we need to talk

I try to keep things on the light side around here. Certainly not because there isn't sadness or hard things in my life, but because this is the place where I come to be reminded of the joy. And so I apologize today if you've come here looking for a bit of joy, because I need to talk openly here about something that's not so joyful.

I'm angry, and I'm frustrated. I've just discovered that yet again, someone has taken an image from my blog without my permission and used it on their website. I don't know if you realize how often this happens. A lot. And I know I'm not the only one, but I think we usually deal with it quietly.  I'm sorry, but I'm feeling a little loud today. I need to come right out and say this, just so we're all clear:
when you take an image from another website, and use it in any way of your own without permission, you are, in effect, stealing. It doesn't matter if it's a photo of their child, their scarf or their art. It doesn't matter if your intent is sexual in nature, or if you love someones work and want to glow about it. It doesn't matter if you're posting it on your own personal blog, a commercial blog, or if you're a contributor on a group blog. When you take someones image or content without their permission, you are stealing. 

Besides being the law (yes, it really is), it just makes sense. If you'd like to use something of someone's, please, just ask. Sending an email to ask permission might take you a little longer to write your post, but you need to do it. What you find out there is not free for your taking.

Bringing this back around to the joy (there's always a little bit), it occured to me that the stolen photos and/or content are almost always discovered by blog readers. I'm always SO grateful when someone informs me they've found a photo of mine somewhere it shouldn't be. Because at the same time as feeling angry at the violation, I also feel so cared for, and watched out for by my fellow bloggers and blog readers.  And so it occured to me that we should take that and step it up a level. Doesn't everyone always talk about this 'community' of bloggers? Well, this community needs neighborhood watch program. Seriously. I know that we can never make images 100% secure online, but don't you think if we're looking out for each other, surely that can cut down on at least some of this happening within our own 'community'? If you see an image somewhere you think it shouldn't be, speak up. And I'll do the same for you. Are you with me?

In the interest of sharing information -the first step in any change - here are a few links that I think are valuable in this discussion of preventing image theft:
US Copyright Office - the basics
Creative Commons on Flickr
Preventing Image Theft which gives great tips on disabling the context (ie 'right click') menu - IF you code your own site. I can't find a good solution for this with Typepad. Anyone else?
Michelle's tutorial for Watermarking in Photoshop

Whenever this comes up, I go through a range of emotions, and always in there is the thought that I just shouldn't do this at all - particularly posting photos of our children, as my heart just breaks when I discover them somewhere they shouldn't be. In the end, the joy that we get and give from doing this always wins out for me personally - at least for now. But I so completely understand that for others, it's just too much to bear.  Protecting my family and the work I do on this blog is so important to me, which is why I needed to talk to you about this. Thank you for listening.

PS. (added later) Man, I need some self-editing. I'm so sorry to have been harsh to those of you who sincerely did not know that it isn't okay to take images this way. My anger comes from the misuse of photos of my children, which I'm sure you can understand to be intense.

In peace,
Amanda

Comments

[denise in c'ville, va]

i'm sorry you're dealing with this - but glad you wrote about it. it's got to be hard, at times, to feel so vulnerable -- but you do bring joy to us.
and that makes the world a brighter place.

thanks

[bigbucketgirl]

oh. feeling miserable for you, but have to shout from the roof tops how much i adore that you share everything(?!) on your blog from Adelaide eating mud to your green shoes! Images can be so powerful...I have a photo of yours burned in my brain of you and A wearing outfits from the same orange/white fabric? That was the first post i discovered of yours and you got me hooked. Consider me another recruit to the image stealing police! Eyes peeled here if it helps.

[nichola]

Isn't it a pain? And i honestly believe that some who do this genuinely have no idea about copyright. My eyes are peeled.

[Bee]

I found an image stolen from my site and I have been trying to decide what to do. I think there is a whole web culture (ie. my space!) that has no problem lifting images willy nilly and it bugs the heck out of me. I think education is the key and I like your idea about speaking up! Thank you for the good links. I am reminded of my neighbors who keep their big trash bins right in front of the mail box and how awful it is for the mailman everyday! Sometimes people are just too caught up in their own little worlds to be considerate and I really need to learn to speak up in these situations! Thanks for the push!

