Hackettstown Photographers - Watch your backs

Thanks for the heads up, Some Guy. There's actually an image I recognize from another photog friend of mine on the Phillipsburg composite he made.

3wbdwnj ✉
Jun '12

All I see is a bunch of photos from Applebees and some kids.

Christine ✉
Jun '12

Those pictures were taken at the Applebees in West Seneca, NY

OP
Jun '12

This is why I don't post on Flikr. Personal choice... sacrificing exposure for preventing theft.

Rebecka ✉
Jun '12

Christine....you had to kind of seach for his pic. I think it was in favorites.

Firefly ✉
Jun '12

UPDATE!

Sent the guy the following message:

Copyright and Fair Use

" http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-fairuse.html

"How much do I have to change in order to claim copyright in someone else's work?

Only the owner of copyright in a work has the right to prepare, or to authorize someone else to create, a new version of that work. Accordingly, you cannot claim copyright to another's work, no matter how much you change it, unless you have the owner's consent. See Circular 14, Copyright Registration for Derivative Works."

You are aware of this, right?"

GOT THE FOLLOWING REPLY!

"Hi There,

Thank you for getting back to me so quickly!

We have copyright on our design of the murals (What? Murals full of images you stole? - I added that part - Art). We had asked to include you image to represent the community in the Hackettstown Applebee's.

The image would only be used for this location and we give credit by putting your name and info next to the image.

Are you interested? Please let me know.

Thank you,

-Nicole"

This is the first time they contacted me. The image in question is still listed as copyright, all rights reserved on flickr. I have not yet given any such consent.

If anyone at the Hackettstown Applebees sees this, please alert your management. If any good samaritans want to alert the Applebees staff, that would probably be a good idea too.

I am sure that they would not like their organization or the greater Applebees organization to be opened up to huge copyright infringement lawsuits by multiple parties.

Some Guy (Art) ✉
Jun '12

None of my images are stolen yet, I just want others to know what is going on and for those who have been wronged and who may be wronged in the future to know as well.

I also just got back from the Phillipsburg Applebees, and this image:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23746554@N04/6230885162/in/photostream
Is already on their front entrance.

I contacted the one person whose images I could match and they did not give permission or even know about it. They do now. And they have photographic evidence of the mural's existence now, too. :)

edit: I saw none of the mentioned "credit" they claim to give. And even if they give credit, that does not let them out of the copyright law.

Some Guy (Art) ✉
Jun '12

Good news! (not) My wifey just told me that Hackettstown Applebees has some new decorations! If you are a photographer in the immediate or surrounding area that posts any of your work online, you should probably go check the walls there...You might find something familiar.

There's lots of police, fire, school, and parade images adorning the walls, so good luck and I hope you haven't been f'd in the a. ;)

Some Guy (Art) ✉
Jul '12