Stolen photo used on a few websites abroad. Advice needed.

[rudy691]

Writing this on behalf of my missus.

 

She runs a newborn/wedding photography service and has a facebook page to advertise it.

 

https://www.facebook.com/AG-Photography-201381183294753/

 

She only recently noticed that, the profile pictures she uses on this page, appeared on several pages (used 'image search' in Chrome). This is understandable as she also has a Pinterest page and most of the results are pinterest pins etc. But the problem is that there is a few pages that offer various services like E-cards, phone covers and even a resort in Portugal, that use her photo on their pages.

 

She can prove that she's the owner of the said photo, as she's still got original camera files and SD card.

 

Links to websites that use here image for advertising:

 

Portugal resort: http://www.montedaquintaresort.com/en/resort/kidsclub/

France (?): http://www.coque-design.com/lg-optimus-g-pro-/1426-coque-personnalisee-lg-optimus-g-pro.html

USA: http://www.yourecards.net/ecards/baby-black-and-white-cute-inspiring-picture-on-favimcom/cardid62590/card.html?catid=126

 

I told her that I don't think there's much we can do here, as these websites are registered abroad, but you know women - so I came here to ask for some advice.

 

To me it's clearly a breach of copyright - especially when websites advertise their services and earn money using her photo.

 

Waiting for some helpful advice

 

Thanks

[BankFodder]

I doubt if there is anything she can do.

She should start watermarking her images

[unclebulgaria67]

Unless her pictures were obviously her own copyrighted material, there is not much she can do. There is an animal sanctuary in Dorset that regularly sees its Ape and Monkey pictures appearing on various websites, greetings cards, Tshirts etc. Because the animals are owned by the sanctuary they could register claims in the country these companies operate or register a complaint with the relevent internet hosting company. They have complained to some companies who have withdrawn the products, but some companies just ignore them. To take legal action might cost more than they would get back.

[rudy691]

I doubt if there is anything she can do.

She should start watermarking her images

 

she does, that was one of a first pictures she took. a couple of years ago.

[Queens_king]

If as you say has been watermarked with the words copyright and her name write and ask Google to take them down from the search then issue the UK equivalent of a DMCA