[blair]

You can count me in on this neighborhood watch program, I think its a terrific idea. Blogs are becoming more and more "mainstream" (much more so than when I started looking at them a year and a half ago I think), so rules need to be established. I'm sure they are those of us who think it would be fine to "borrow" an image if you are talking about how great it is, etc., maybe they don't realize it is in fact, stealing. So, groundrules are important here. Thanks for discussing it.

[Morgan]

This happened to me recently and I was shocked to see one of my photos on someones blog. It would be one thing to link to my blog but to go on & take it without permission & then post it on your blog?? Very frustrating!! I am so sorry this has been happening to you as well.

[Michelle]

I'm sorry you've had to deal with this. Yuck!

[Alex]

Thanks for speaking up.
I did experience this too, and although there was a link to my blog I had mixed emotions about my photo appearing somewhree I hadn't put it. I am sure I would be horrified if I ever discovered a photo of my daughter somewhere else, no matter which nature that site was.
Peeled eyes here, too.

[Pam]

People are creepy! What are they doing with the photos anyway? Well, the craft ones anyway? I agree, so easy to either email and ask or just put a link in to someone else pictures. Courtesy has gone by the wayside in many aspects of life these days from excusing yourself when you accidently brush someone in line to honking or stealing their pictures. So sorry that its happened to you.

[Penny in VT]

Grrr and a shaking fist at those jerks who take your photos... - I wish people would just be nice and treat each other with consideration!

I just don't know what to say, except thanks for keeping your positive attitude, you can't even imagine how much you brighten other people's days...thank you!

[Copper's Wife]

I'm so sorry that this has happened to you.

[Toni]

I'm so with you. Yes, lets do this, its an awesome idea. All photo stealing is a major bummer, but the photos of our children is most disturbing. I wonder if it's even safe at all anymore to post them.

I'm recovering from jet-lag today, but just had to chime in on this one.

[Alicia A.]

Thank you for tackling this topic, Amanda. I'm sorry you have to at all, but you're so right to pipe up.

(I'm on the look out too!)

[Tanya]

Well said.

I'm usually happy for people to use my images - as long as they ask first. However, it is a shame that some people need to be reminded to ask.

[Sue]

Do you know that I enjoy reading your blog so much, and I think that as mothers and writers of our blogs we do need to help each other out. I always feel as though the people I share my blog with are my friends, and they enjoy seeing my children on my blog, and it makes it much nicer, but I do agree with the stealing part and that we should not let those horrible people win either. We should all look out for each other, and protect each other in this blogging community. Please keep your blog photos as I really love seeing your pictures of your kids, and hopefully we can all help each other, and eventually stop those awful people who steal photos.

[shelly]

I am sorry this has happened to you again.

Recently I had to do a Uni IT project and I wanted to include some images in it. I wrote to 7 people asking if I could use their images. They all replied and said yes and wished me all the best. It really is NOT hard to ask first!!!

[carol]

good grief- sorry you have to deal with this often. i admit, i am totally ignorant to even KNOWING how to post other people's images and for me, that is fine!

thanks for all of the information. i will be sure to be on the look out for all who i care about and enjoy reading their blogs.

[kt]

Yep, I'll be happy to be a lookout, too. After Stephanie's (at Little Birds) recent re-vamp and announcement that her kids won't be posted any longer, it's got me on the worried side of kid-picture-posting. I only have a handful of people I know who look at my blog, but it makes me wonder...

Will be more than happy to keep an eye out for you. Love the blog and love your sharing spirit.

[atelier455]

I agree that the problem mostly stems from people not realising that copyright applies to images on a website. I always request permission to use images from someone else's site, and the answer is nearly always a resounding yes. I think we can all do our bit in trying to educate people about these issues, so well done for speaking out.

