How to find stolen photos on the web

[Mascarpone]

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Most photographers just learn by coincidence that their images are used illegally. It's a shame because professional photographers and semi-pros need all the money they can get these days.

 

There is a new service that automatically scans the internet and reports all findings weekly:

 

https://www.imagerights.com/

 

Detective Happenstance can retire now... bad luck for people that use our photos without permission :-)

[wildlightphoto]

There's also TinEye Reverse Image Search

[Mascarpone]

The difference is that it works automatically and sends a report once a week. With Tineye you have to sit in front of the computer and work.

I tried it. Results are pretty nice, they found several of my images in the first week. I think they concentrate a lot on media websites, corporate websites and blogs.

[farnz]

I've used TinEye and it's very good (and free).

 

I'm not convinced that ImageRights would earn its minimum $9.95 per month plus one-off $10 set-up fee so I wouldn't use it. YMMV.

 

Pete.

[colin_d]

Question slightly off track but related. If you post images on flickr does that make them available for public use? I notice there is a download function on flickr so I'm thinking anyone can use your shots without permission, but not sure.

[andybarton]

You can turn off the download feature in Flickr, so that the only person who can download is you.

 

Doesn't stop people doing a screen-grab though.

[santila]

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Doug, i did try your pointer and find many of my photos posted at my url on SmugMug but will it show if any photo was downloaded and where it was used. The biggest problem is even with the photo has watermark on it all over many lookers "screen-grab" and post them aon FB and other websites. Watermarking not hold the violators back.