What’s Your Preference?

Alexandra · #1 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 08:43 PM

Hi,

I was under the impression that the photos uploaded on Flickr can not be downloaded without permission... However, someone advised me yesterday that they downloaded a bunch of my photos from Flickr and put them on their Facebook. I was extremely displeased as i didnt give any prior permission for that, but there is not much i can do about it now for reasons i wont go into.

Is there is any way to ensure this will not happen again? Should i wattermark my pics on Flickr or put them in a very small size?

I am really not happy about this and i would like that if someone uses my work at a bare minimum to get acknowledged for it.

Any advice please?

Alexandra

fletch · #2 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 08:53 PM

Any photos uploaded to any website can be downloaded by anyone. Its the way the internet works.

(Flickr has some very basic tools to discourage it but anything you put up there can be downloaded any size up to the large size)

You can upload small sizes and add a watermark to discourage but that is all it does. Watermarks can be cloned out and if you post large enough to be off use on the web then someone else can make use of that size on the web.

You just need to weigh up the pros and cons and make your own decision, afterall the only alternative is locking all you photos in a box.

Alexandra · #3 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 09:07 PM

What could be the pros on someone just downloading my photos and using them?

It's just upsetting. If i didnt know about it was one thing... But it feels almost like theft. I would never take someone's work and use it without permission...

AndCity · #4 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 09:22 PM

Well, I just tried copying one of Fletch pictures (because his was the first Flickr link I saw, I hope you don't mind

) and tried pasting it into Photoshop and it came out as 1 pixel x 1 pixel so whatever he's done, his pictures can't be copied.

I think I've done all the right things to protect my own images in Flickr but like you am not 100% sure - have you done all the basic steps etc?

sybren · #5 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 09:24 PM

Your computer always downloads a photo before it can show it to you. As Fletch said, that's the way the internet works. People are allowed to download your photos. If you don't want that, don't upload your photos to a webserver.

Using your photos without your consent is another matter, though. If you see that happening, you can charge them for the use (3x your normal fee would be normal) and charge them for the working hours and all other costs that went into making the photo.

sybren · #6 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndCity

Well, I just tried copying one of Fletch pictures (because his was the first Flickr link I saw, I hope you don't mind

) and tried pasting it into Photoshop and it came out as 1 pixel x 1 pixel so whatever he's done, his pictures can't be copied.

Please be more careful in your statements. His pictures can't be copied in the way you tried to copy them. They can be copied for sure. How else did a digital copy end up on your screen?

When a browser can show an image, that image has a URL. The website can be cleverly built to hide that URL, but the image has a URL nonetheless. By simply pointing your browser to that URL you'll get the image and be able to save it. It's that simple.

I always upload a smaller version (1000 pixels on the longest side) and add a border with my copyright and the photo title. Most of my photos are posted with a Creative Commons license stating that non-commercial use is allowed, but commercial use is not. Creating derivative works is also not allowed - either you use the photo as-is or you don't use it at all. This means that even when they remove the border with my name on it, they have created a derivative work and are in violation of the license.

Of course people can contact me for commercial use, but if they're going to make money with my picture, I want to see some of that money too.

Alexandra · #7 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndCity

Well, I just tried copying one of Fletch pictures (because his was the first Flickr link I saw, I hope you don't mind

) and tried pasting it into Photoshop and it came out as 1 pixel x 1 pixel so whatever he's done, his pictures can't be copied.

I think I've done all the right things to protect my own images in Flickr but like you am not 100% sure - have you done all the basic steps etc?

Fletch, how did you manage to make the flickr photos look normal size, but to be just 1x1 pixels when saved?

I will watermark all my pictures (will take them down today and do that), and try to resize them as small as possible.

Thank you very much for advice.

Murtasma · #8 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 10:02 PM

To overlay the 1x1 gif image over your Flickr images (which effectively stops people from right clicking on your picture and selecting save image as) go to Account Settings > Privacy and Permissions Page. From here you can select who you want to be able to download your image.

This will not really stop anyone from saving your image, they are downloaded to your browsers cache in order for the web browser to render the web page there is no way around this. I can also view the html source for the page and find the URL to the image.

It just makes it a little more difficult for someone who doesn't know much about HTML to save your image. However anyone who is interested in making money off your picture or using it in an advertisement will know how to download images off Flickr.

It's no secret for any website.

AndCity · #9 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 10:19 PM

As you all quite rightly state, if I don't want people to see my photos, I don't post them on the net! As for the ones that are there, I just hope someone enjoys them with me.