Social media and Photography sites have clauses in their terms and conditions which make photographers uploading their photos approve the built-in Share functions on the site, but don't download and re-upload photos!
If you do re-upload copyrighted material, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and similar laws implemented in most developed nations provide the original photographers (and other artists such as musicians) with a tool to have the stolen material deleted from the offending account:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act
If someone engages in theft repeatedly, their account may be deleted.
Sometimes, when the case is serious enough, a lawsuit may also be filed:
Self-Proclaimed Photo Montage Virtuoso Is Sued for Stealing Photos
http://pdnpulse.com/2012/08/self-proclaimed-photo-montage-virtuoso-is-sued-for-stealing-photos.html
On behalf of all photographers, I thank +Marc Muench for causing copyright violators to think twice before using images without permission (outside of the approved, on-site share functions)!
I recommend that you go to the article and read the comments. Some of the dangerous rationalizations that people use are well represented there: "I didn't make (much) money from the misuse" is no defense.
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PDN Pulse » Blog Archive » Self-Proclaimed Photo Montage Virtuoso Is Sued for Stealing Photos
“He claimed he took all of these images himself, and he clearly doesn’t,” says Marc Muench, one of the plaintiffs, who is suing Barbèy in a federal court in Los Angeles. “The claims in this lawsuit ha…
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Anyone who claims to have shot photographs that they haven't deserve everything bad that comes there way.
This is very different from the person who genuinely doesn't understand how things work and posts the work of others to brighten up their stream. Not good maybe but understandable.
You would not believe the rude responses you get when asking somebody friendly to remove stolen images...
This is great news. Thanks for pointing it out.
Got to love this quote from the fraudster in question:
“I’m constantly asked about how I do [the montages], I would like to think that the pictures can be appreciated without any real knowledge of their technical virtuosity. The visionary inspiration and imagination is not a technical skill learned in school but rather to my personal belief a gift from God.”
Reading the comments make for an interesting add-on to the story.
nicely for a picture withe fiction tell all story
See what I mean, +Steve Johnson? The comments below the article are priceless. A little scary at times, but priceless.
I forgot to ping +Jim Patterson and +J. Rae Chip in the post. They've been doing a great job informing many photographers on G+ about copyright etiquette. It's pretty simple really: don't take other people's stuff! I don't take your car; please don't take my photos.
+Jeff Sullivan
, have you ever seen my article about handling online copyright violations? Let me know if you'd like the link.
+Jeff Sullivan Just come back from reading them (the comments) - I am amazed to say the least. The perpetrator comes across as a real piece of work.