Attention dog sport photographers new and old

[Jim Poor]

Touch And Go Agility - Northern, VA Do NOT Shoot for this club.



Obviously, I can't tell you what club to shoot for or not, but I feel I have to pass along a lesson I learned the hard way.

I just had several photos stolen from my site and when I demanded payment, got a note from the president of the club that hosted the trial informing me that the thief is a club member and that I would no longer be invited to shoot for their club because I was "harassing" her.

Long story short, Touch and Go Agility's President, Linda Porter made it quite clear to me that a handler copying watermarked proofs from my site for display on a social networking site is, in her mind, not theft, but rather "advertising."

I realize we'll never be able to stop all image theft, but we certainly can't support a club that has a president who condones, even passively, the practice of stealing proofs.

I intend to pass this along to every dog sport and pet photographer in the area, and if you are so inclined, invite you to pass it along to those whom I may not know.

I do have records of the infringement along with copies of all the correspondence between myself, the club member and club president Linda Porter.

I'll be following up with the board and, as best I can, the general membership of Touch and Go agility as well.* I want the handlers who have enjoyed my work for the last two years to understand why I am not there at the next trial.* Perhaps a few trials without a photographer will change the clubs approach to this sort of thing in the future.

Thanks and Best,
Jim Poor
The Dog Sport Photographer
Jim Poor - The Dog Sport Photographer - Jim Poor - The Dog Sport Photographer

[StillFocus]

I would go one step further and contact the networking site in question. You must certify that you own or have the right to distribute any photo you upload, so I'd imagine there would be some reprocussion against a member who blatantly ignores that rule.

[Jim Poor]

That's been taken care of and the photos are down.

[StillFocus]

Alrighty then. My statement was based entirely on theory, so it's good to know that things actually work the way I thought they did.

[kuvahmagh]

Unfortunately almost every group/organization has some of these people in them. I spend at least 1-2 hrs a week watching certain sites which are known for it around here. Most will grab it with the huge embossed watermark right on it and display it on their own website without even thinking to link back to the original site at least, not that that would help the situation.

Most of the organizers around here take the position that it is between you and them which is understandable from their POV IMO.

[Jim Bryant]

Good for you! Putting them on notice, really gives the club a black eye.