From my flickr collection
From johnconnell.co.uk
(I normally wouldn’t do this, but I couldn’t find any way to contact this person using the pic above privately. And honestly, I’ve had it with being nice.)
I truly believe in Creative Commons and the idea of sharing. But, I also believe in folks giving proper credit. When I use a pic on this blog that I haven’t taken, I give credit, or at least I admit that I snatched the photo. If I take a photo off of flickr, I make good and darned sure I give credit since that’s the spirit of flickr AND CC.
All of my photos on flickr are licensed under CC, but I’m *this close* to changing that and making them “All Rights Reserved.” This blogger is one of the reasons why.
When I take a photo, I put my heart and soul into it. Those who have seen me in action have seen me stop in the middle of whatever the heck I was doing to get a shot, lie on the ground in the cold, stand for minutes to wait for “that shot,” and so on. Even though I’m not a professional photographer, I take my hobby very seriously.
That’s why when I see my photos being used on blogs without credit (Note: I’m not saying don’t use them. I’m saying at least give me a shout out) I feel as if my talent…my…Spirit-given talent…is being spat upon.
And it’s not just the blogger above who has used one of my photos without credit: others (look for the Cirus Massimo pic) have used my photos as well (same pic on this page). (Here is the original pic I took of Circus Massimo when we were in Rome in 2004). I have photos in an old Coppermine gallery that is still online (but not linked to from this blog).
I’m sure there are more out there, but I don’t have time to be Deputy Dog and hunt.
I’m too damned nice and I have a hard time standing up for myself in cases as such, but, please, if you use my photos, at least give me proper credit.
Hmmm. I have some new Lomo prints that I’d love to put up, but this has left a bad taste in my mouth.
Update: His contact info is on his site. It was hard for me to find it though. He’s also on Twitter (thanks EJ:-)). I just don’t think in 2008 and with this being an issue as old as the internet that I should have to send a message saying “Please sir would you be so kind as to give me credit for my photo?”.
Update II: And to show that I have no problems at all with folks using my stuff with credit, check out this pic.
Comments (17)
How did you come across the photo?
Stats are included with flickr pro accounts. You can see who is linking to your photos.
Good for you! I understand the frustration (it’s happened to me with written content). Overall I think it’s better to call people out and to just withdraw; that’s the only way the lesson will become ingrained in people’s mind.
I didn’t know that! *goes to activate stats*
Just click on the arrow next to “you” in the top menu and select “your stats” from the drop down.
Lack of credit sucks — annoys me tremendously too. In my experience, people who are savvy enough to know the difference between “CC” and “ARR” are savvy enough to credit. People who don’t credit sometimes don’t even realise they’re doing something wrong. They assume that because the photo is online, it’s free for grabs.
We had a discussion at LIFT with a few teenagers (workshop day) and it was really interesting for me to realise they had absolutely no notion whatsoever of copyright online when it came to images. Music, yes (they’d been brainwashed by the music industry, from my point of view) — but not photos. “Why would they be in Google Images if we weren’t allowed to use them?” It made perfect sense from their point of view, and there was a long discussion with some CC-enabled members of the audience to explain to the teenagers that no, they couldn’t just grab photos they “found” on the internet and use them all over the place.
I’m rambling — what I’m trying to say is that making your photos ARR won’t solve the problem, in my opinion. Because people who ignore the Attribution clause in your CC license will also ignore the ARR license.
Only remedy I know? as with so many things… educate, educate, educate, educate… it’s tiring.
Please accept my apologies for this. I take CC very seriously and would not normally use someone’s phoeo without credit. I will fix this immediately.
John
I should add, that I did set up the photo to go to your Flickr site when clicked - I did not simply use it without any credit whatsoever. However, I am happy to name you explicitly beneath the pic.
John
Hi John. Thanks for your note. Although I appreciate the direct link back to the photo, there’s a difference between linking to a photo and attribution.
A difference in interpretation, perhaps, Rashunda, and in this particular case, of course, I accept your own interpretation given that it was your photo involved. Others may be more willing to discuss the various interpretations. To save any further heartache for you, I have removed the photo altogether.
@John-> For the third time, you don’t have to remove the photo. Just put my name, that’s all.
Look, I’ll write more tonight. Perhaps I’m not being clear.
If there is no financial gain or slander involved, what is the problem with using images from Flickr CC?
“I feel as if my talent…my…Spirit-given talent…is being spat upon”
I would be most flattered if anyone used mine with or without credit.
@Tess -> From my post:
“(Note: I’m not saying don’t use them. I’m saying at least give me a shout out)”
I’ve been a lurker for a while now. found your blog through Lenslinger. I think it’s a shame that people don’t have the courtesy to credit a photo they use. I agree with Stephanie, and your post is a step toward educating people about licensing on the internet.
Now I gotta go sign up for a flickr pro account ;)
I just blogged about this issue: http://tinyurl.com/59dms3
My question is: How do you define “proper” attribution? A full citation? Your flickr name? I’m struggling with how much info to include with the citation. Also, where to put it? Under the photo, at the bottom of the blog post? What do you think.
@Liz - > It’s amazing how complicated something simple is turning out to be. Just put the person’s name or username (whichever is easier to find) either at the bottom, on top, on the side or across the photo or at the bottom, top, side, across the blog post. Please accept my apologies for the slight sarcasm, but the issue, in my opinion, does not call for all of this debate. Please see my post here.
It doesn’t have to be an AP or Chicago citation. Just put the name or username. It’s really simple.