I wrote about 3 mails in all, asking for (a very meagre) compensation for the damages done as well as credit. For one, I never got a response in written - but of course that would mean acknowledging the theft. When I called up, I was told that it is common practice to “use” free images from the net! Flabbergasted at the audacity of this all, I clearly asked whether TOI staff was blind or illiterate to not be able to make out the clearly written statement on my flickr stream and my copyright license, both of which stated that my images can NOT be used without my explicit permission - ALL rights reserved. This is plagiarism in its full glory.
What a shameless bunch of people we have in the media!
Update: Malayalam blogger Haree also had such an experience. Details and pictures here.
7 comments:
Jo,
I have been reading issues about this. Yes,even I have come across a post by another blogger. It is a shame on those media. It is again the mentality of those who do not care for any originality. What else we can say?
bunch of sad people around in our society. TOI is just too much! no professionalism and ethics in what they do! Shame on TOI and the ones that knows what we are all raged about!!!!
:-)
I hope you noticed my issue with Madhyamam (English version here). They too told me the same, "നെറ്റിൽ നിന്നുള്ള ചിത്രങ്ങൾ ഉപയോഗിക്കുക എന്നത് എല്ലാവരും സാധാരണ ചെയ്യാറുള്ള ഒരു കാര്യമല്ലേ... ആ നിസാര കാര്യം ഒരു പ്രശ്നമാക്കേണ്ടതുണ്ടോ?". And so, I'm the trouble maker and they are the genuine guys!!!
And I went through August 11 issue of Madhyamam Weekly. And I found 5 out of 30 images(total images used in that edition), they copied from various internet resources. At least 10 more images they took from the internet. And the same designer M.A. Shanavas did the cover page for the magazine, and this time also he used it from a public gallery and he didn't give any credit to the photographer. And note, M.A. Shanavas is NOT only a designer, he's the SUB-EDITOR of the magazine!!!
And I don't understand how TOI is defining the term 'free' here! Can we use their online resources for a commercial production without their knowledge and/or permission?
• More issues discussed here.
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I'm sorry to hear your pic was stolen--and for a book! And I'm shocked that the TOI would have such low standards for gathering permissions for the images they print. This is the sort of case that makes me realise that I could do a lot of good with a degree in intellectual property law because I would go love to go after the TOI right now.
As another note, I found out on Wednesday that some of my photos of my tattoo have been posted on a few blogs without my permission, however in this case I think it's more good than bad because my artist has picked up some new customers because of it. They still ought to have asked permission, though.
>> Balaji: True. It would be understandable if it is some amateur publishing houses, but to come this from the leading publishers in India! That is too much.
>> Kiran: Yeah. Such a sad and bad situation. :(
>> Haree: Oh, I didn't know what happened with you. I will update this post to include yours too. Shanavas is an outright image thief! And is he also the sub-editor of Madhyamam? What a pity!
>> Butterfly Girl: Yeah, high time people take up the online content/image theft seriously!
I have also had a similar experience from TOI. One of my photos were also flicked b them last year! Dont embarrass me!
shame on the media for these issues....i already read this in another blog......thanks for share this post with us.....
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