Readers know that I’ve had a major problem with image theft for years. I used to go after the thieves aggressively, including registering my images with the US Copyright Office and hiring an IP (intellectual property) attorney to go after them. But doing the research to find the images that have been stolen ended up taking up so much time it took away from my time in the field photographing birds. Now I spend far less time doing it, so I never find out about many of the thefts.
But occasionally one of my blog followers, or just some fair-minded person doing research on the internet, spots one of my stolen images and alerts me. Even then, sometimes I don’t pursue the thief – it’s often more trouble than it’s worth.
But other times the theft itself is so blatant, or what they do to the photo once they’ve stolen it is so awful, it really pisses me off. In those cases I sometimes decide to make a stink about it and then see how I feel down the road about pursuing it even further.
This is one of those times.
I posted this photo of a Black-billed Magpie to my blog way back in 2012. Back then I used to post my photos at 720 pixels on the long side instead of the 900 pixels I use now, so this image is smaller than you’re used to seeing on Feathered Photography.
Yesterday morning from out of the blue I received an email from American science communicator and YouTube educator Emily Graslie, alerting me that a paint by numbers website had stolen this image and was selling it online. Emily called the version of my image they were selling “a lousy one at that”.
Boy, she wasn’t kidding. This monstrosity is what they did to my photo. This is what I mean about “making my skin crawl”.
This is a screen shot of the top of the page where they’re selling their version of my photo. And here’s a link to the page.
The link may not remain active for long. In my experience, image thieves usually take down pages that include stolen photos of mine as soon as they get wind of me knowing about it. Doesn’t matter, because I now have the screen shots as evidence. Thanks, Emily.
My initial inclination was to just let it slide. But on second thought, I decided that if a well-known TV and internet personality like Emily Graslie cared enough to go to the trouble to alert me, the least I could do was make a public stink about it.
I’ll send a takedown request to numeralpaint.com and demand that they take my photo down. If they don’t, and quickly, I’ll have to make a decision about what to do next.
Ron
Notes:
- If you’re interested in more info about Emily Graslie, here are a couple of links.
Emily Graslie – CBS This Morning
- Within 87 minutes of publishing this post I received an email via my Contact page from someone who had used one of my Chukar photos on his website without my permission and without giving me photo credit. In my response I asked him to take my photo down, explaining that I require a licensing agreement for use of my images. I also thanked him for “owning up”. He seemed like an honest guy who acted before he thought. Word is getting around quickly.
Flood their in-box via the Contact link on their website! I let them know how I felt about them doing such a low-down thing (in a kind manner).
They certainly destroyed your photo. I’m so glad I’ve seen the original.
Go get the bastards! Your photo, your art! If you need people to write that company and let them know they are thieves, count me in.
Take Care,
Kaye
As stated below – This is very good reason to be ANGRY! A law suit would probably cost you more than it would be worth – and probably the reason these types of people continue to break laws!
Your bird – in all it’s beauty – FAR exceeds what this counterfeiter has done – and look at the price he is charging!! (even after discount)
I am angry for you!
Thanks, Judy. I have anger of my own.
Kudos to Emily for sharp eyes, and I would say, Go get ’em, Ron!
Yes, kudos to Emily.
The stolen image of your magpie is still on sale at https://numeralpaint.com. Just enter ‘magpie’ in their search button and it will pop up. I can send you a word document with screenshots that shows this if you tell me how to email you. They deserve to be prosecuted, but it shouldn’t have to fall to you to do so.
I know Burrdoo. I’ve checked several times today. Sometimes it takes a day or two before sites like this remove stolen images. If they remove them at all.
😳🫣🤬 You do you, Ron, do not hold back!! (But that quote in Barbara’s comment from the sellers’ website suggests these are not people with any professional standards whatsoever, so even getting a response could be near-impossible.)
Chris, for me, any thought that those folks had “professional standards” flew out the window the instant I saw that they’d stolen my photo and noticed what they did to it.
Oh, you are so right—I guess what I meant was that the “back room” operation is even more fly-by-night than the so-called creatives who make this kind of crap. In any case, you are right to be PO’d and I hope you get justice.
Your ethics are one of the the things that make FP so important. I remember a post you did several years ago about “baiting” and wildlife photography – a name was mentioned, and I’ve never been able to look at that photographer’s work again.
There is so much stuff out there that is uncredited – unfair to the artist and the public. Kudos to Emily Graslie for alerting you about this. Please let us know how it unfolds!