[Veronique Christensen]

I'm new to blogging (not to reading blogs, but to actually writing, and maintaining my own). I'm feel terrible admitting that I've recently posted two images (not yours, but with credits, and that link directly back to the original source) that I realise now I shouldn't have. Thank you for making me aware of my error.

[Phoebe]

I just received an email from my exhusband who has tracked me down with an old email address that I rarely use but haven't cancelled. It freaks me out that he may track down my blog too. (if he hasn't already) I don't have any reason to fear him, I just want my life to be my own.
I'm seriously considering cancelling my blog as I'm realising that once I post something it's fare game really for anyone to read. How much do I want to fear privacy being invaded vs. enjoying blogging and trusting our safety.

[k8tykat]

thanks for sharing this amanda. it's like the new video anti-piracy commercials you see on dvd'd now, only in blooger terms.

"you wouldn't steal a piece of art from a gallery, so why would you steal photos from my blog/website without asking?"

i'm all for a community watch dog program. count me in.

[tracy]

well said amanda. i am all for looking out for each other. thank you. (and i don't think you were too tough at all...)

[claudia hochegger]

I was shocked when I read about the same problem over at "little birds" and now I´m shocked again. We all know many different types of people out in the real world who have no shame and no respect and unfortunately they are here in the blog world aswell. I hope everyone affected takes action and as for other bloggers using photos, I think it´s more appropriate to write that you´ve seen something of interest and to add a link rather than blog someone else´s photo. I hope you don´t lose heart, your blog is such an inspiration to so many people AND I hate it when the bad guys win.

[The Weekend Warrior]

I think someone should start a site where blog stealers can be listed as a part of a name and shame type campaign. It might help stop the thiefs - and help others watch out for them - particularly the people who are misusing images of children - which is a matter I would assume is AT THE VERY LEAST being referred to the police.

I remember quite a while ago rockstarmommy had the same issue - someone stole images of her baby in utero - and she detailed on her blog the steps she took to address it - http://www.rockstarmommy.com/2005/08/today_i_really_hate_blogging.php

[Islandmumma2Seven]

Does that mean when people post pictures ina group like this ( http://www.flickr.com/groups/craftbooks/ )that its wrong??surely its exactly the same thing?
Shame if it is cause I love going thru all those pics

[~~Melissa]

Just in case this helps, if you ever want to find out if someone is lifting your text, this site checks instantly: http://www.copyscape.com/

I was a mommy blogger five years ago and had the weirdest things happen with two women each taking my words and images and essentially inventing their own lives with them on blogs. And then one discovered the other and got mad at her for copying!

Hopefully these bumps in the road will never outweigh the goodness you give and receive through your blog. :-)

[Jennifer]

I hear ya. I'm a magazine journalist and am constantly having my work ripped off. I copyright everything and go after the offenders.

I don't place full text of my stories on my web site as a result. It's a shame as it means more work for me when introducing myself to new-to-me editors, but unfortunately some people are unscrupulous.

Jennifer

[Robin]

I'm so sorry this has happened to you, and to so many others. It is very disheartening to know that there are people who steal from us.

That said, I too have been guilty of posting an image with a link to someone's blog in the past (not yours), ignorant of the fact that the original owner of the image might not have wanted me to. I got kind of paranoid after reading this and went through all my archives to see what I had done. I found 4 examples. I feel sheepish and understand the importance of asking permission now.

There is no handbook for this existing on the internet, no license and no real training. Before we assume that everyone who takes an image is an unscrupulous thief or worse, remember that there are many of us who were simply trying to show our appreciation for something we loved. We'll do it differently next time.

Thank you Amanda.

[Grace]

I've been toying with the idea of starting to blog again after a long break, and especially now that our Canon Digital Rebel is on its way (!). I really felt that my text-only blog was boring and needed some spicing-up with photos. But now I am reluctant to do so.

On the other hand, your blog has brought me (and obviously many others) such joy -- as I told you before, it was an anchor for me during a very rough time -- and I appreciate that "community". I would hate to see some of the beautiful blogs be destroyed by the thoughtlessness of others.

