Forum Moderators: phranque
So, I'm looking for a way to easily track the images - and make photo theft a bit more difficult.
I don't really believe in any javascript "protection" (what about people who have switched JS off?) or prohibiting right clicks on my pages.
A watermark solution similar to the one provided by Digimarc would be perfect - however, as mine is just a private website, I don't want to spend a fortune on watermarking!
Does anybody here know any viable alternatives?
Laurenz
Or, just open, alter, undo, save using a program that doesn't support whatever embedded mark you use, and the information will be gone. Programs like Thumbs Plus can do this on an entire directory of images with a couple of clicks.
If someone wanted to steal your images, they could do it anyway. Heck, they could even always hit the "print screen" button and paste that into a graphics program too if you use Javascript, flash, or some other way to try and protect the image.
Really the best thing you can do is put all of your original content on a CD and get a copyright. Or at least do a "poor man's patent" - send it to yourself via certified mail and don't open the envelope. If you ever see your original content out there floating on the web, tell the webmaster that he has copyrighted images on his site and give him the option of buying a license from you to use the image(s) or you're going to sue him.
DO NOT tell him what images are copyrighted. Make him pay you a license fee, then tell him what images they are after he's paid. :) If he doesn't comply, sue him - you have the proof that the images are yours.
There is no law that gives him the right to use your material until you catch him. By using your material he's breaking the law. You are under no legal obligation to tell him what material he's using illegally and give him the chance to remove it, just go after the S.O.B. If you present him with the option to buy a license for $X (make it a few hundred bucks, whatever - as long as its less than a trial) or you'll see him in court he'll buy the license. He'll argue with you for a while, but if a letter from a lawyer actually hits his desk, he'll be buying the license to avoid a court battle.
Really the best thing you can do is put all of your original content on a CD and do a "poor man's patent" - send it to yourself via certified mail and don't open the envelope.
What you are describing is known as "The Poor Man's Copyright" and is not legally acceptable proof (the same w/the "Poor Man's Patent").
Anyone can mail themselves an unsealed (or sealed and steam open) envelope - never hold up in court.
Anyway, there are of course ways around everything but it does serve as valid date verification - I left out one important part, and that was a notarized letter which verifies the content and date the envelope was sealed. Having a dated notarized letter DOES make it legal, as long as the content isn't the exact same image that was on the website, but the originals (before they were scaled down to web sized). Also, of course when using digital photographs its best to use regular film so you'll have original prints - something the thief wouldn't be able to do.
Realistically, the odds of your ending up in a courtroom over a dispute over an image someone ripped off your website are very low. Perhaps if your work is famous and you publish it in high-res formats (as magazines might use) a legal confrontation is possible. More than likely, though, you'll never get that far.