Carolyn, posts like the one you mention are very stressful for me. I hate being involved with stuff like that. I don’t handle stress well.
Go for it, Ron! I’m happy to chip in for your legal fees. Makes me so mad that they not only messed with magpie perfection, but also did it for profit. 🤬
Thanks for the offer, Marty. But I usually handle these kinds of cases with a contingency fee, paid out of the proceeds only if I win. So it isn’t necessary.
By the way the copy is written, I’m afraid it’s a foreign company. I hope you reach them somehow. And I am with the rest of the folks here about how terrible they made it look. Right: “Insult to injury.“ Go get ‘em, Ron.
” I’m afraid it’s a foreign company.”
Could be, Ellen. You never know these days. At least I don’t.
Is it ok with you if we contact the company with our complaints? If we post about this theft on social media?
Yes. Anything that helps to publicize the consequences of image theft is fine by me. Thanks for asking first.
What they did to your gorgeous photo – cringe – can’t unsee it!!! Appreciate this post Ron. Go get ‘em!!! They have it comin’.
“cringe – can’t unsee it!!! ”
Me too, Kathleen. I just spent a few minutes looking for birds down by the river. The only bird I kept seeing was the monstrosity that numeralpaint.com turned my photo into.
I’m so sorry to hear that your work has been stolen. I sent an email to them say what a shameful thing they have done. If I was you I would sue the heck out of em. Thank you again for all your beautiful pictures and hard work.
“If I was you I would sue the heck out of em.”
Travis, if I remember correctly and I’m pretty sure I do, this is one of the photos that I registered with the US Copyright Office some years ago. I suspect they have no idea how much they’d be liable for if I were to decide to pursue this in court.
Thank goodness for the few honest people left in this mixed up world
Well said, John.
Ditto to everything your posse posts above. It’s a tribute your life and work that you have such a person as Emily Graslie in your corner,
recognizing and admiring of your work, and ready to notify you so
you can DO something about such a brazen outrage- hang ’em high!
Thanks very much, Kris.
Go for it! Image theft should be called out and stopped. I and some of my foto frendz grant some artists permission to use our photos as studies for their art works as long as credit is given on the final output, but out-and-out theft for commercial gain should be fought. And this particular instance is an insult to your spectacular and beautiful shot. Wishing you success!
Thanks, Burrdoo. An insult indeed.
And what about the money they’re making from your photo?
That’s part of the equation, Kathy. And of the reason I’m so upset about what they did.
It really pisses me off when this happens to me or anyone else with intellectual content that gets ripped off by unscrupulous theft. Especially by for profit entities . This sucks!
My feelings exactly, Neil. Thanks.
I like Barbara T’s “scammy” describing the site that stole your
image. What a horrible job of reproducing your image. Of course
I can see that in there use they are aiming to grab attention. I purchased a copy of one of your Magpie images many years back and have always enjoyed seeing it.
Good luck in your quest for vengeance.
I’m glad you’re still enjoying having a print of my magpie photo, Everett. As I recall, that was quite a while ago.
Awful! But I know that you’ll figure out a way to give the perpetrators pain/anguish/humiliation (remembering a few really good and pointed practical jokes in years past).
Ahh, my reputation still haunts me!
Actually, I’m more than a little proud of that reputation. It’s one of the few areas in my life where I’ve shown some creativity.
You should be proud. Most of them were genius!
And, anyone who looks at that picture of you next to your name can see the impish prankster clearly!
❤️
The proliferation of lawlessness these days is just breathtaking. This particular site looks particularly “scammy”. Under FAQs: “Please consider in mind that due to huge amount of order we are receiving these days, sometimes the phone lines might be busy when you call us and this case feel free to email our support team on the email below, and you’ll receive an answer within 48 hours.”
Good luck chasing this one down!
“Good luck chasing this one down!”
Thanks, Barbara. I’ll likely need it.
Wow, that is just painful to look at! I’m guessing they took the contrast to 120.
Hope it gets taken down quickly and they made no money on it!
” I’m guessing they took the contrast to 120.”
And the saturation. Thanks, Jeff.
Flaming assholes everywhere that think if they see it on the net they can use it for their own purposes. Hope they back down quickly BUT damage done with however many they were able to sell are out there. 🙁 !
Judy, the first two words in your comment made me smile. Very descriptive. And accurate.
Yikes! Injury and insult.
Good luck with that.
Thanks, Michael.