Re: REF: copyright theft

Sorry, I must disagree with you on this. I am a highly unknowledgeable but loving iris enthusiast, unlike the rest of you knowledgeable people in this email community, but as a magazine publisher and designer, this is an area we, as professionals, constantly battle.

Appropriation of imagery or text that you do not own is copyright infringement, plain and simple. Artists, writers, publishers, musicians must document carefully at all times, and small or large, individuals and small companies, as well as large, are hurt by such appropriation in any media, including the web.

Thanks

Melanie Matheson
Publisher
Rolling Rhino Communications
103  356 Furby Street  Winnipeg  MB  R3B 2V5
Phone 2047799179 Toll Free 8665889179
Fax 2047756743
www.rollingrhino.come
On Sep 10, 2004, at 12:28 PM, donald@eastland.net wrote:

I think everyone's approach to this may be different.  For
myself, mine is much different than Laurie.  I consider
that when I post a photo to the public forum, I am
relinquishing any idea of a copyright.  I have been
surprised when any photo of mine has been used, surprised
when someone requests to use one.  I don't consider myself
a professional and don't expect remuneration and probably
would decline it if it were offered (not that I couldn't
use extra $$ - can't most everyone - but that would imply
that professional tag which is ludicrous in my case).
Truthfully, I just haven't cared if someone used something
I posted.  I really hope I maintain this attitude.  In the
unlikely event that I ever do take a photo I want to
restrict to outside usage, it's unlikely I'd post it.

But, unless a person is on record - as I am - with the
above attitude, it's a good idea to ask permission to use
a photo.

Which brings to mind the lady who did ask my permission to
use one or two of mine for making some kind of card or
something.  I can't remember who it was, but would love to
see what you did :).

Donald Eaves
donald@eastland.net
Texas Zone 7b, USA


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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