What to do? You are definitely right about the "neighborhood watch". I'm in.

Also, I do NOT think your words were too harsh. Thank you for speaking up.

As always, thank you for posting from your heart. You have inspired me (in a different way) again today.

~Grace

[gwen]

What makes any great neighbourhood great is that the "neighbours" look out for each other. Our neighbourhood is certainly worthy of that! Great idea Amanda!

[Mary-Heather]

Amanda, that stinks! But your idea of a neighborhood watch is great. I've had something similar happen to me, but the person really didn't realize it wasn't OK, and everything turned out fine. So important to say something! I love your blog, love your photos, and am super happy to help protect them, and those of all the other great inspiring blogs out there.

[madmommy]

more and more of this is happening...especially with our kids. It's frustrating and I'm not sure what our solution is going to be as a blog community. I post quite a few of my munchkin so my mom can see him (she lives several states away). Eventually it seems I'll just have to make those photos password only on flickr. It makes me angry too. Glad we're all out there looking out for each other, though.

[madmommy]

more and more of this is happening...especially with our kids. It's frustrating and I'm not sure what our solution is going to be as a blog community. I post quite a few of my munchkin so my mom can see him (she lives several states away). Eventually it seems I'll just have to make those photos password only on flickr. It makes me angry too. Glad we're all out there looking out for each other, though.

[mamaloo, the doula]

Don't feel you have to apologise for being understandably angry over the situation. Those who didn't know it was wrong will certainly get the message now.

I had a problem once,too. I used to do those Secret Pal things until I went to check out my new pal's blog only to discover that she was hosting a copy of a pattern I'd written, was stealing photos AND was stealing bandwidth from a major online knitting mag by showing their photos on her site while they were still hosted on their original server.

I don't bother doing the secret pal thing anymore, I got that angry.

[Jodi]

I completely understand. My original blog, the one that my name is linking to, is merely a shadowo of its former self because there were so many times when others stole either my images or poetry, and often posted it on their own site and left people to think that they wrote it and/or took the photograph.

For awhile, I watermarked all of my photos with a copyright sympbol and the url of my photography site (jodianderson.com).

How people think that this is not stealing is beyond me ... I wouldn't walk into someone's home and take something just because it's pretty or I want it.

Okay, I will shush now. This is an issue very close to me, after dealing with it repeatedly on my blog for four years, and I could go on and on and on.

[Jodi]

*Clarification: What I mean by shadow of its former self, is that I eventually ended up privatizing almost every single photo and poem so that only a handful remain public.

[leslie]

even though your entry today is long and packed with info., someone new to blogging (like me) doesnt really know the difference between stealing a photo (unless it is blatantly used in advertising or something obvious like that) vs. posting a link or picture in reference to something you like. i see tons and tons of photos and links from one blog to another making a web between them, that is what i like about this blogging community. i was unaware that you need to ask permission for photos taken from one blog to another. maybe i am totally confused, sorry!! i just dont want to make the same mistake if i start a blog of my own, which is becoming a frightening thing!!

[Amy]

Thank you for continuing this conversation. I am really saddened by this because I too love to keep a blog that shows the various aspects of my life -- my home, my daughter, my crafts. I might be shocked to see a photo of my crafts on another site but I would be IRATE to see a photo of my daughter. I have been weighing this issue this week and have not yet decided what to do about my blog.

In the meantime, this weekend I discovered that a picture of my most recent quilt tutorial was on a very popular group craft blog without my knowledge. This is the first time that I have dealt with this and your post today has helped me decide how I want to handle it.

Thank you. I am certainly with you and will keep a watchful eye.

[Kristy]

I have had people use photos from my blog without my permission.It has always been in a good way highlighting something they liked.I would have consented if they had been curteous enough to ask.It didn't really bother me all that much but I do understand that really this shouldn't be allowed to happen.So count me in on the self-policing front!

[Berlin Smith]

Hi Amanda--
I love reading your blog and find your work inspirational! Also, your parenting style & interests are very similar to mine--although my kids are just a bit older. I really appreciate the books you recommend, too!

