Do Search Engines Expedite the Theft of Digital Images?

Are image search features any different than Napster?

[seth_wilde]

Battles are already being fought against image search features using much of the same arguments that the RIAA used against Napster. The difference is that so far the search engines are winning. Is this a matter of money (the RIAA has very deep pockets), or is this a matter of the proper enforcement of "fair use" laws?

Think Napster, they say. The search engines, they argue, are enabling computer users to pilfer online art, since they can use the search sites to view and download images without setting foot on the artists' sites. The search engine essentially becomes a "clip-art service," Mr. Kelly says, that gives artists no credit and cheats them of revenue.

[nytimes.com...] (sorry but you'll need to register to read, at least its free)

[ggrot]

I have to say that yes, there should be concerns. I often use altavista or google's image search when looking for new ideas on a graphic or way to visually express a concept(although I dont steal them outright). I suspect if they thought they could get away with it, mp3.google.com would be live too.

[Marshall]

Here's a few tricks that mat protect your images.

Obviously, you can cut it into sections so they never get the whole thing. With that, assign each section an unrelated file name same for the left "head_left_.gif" and for the right "top_right.gif"

Another neat trick I use is cut the images on the diagonal. Place two tables on top of one another using absolute positioning. Put one half of the image in the top table, the other half in the bottom. It really screws up those "right click and save" types.

Last, while I know there's a program that does this (though I don't recall it's name) put an invisible watermark in the image. I use a grouping of 1 pixel squares or dots slightly off color from the image. They're invisible to the naked eye, but quite clear when it's enlarged. Of course, this is more for filing a copyright infringement after the image is taken.