Editor in Chief of VC backed site swiping my pics

"The largest widget site in the world"

[caribguy]

This is not a "what should I do" question, just wondering if others have ran into this type of blunders by people who really should know better.

While doing some preliminary research on a topic for an article, I found this random Web 2.0 "social site" where the company's Editor in Chief posted a bunch of mediocre blog-like articles to his fan base while on vacation.

Scrolling down the page, I saw a familiar image and then another... The originals were taken by a friend about two years ago, for exclusive use on my site. What shocks me the most is not even that the pictures were swiped: this happens sometimes, and a quick DMCA shot across the bow usually takes care of it. But in this case, it's on a rant from some C-suite guy in a venture capital backed company. A busy website that appears to be the largest in its industry.

I'm wondering if there is any sense of honor or respect for other people's property left at all. Is it ignorance, carelessness, arrogance, what?

[graeme_p]

Arrogance or incompetence. An "editor" ought to know about copyright law.

[weeks]

That's funny. If Joe User posts the photos on the site and he's not making any money on it, it's just a lame rip, but little harm, little foul.

BUT, if the site's Editor in Chief posted a bunch of mediocre blog-like articles on the web site... Uh oh. That's illegal appropriation. Yikes!

[caribguy]

Greg I presume? Just kidding weeks. Equal rules does not mean equal punishment. I'd be happy to make an example out of them if I had the time.

Do you actually believe that Joe Luser's widget fan site would affect your brand building efforts in the same manner as a for profit site with paid editors?

Anyway, I got a public apology out of them and the pictures removed the same day. [shrug]

[graeme_p]

weeks, no one said illegal appropriation. The most objectionable thing IMO is what even children get into trouble for: copying other people's work without credit.

As for breach of copyright per se, it makes a huge difference, morally if not legally, whether they are profiting from it (which they indirectly are by posting on part of a business site) or not.