Iarossi
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD
Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Tammy,

That is one mistake is the cost somebody a good deal of money. At least I hope so, for your sake.

Rich

Jan 12, 2014 09:58 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

I have seen so many pictures which are snapshots of a moment in time. Free to all to behold but the moment I spend my time capturing it and then sharing it, it comes with a price to someon else...

Jan 12, 2014 10:53 PM
Jill Saddler
Draper, UT
Draper Utah Real Estate Professional - 25 years+!

That is definitely your picture... frustrating to say the least... :(

Jan 12, 2014 11:14 PM
Sacramento Grapevine
SacramentoGrapevine - Roseville, CA

Money and more money make them pay.

 

Can not wait until I see how this turns out.

Jan 12, 2014 11:15 PM
Bruce Hicks
Best Homes Hawaii - Honolulu, HI
Your Best Hawaii Realtor!

You should go after them they way Getty goes after people.  I was at a meeting where an agent brought up that she was caught hit for $1,000. from one of their attorneys.

Jan 12, 2014 11:20 PM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

Stupid question - but how do you register a photo?  I've had some of my used by local agents and just called them about it.  Is it enough to just put a copyright symbol on them?

Jan 13, 2014 12:09 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

yep, that's your photo.  Go get 'em!

Jan 13, 2014 01:59 AM
Liz Wallace
Century 21 Sherlock Homes - Rockville Centre, NY
Broker C21 Sherlock Homes, Rockville Centre, LI, N

Oh boy oh boy the feathers are going to fly.  I hate to throw fuel on the fire but not only is it your picture but I do believe I se a Coldwell Banker Logo on your picture.

Jan 13, 2014 02:13 AM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Tammy, I did as you suggested, good for you. I can understand how you are fed up with this kind of stuff. I can truly understand you frustration and thank you for sharing with all of us.

Make it a great week!

Jan 13, 2014 03:29 AM
Paul Collier
Patriot Home Mortgage - Huntington Beach, CA
Paul Collier

Artists have to protect themselves because everyone else seems set up to take advantage of them. I had a friend in a year long court battle with a magazine for using her work and not compensating her. In the end, the time and energy she spent may have been more than the money she was rewarded but it sent a loud and clear message to the community that you don't mess with photographers! Good luck to you!

Jan 13, 2014 04:45 AM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Tammy and this is disturbing, and it seems some people just don't care. I take thousands of photographs and usually trademark my photos with my name , etc. When I post photos to the Internet I also downsize my photo pics to only 25-30 percent pixels so when anyone enlarges them the photos become blurry ...

Shame on anyone using your photos without your permission, etc.

Your post has been Featured at:

Late Night - Early Morning at Activerain

VB ;o)

Jan 13, 2014 10:45 AM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Hi Tammy, you already know exactly how I feel about the people who pull this kind of stunt. I hope you do a follow up post on the outcome!

Jan 13, 2014 11:38 AM
Karen Feltman
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA
Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

It is really unfortunate that you have to protect everything this way.  Why can't people just not use things that don't belong to them?  Seriously, is it that difficult to take your own photos and be original?  Apparently it is.  Keep us posted on your progress.

Jan 13, 2014 01:49 PM
Lee Cameron
Watson Realty Corp - Orlando, FL
Your Orlando Realtor

Tammy, I'm sorry to hear that this keeps happening to you. I know a professional photographer who has had this happen numerous times. Unfortunately, in this internet age, people seem to think that if they can find something in a Google image search, they can use it for their own purposes. It's not right.

Jan 14, 2014 12:46 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Tammy, I can just say 3 words! O M G! How can someone do it?

(Keep us posted as a separate blog post!)

Jan 14, 2014 11:10 AM
Chuck Ward Local Video Marketing
Florida Mobile Fusion Mobile, Marketing, Local SEO - Tampa, FL
SMS Marketing, Google Plus Local Pages

So how does one "copyright" a photo ???

Jan 16, 2014 04:35 AM
Cindy Westfall
Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR
ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

So very clearly your photo. I can only imagine your reaction when you first saw it! As Lenn and many others have said, that it's a publication...they should know better. Go get em! Thank you for sharing this experience and letting us know what we need to do to protect our photos.

Feb 05, 2014 09:04 AM
Bridget "Mortgage Mama" McGee
SWBC Mortgage 410-960-2061 - Baltimore, MD
Maryland Mortgage Mama NMLS#196068

How did you find out that they used your photos?  My husband watermarks his photos (he is a photographer), which I understand links to him if used on line, but a print publication?  I really need to learn more about this stuff!

Feb 05, 2014 12:16 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Bridget, they ran it on the cover of a real estate magazine and then placed it on my porch at my office.  Was kinda hard for me to miss.  

Feb 05, 2014 10:10 PM