I enjoyed your link to Mama Ilse's blog (although now I have ANOTHER one to read!) and wanted to let you know that I was able to translate it to English. I have the Yahoo toolbar and one of the buttons on it translates the current page to English (the button looks like a fish). It's very nifty!! I had never used it before...

Thank you for being in the bloggin community and I hope you keep it up!
-Berlin (I'm way over near Portland, OREGON!)

[Allegra]

Soulemama, I am sorry you are having theft problems. I know I have never stolen a picture, but I do link to people's blogs if there is something I like. Is that also bad? I hope not, but if you think it is, would you let me know? I don't want to piss people off!!

[suzie vallis]

The reason I have not got my act together for a blog is I would have to put my children on as I photograph them daily and they are such a part of my creative life, Hey I created them afterall! I am so scared of the photos being mis used or worse still providing someone with to much information to be used against us in a bad way. When I first started reading blogs I have to admit to printing out some fab ideas, especially some great t'shirts, it has really struck me how wrong this is even though it was done in inocence. (They are stuck in my art books) So I think it is VERY IMPORTANT that everyone watches over each other and maybe ever so often a standard blog posting could go up to let newbies know to respect what they are reading.
Thanks for speaking out it is important.
Suzie 'Sews' (UK)

[ang]

I am a faithful reader and so enjoy all your posts and your adorable pics of kiddies too.. I am a mommy of 4 and I would dread if my pics of my children were stolen... I am worried now though, please tell me that your pictures were NOT used on a site where childrens photos have not place being, PLEASE! Regardless of where the pictures were posted yes it is stealing 100% but I am looking for some peace of mind...

[Barb]

Ouch. I have never used your photos because I know how you feel, but I post people's stuff all the time if I like it, BUT always credit back to them. I think of it as free advertising. I have only gotten thank you emails from them (I usually email them and tell them I posted about them, but not always, especially if it's a business). But I can see your point. I have no problem with people posting any of my stuff, as long as my name is attached. I know some people's posts were put up on other sites as if that blogger wrote it--that's now cool.

[Barb]

Oops, typo---I meant to write, that's NOT cool.

[~ danielle]

so sorry this is happening to you A. Unfortunatley the internet opens lots of doors to creepy places and creepy peoples homes that we would never encounter in real life. And even more unfortunately, these people have the gall to violate personal work this way. I've been doing writing lately and hesitate to put it up because of the same thing. And this is why I just can't bring myself to post pics of the kids.

I do have one of your photo's linked to from my site a while ago, but I think I actually linked to the post you put it in. If that's not okay, let me know.

[Rachel]

Copyright law is very difficult to conprehend. I work in the news industry and there are often grey areas when it comes to images on the internet. People often think because something is on the internet it is "in the public domain." Actually anything created after the 1920's has a copyright. Blog images are not royalty free or public domain. That always agrravates me. I'm sorry you've had problems with image theft, I have as well several other bloggers I read frequently. I appreciate you clearing the air and letting people it is not okay to put other people's images, creations ie intellectual property on their sites without permission even if the intention is well meant. Keep up the good work, Amanda. There are so many of us that count on you for tiny joys.

[Leslie]

I'm so sorry that you've had to experience this, Amanda. I can share in the frustration and anger in finding your photos elsewhere.

Unfortunately because of my own (frightening) experiences, I have chosen to not publically post photos of my kids on my blog (I think I have posted one in the 3-4 years that I've been blogging). The rest are on flickr, and even those are controlled to the viewers that I choose. I hate to relent to fear, but the safety of my children is first and foremost.

And please do not feel apologetic for this. . . a blog-watch program is definitely needed! I think it's imperative for this online community!

[Veronica TM]

Thank you for talking about this and for all the helpful links, you are always generous, and I love to see the photos of your crafts as well as the ones of your little ones, they all make your blog so wonderful. It is a shame that this type of things make us doubt what we do as we blog.
Consider me in for the neigborhood lookout.