Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion My picture was copied and is now for sale on eBay

I posted this picture of my grandpa here on Old Gas a while ago. It appears someone copied it, printed it out and is now selling it on eBay. I posted it here for people to look at and enjoy. I do not even mind if you save a copy of it to your own computer. I did not intend for someone to profit from it. Not a big problem for me, I guess they need the money more than I do. Just wanted to FYI the rest of you as to what someone is doing.

Link below;

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sinclair-Oil-Trucks-...=item3ca97dd125

Looking at his other auctions, he has several more copies of my pictures for sale...

Did you say something to the seller Wes? I know I would!!

That is completely jacked up. Maybe this can be tried in the future to avoid this:

1)put your photos on the web in low resolution - they show up the same on the computer but look like junk when printed

2)notice how he pictured the picture in his auction so somebody can't be the sleezeball he is?

Wow, That does not seem right at all. Looks like there are many pictures he is selling that look like they are copied like yours. Hopefully someone will know what can be done to deter actions like this. We all enjoy pictures and it would be a shame that this might stop people from posting them.
Mike

I sent him a message and we'll see what his response is:
Howdy,
You have copied my friend's picture. He posted it for our oldgas community to enjoy and not to be profited from. Now that you know, please remove all auctions that have been copied from my friend's pictures. Thank you,
Mike

Even the U.S. Gov. can't stop Counterfeiters, they have made it harder, but haven't stopped it.

Wes, have you reported this seller? If not, there is a "reason for reports", Stolen Property. Since he truly has stolen your photos and is now selling them as his own.

OK here's what you do...EVERYONE who has a eBay account log in and report this item and any others that we know are unauthorized copies. If you go into the auction just to the right and down a bit is a link "report item" Click on it and fill out the brief form. If eBay gets enough reports they will close his auctions and potentially suspend him. BUT it will take everyone who can to report it! I just did and will continue on any others that I'm made aware of. I can't stand scumbag like this and have had my fill of dealing with them.

Hi DB,

Remember when you told me not to post anything I don't want copied?I listened.That's why I haven't posted pics of some really graphic and seldom seen decals I have.I just don't want them copied.It's a shame.

I feel some of the invasion that Wes is feeling.
Several of the Copy cans that I spent hours on were bought by others that made copies to sell on ebay, on their web sites or because they wanted more than one [2 are members here]. Another one even bought my cans to photograph & apply to his Fantasy signs.

I reported him!

me too! took 2 minutes to do. It's one thing to copy a picture to enjoy, but to make a profit from it is wrong!
Wes, which other ones are yours. also there are free watermark software out there.

I reported it also to eBay and received the ususal form letter from eBay but this time eBay Canada.
Maybe they will realize seller is a crook.
This just isn't right. Wes shared those in a community where people share to enjoy.

I would be PiSSSSed off if one of my images ended up on ebay.
Rick

The auction closed

When i sold diecast toys on ebay I would take a picture etc and someone hi-jacked my image to use on their auctions. That is why I started to edit the photo and type my name on the photo in clear letters. It still worked to show the item for ebay, but if anyone took it and used it it would have my name in big bold letters across it. Hard for them to use.

maybe in Canada they have better laws than we do about copying and selling cause the auction has been closed. sure can't seem to get ebay to move repo pedal cars out of antiques toys....

One can only hope that he is shut down, but I doubt it. I believe that the seller received enough questions about Wes' photos that he just shutdown this auction for a period of time. I have a feeling these photos will be up for auction, soon.

The only way you can stop that is to put your watermark/logo on the pictures before you post them online like Shorpy does. He gets alot of his pictures from the Libray Of Congress website. In fact there is a picture of a Hi-Speed gas station that was in Marysville, Ohio on Ebay. That picture was download from the Libray of Congress website. I emailed the the guy and he admitted it.

You can do it pretty easy. Just put the watermark/logo on a piece of clear plastic and when you scan your picture just put it beween the picture and glass of the scanner.

Randy

Wes, I just checked to see the item at3;05 PM and the item was "no longer listed" if you called him on, he may have gotten the message. Most everything on this site is here to enjoy, but someone selling your things is, not what we are about.Norm.

The below listed ebay # is a group the includes Wes's pictures.

260536482421

Dave

Here is the response I got from item #260541632805.

"its been removed


- 2sumtreasures"

Doc can confirm [Photo Shop user] that if someone wants a picture that has been Watermarked, it's not that hard to restore/remove watermark from picture. Just takes time.

A slightly Out of Focus pic is a better determent to having something copied than a watermark. IMO

I contacted this guy and this is the response I got:
"stop harassing me i bought these at a auction not on the Internet"
Now that the listing has been ended I think either eBay closed it or he was tired of all the harassment from oldgas members. Either way it worked! back to the Bat Cave Robin.

Shucking the Buck, "I bought them @ auction", Maybe/Maybe NOT. Only the seller knows if that's a LIE.

The photographer and the family of the photogrpaher owns the rights to the photos. I have to look it up, but there is a way to get money from him for using them. I will get back to you in a few.

Mike

I asked my photographer friend and this is what he said, "In the US, if you have not registered your copyright, you will never get into a courtroom with your infringement claim, regardless what you have in your possession. The court won't even hear it.

If you have registered your copyright, that's all you need."

Just received this reply from Ebay Canada;

Dear Bob,

Thank you for writing eBay in regard to this listing.

We aren't able to remove this listing at this time, but you may be able
to help with this.

You can contact the owner of the photo and encourage him to join our
Verified Rights Owners' (VeRO) program. This will enable him to request
the removal of listings that infringe on his rights as a photographer.

It is my pleasure to assist you. Thank you for choosing eBay.

Sincerely,
Konstantin

eBay Customer Support

Wes, I hope you will take them up on this offer, to ensure this seller doesn't sell anymore of your photos. I see he never pulled his other photos of yours.

Sorry to hear about your ordeal, Wes. Good to hear it was pulled. If the seller really did buy it/them at an auction, some credit should go to him for pulling it. Not many do when notified. If he did copy it from the internet/oldgas, then shame on him.

Wes--Here is what I received from Ebay Canada:
Dear Kevin,

Thank you for writing eBay in regard to Image and Text Theft.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us with this information. I
understand how this situation could be of some concern.

I have reviewed the information that you provided regarding the use of
images or text, but at this point find that I do not have enough
evidence to show that the member has violated any eBay rules.

Regrettably, we will only be able to take action if the owner of the
images or text writes to us. In some instances, sellers may have
obtained permission to use the material. Therefore, we often cannot
remove listings based on the representations of third parties whose
credentials we cannot verify.

We do understand the potential for further issues in this type of
situation. That is why, if you feel strongly about this issue, we
recommend that you contact the owner of the images or text, and
recommend that they contact us directly. Once we hear from them, we will
take appropriate action.

We appreciate you taking the time to contact us with your concerns.
Thank you participating in the eBay community.

It is my pleasure to assist you. Thank you for choosing eBay.

Sincerely,
Jackie L.

eBay Customer Support

Sounds like there typical line of BS

To me that is 180 degrees from what they said. To me they said; "I can't take your word on the photo being "hi-jacked", we need for the owner to come forward and tell us that "his" property has been stolen.

I'm sure that Wes will/would have to prove that the photos are his original property.

As a seller on Ebay, I appreciate this attitude. I don't want a rival seller being able to pull my items on unfounded suspicions.

But that's just my opinion.

Here is a link to a free watermark software from give away of the day it's only good for today Saturday 4/24/10

Here is another seller that is selling photos they have copied off the internet.

seller: bigd1936

http://shop.ebay.com/bigd1936/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340