Using people's pictures on the internet

[David Tan]

As more and more information is shared, copied and passed around in the internet, it's envitable that someone somewhere will use the internet as their personal tool for getting images for their own use.

Maybe it's in a presentation, maybe it's to print and decorate the wall. Or maybe it's for a promotional ad that will have your face featured throughout the country.

Web 101: Copyright, model release, and the Internet

What if it's used for some kind of female sexual dysfunction ad or male impotence drug ad?

Which is why it's really not advisable to post your children's photos on the internet. Especially on your blog with all the details about where you live, your lifestyle, etc. All the details needed for sickos to find your family.

Share, share and share but understand the risks.

[GreedIsGood]

Well you could put a watermark on all your pictures if you want to be cautious. Also, you could limit who can see your profile/blogs.

But on the internet, just as in public, your privacy cannot be guaranteed, and so the onus is on you to take the necessary measures.

[ABOTadmin]

Unless you have a very prominent watermark, anyone with Photoshop can easily remove it. But then it would obscure the picture, which puts you in a Catch-22 situation.

So, if you do not want your picture stolen, don't publish it at all.

[David Tan]

But if you've got images that people are willing to steal for....hmmm, potential model perhaps? Set up a site, make some wallpapers of shots of yourself and some gallery, maybe a photobook in pdf and track how many downloads?
Always come up with some fresh materials for people to download... build a fanbase... get sponsors and modelling agencies or ad agencies into the picture...

[Tephus]

Selling it to stock image sites won't prevent your work from being stolen. Unless your image is thumbnail sized, an average picture of about say 300x400px would be good enough for any online publication/blog.

Also, stock image sites do a lousy job watermarking their stock.