Re: REF: copyright theft

>I have received stolen pictures myself. The internet community shares 
>readily even when it is someone elses property they are sharing. I put a 
>request out for pictures of a certain Iris. I got a bunch of pictures sent 
>to me, but they had been taken from other peoples websites.

Thank you, Bob, for making this point.  I freely share my own iris photos 
for the personal enjoyment of others on my website, through iris-photos, 
on the Plants Database at Dave's Garden, and on Hortiplex at GardenWeb, 
*but* I have NEVER relinquished my legal copyright to any of my photos, 
and publication of my photos on those sites does NOT equate with making 
them available on a "free graphics" site and does NOT grant permission 
for commercial entities to steal my work and republish it for their own 
profit!  

Every year, I find one or more commercial iris sellers - typically (but 
not exclusively) smaller, backyard types - who feel they have the right 
to steal whatever images they want off the web and use them to promote 
their own sales.  When the photos they steal are mine, I do NOT respond 
sweetly. I have settled for a sincere apology and immediate removal of my 
photos in cases of minor infractions, I have requested and received 
compensation in larger cases, I have even had web sites shut down where 
the theft was clearly intentional and malicious. 

In the years that I have been making my photos available for online 
viewing, I have only ever had one commercial source offer compensation 
for use of my iris photos *before* actually using them (thank you, Mike 
Sutton, for your integrity and professionalism).  Why is it that everyone 
else who has used my photos to promote their own iris sales believes 
theft is fine and dandy???  Would they feel the same if I entered their 
gardens with shovel in hand to help myself?  I doubt it!

Lest you think I am directing any of this *at* you, Bob, please be 
assured I am not. I was honored to grant you permission to use my photo 
of MYSTERIOUS MONIQUE for your work when you requested it last year, and 
I hope to see it published in your work in the future.  I very much 
appreciate your concern with and commitment to maintaining copyright 
integrity, both in your own work and in the work of others.  I understand 
the value of one's own creations.  I wish everyone did.

All the best,

Laurie




-----------------
laurief@paulbunyan.net
http://www.geocities.com/lfandjg/
http://www.angelfire.com/mn3/shadowood/irisintro.html
USDA zone 3b, AHS zone 4 - northern MN
normal annual precipitation 26-27"
slightly acid clay soil

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