Back in March of 2008, I posted this photo of my husband, to show what religious pilgrims wear when they travel to Mecca for Hajj or Omra. Here is the actual post I made about it.
So you can imagine my surprise and disbelief when a few days ago, a friend sent me the photo below. It is some type of advertisement using the cropped out image of my husband, superimposed over a photo with the background of the Great Mosque of Mecca.
The flyer says "Parvin - Dhoties, 100% Cotton Dhoties." I located the company in India responsible for stealing my image for their label for a textile product. My husband wants to be paid for the use of his image, and I want to be paid for the use of my photo. Somehow I doubt we will ever get paid...
Many bloggers, including myself, have had our images stolen without our permission and without compensation. It is a huge problem. The only time I really mind is when my photos are used for advertising by a company that can and should pay for use of the images. They are making a profit off of my work - and I'm not.
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4 comments:
That is infuriating.
I have allowed, when asked, for a church to make use of one of my photographs for their newsletter, and the same for a local history group. On the odd occasion I've had people reach out to me for the use of one of my photos, with payment, such as a magazine.
I sure hope you're able to get something out of this, if only a retraction and apology. As a matter of fact, I remember using one of your photos (a Saudi lingerie salesman) several years ago but I was careful to ask your permission...and then credit you in the post.
Regards from Arizona. Jim
I shudder to think of the ways photos I have posted in a context may be used out of context and for profit in others.
That's just wrong.
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