Protecting your photo's

Once you upload something it is there to be "taken" if someone chooses.

If you watermark it then it will basically look awful (unless it's a small discreet watermark) so no one will want to view it let alone steal it!

The best bet is to keep it offline if you are worried.
 
I usually put up small, low resolution images with a small watermark. It won't stop anyone using them if they really want to, but hopefully the low res will limit their options with regard to use.
 
tris101 said:
What do you guys put in the copyright on your file info?
Click to expand...

If you mean the IPTC data:

http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/education/infobank/image_information/iptc_data.do

As much as possible.

The thing is, whilst the copyright is yours as the author of a piece, if you fail to legally identify it (regardless of if it is later stripped) then you have an uphill battle to ever recover your work if its stolen.

The more accurate your IPTC data is, the better your grip on the work is - that is the purpose of the data.

Having said that, one of the (nameless) papers I do work for re-use my images as stock sometimes and get the credits wrong despite the IPTC and the bloody filename having my name in it! Apparently their "photo library" is a bit cranky (ie renames files and strips IPTC!) which i find odd for a newspaper!
 
Only ever upload low res images. That way who ever steals the photo has limited use for it. A mate of mine (a very good and well know sports photographer) found one of his web images being used on a an advert in hongkong. It was a picture he took during a ski championship which he foolishly posted full res to a hosting site. He made a few bob out of that mistake.

As for IPTC data as has been said fill it all in even if its with simple data. Use something like ligth room to auto fill the data or set you camera up to fill parts in if it will do that. And what ever happens keep your raws thats the ultimate proof.

This is long but worth a read http://www.iptc.org/std/photometadata/documentation/IPTC-PLUS-Metadata-Panel-UserGuide_6.pdf
 
Last edited:
Sorry for the highjack,

Any example wording for IPTC copyright notice, is there standard causes etc that should be included?
 
I have STOLEN FROM KIPAX.COM in bright green accross the middle of all my pics online...I also have a line above each picture stating that if the file is copied you could be invoiced and possible legal action..... guess what? doesnt make the blindest bit of difference.. facebook is awash with my pics.. every event i do gets copied onto facebook..

yes facebook will remove them....the user then uploads them again and removes me from friends list so I dont know..... so cant report.. not to mention the people who already ahve them and i dont know :(

So not a lot can be done.....
 
However, as with all copyright infringement, the basic precaution is to mark your property and assert your rights - its not "protection" as in prevention, but the assertion does put you in the right legal position.
 
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