Online theft - Lambeth Council

[Tricky Skills]

Oh dear. Here we go again...

Imagine my surprise when I opened up my copy of Lambeth Life (propoganda sheet produced by the Council, distributed to all residents) to find one of my images has been used.

No prior request, no picture credit and certainly no payment.

The photo was taken at the excellent Brixton Splash event last year:

What options are open to me now? A printed apology? A request for payment? Lambeth Life has a hefty print run.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

*the last time I enquired about copyright advice it became a highly interesting thread debating the merits of a picture of a coathangar - hopefully this question is a little more to the point*

 

[baffled]

I'd just send them an invoice for an amount you see fit.

http://www.londonfreelance.org/feesguide/phpubrat.html

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Demand payment. They'd take you to court if you didn't pay your council tax. If photography is your living that is.

Where did they steal the image from? And, how big does it appear in print. Any chance you can scan and show us the printed version.

I'm guessing that photography is not your main source of income. If you really want to do something about it I would suggest a letter asking for a published merit and credit with your web URL in the next issue.

 

[Tricky Skills]

The image was lifted from HERE.

The published size is 8cm*11cm.

How did you get photography is not my main source of income?

 

[Stanley Edwards]

The image was lifted from HERE.

The published size is 8cm*11cm.

How did you get photography is not my main source of income?

Blimey. How did they find that I wonder?

I guessed wrongly I guess. If it is your profession then send them an invoice. Not going to be a lot for a photograph in a freebie council rag hidden inside. They will also take forever to pay even if they're happy to process the invoice. Alternatively, you could take the opportunity to introduce your services and fees for future work possibilities and use this to start a new working relationship.

 

[editor]

I think (and I could be wrong here) that they nicked one of my photos a few years back so I wrote them a polite but slightly annoyed note (as it's a freebie mag and I was quite flattered to see my pic in there, I couldn't really get too worked up).

After that, they paid me for my Country Fair photos for two years.

 

[Tricky Skills]

Yeah, after the 'angry young man' feeling for about five minutes, I think your suggestion about co-operation rather than antagonism is the best way forward.

Cheers.

 

[Hocus Eye.]

It does need pointing out to them that they should at the very least acknowledge the photographer with a picture credit.

They might reasonably expect to get found out stealing a picture off a London blog site and publishing it in a London magazine that is highly likely to have a lot of the same audience as the blog site. Even if the photographer by chance missed seeing it - unlikely - there will be many readers who will recognise it.

 

[big eejit]

Obviously you have written release forms from all the people in the pic (inc a child) that the council should require.

 

[mauvais]

You don't need them in this country </smug>

 

[Paul Russell]

Release forms probably not needed for this = editorial use.

What happened in the end in the Giles and Alice saga BTW?

Obviously you have written release forms from all the people in the pic (inc a child) that the council should require.

 

[Tricky Skills]

Aha - Giles & Alice

A written apology from the thieving knobbers, a written apology from the British Library and a written apology from the organisation that invited Giles & Alice to display 'their' work at the British Library.

I don't think Giles & Alice will be getting a similar invite in future. Likewise for the organisation that was invited by the British Library to exhibit.

 

[Paul Russell]

Maybe Giles and Alice will ask before they "collaborate" next time!

Aha - Giles & Alice

A written apology from the thieving knobbers, a written apology from the British Library and a written apology from the organisation that invited Giles & Alice to display 'their' work at the British Library.

I don't think Giles & Alice will be getting a similar invite in future. Likewise for the organisation that was invited by the British Library to exhibit.

 

[Pie 1]

Paul, I've bitten my tounge on this for so long now:
Could you possably put the quote before your reply - I have found myself perplexed by some of your replies for years now, by reading the reply to a quote before the quote.
Ta!

 

[Paul Russell]

OK. Will do.

Paul, I've bitten my tounge on this for so long now:
Could you possably put the quote before your reply - I have found myself perplexed by some of your replies for years now, by reading the reply to a quote before the quote.
Ta!

That was so obvious wasn't it.

 

[Pie 1]

:d

 

[big eejit]

Release forms probably not needed for this = editorial use.

I've never heard that before Paul. Any further info anywhere?