F-16.net

It's shocking when I found my photos used in Squadron Signal's F-16 Worldwide Markings without any permissions or notifications. Further more, SS didn't give credits to me for the photos. Mad

Looks like they took my photos from f-16.net, in which there is a clear credits to the photographer. Is it ethical for a large publication to do this ? What should I do ?
I found no email address on the book so I can't contact them...

Any opinions or suggestions ?

These are the photos they took :

A flightline of Indonesian F-16s captured alongside of a TNI-AU Su-30MK.

(as in the page 54 of F-16 Worldwide Markings)

and

TNI-AU's F-16s of the 3rd sqn on the ramp with #TS-1611 in second position.

(as in the same page)

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Enthusiast Joined: Apr 11, 2007 Posts: 25 Status: Offline

Hopefully this helps you out some....my girlfriend is a semi professional photographer and here's what she has to say to try and help you out some!

You need contact a copyright attorney, and have the attorney write them a letter demanding payment for usage, or they will file a copyright infringement lawsuit.

After this you need to watermark your images in the future to keep this from happening. Also it helps to resize for web to a point where if its blown up over a wallet size, they look like crap.

If its a publication, its probably regsitered somewhere, and the attorney would know how to find it.

Also, if the images aren't registered, he won't get as much as he would have if they were registered, so its wise to register images with the copyright office regularly.

Hope this helps!!

Is it possible the photo in the book is not yours? Were there other photographers out there? Is it possible that it is just a mistake on their part? I was recently accused of purposely stealing another photographer's work in one of my books, so make sure you are correct in saying they've used your stuff without permission.

However, assuming what you are saying is accurate, absolutely do NOT let them get away with it. Every publishing company knows the international laws regarding copyright, and for them to use your photos without permission is beyond "unethical". It is illegal.

Jake

F-16.net Webmaster Joined: May 23, 2003 Posts: 2384

Hi a-sidharta,

Perhaps you could scan the pages that violate your copyright? I think it's fair use to publish those here so we can see for ourselves? If you think it would help, then we are more than happy to send those guys a letter as well.

Regards,
Lieven

Elite 2K Joined: Oct 20, 2005 Posts: 2103 Status: Offline

a-sidharta! You can reach Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., via mailorder@squadron.com (their mailorder firm with the same postal adress). Ask for the publisher/editors staff! <a href="http://www.squadron.com/Contact.htm">Details</a>, including a fax number

You can also contact the book´s author:
Lou Drendel
429 Nassau Street S.
Venice, FL 34285
(941) 488-8102
loudrendel@comcast.net

Contacting the author should be the easiest way. I´m sure he will talk with you about that and can provide you e-mail adresses of the book´s editor and the publisher.

Hope that helps. Wink

slightly off topic, but

Quote:

After this you need to watermark your images in the future to keep this from happening. Also it helps to resize for web to a point where if its blown up over a wallet size, they look like crap.

How do you do this? I've got a number of photographs that I've taken, that I would like to protect. Anyone mind helping out?

Enthusiast Joined: Apr 11, 2007 Posts: 25 Status: Offline

VPRGUY

I can have my girlfriend give me the directions tonight and I'll post them on here for you and everyone else to see!

I'm just an old crewchief she's the photographer!!

I'll agree with J.J. Contact the folks at SS first and call it to their attention. They're big boys and this type of thing can happen. As a photo researcher and photographer myself I see it happen all the time. Folks assume (bad word, folks!) that things on the internet are free and make a double mistake when it comes to military stuff thinking that yours may be USAF photos (for example) and are public domain. Your image may have slipped in there by mistake. be a good guy first and if you get no satisfaction... get the lawyer.

You always try to go as far as possible in getting info on images that get used. Not only is it the right thing to do you meet some great folks along the way. mistakes happen... then protect your stuff in the future. You always automatically have copyright on the images you produce. You don't have to register them in order to "get" your copyright. Makes things easier but you don't 'Have to'.Also tto figure out that happy medium between a good looking on line image ... and something hi res enough that someone can (and will) use it. Watermarks are great, encoding images with 'file info' and locking that stuff into the file makes tracking easy. There are other things you can do too but be aware... it'll happen and probably happen again.

Hey thanks J.J, I'll have to give that a shot in a while (don't have any airplane pics on this computer). F16nomore, I'll be waiting for what you can find out as well Smile

Thanks guys!

Enthusiast Joined: Apr 11, 2007 Posts: 25 Status: Offline

VPRGUY if you have access to Photoshop there is a watermark feature in the program that you can use to mark your photos before you post them. I didnt get all the details on how to use it but its probably in a drop down menu somewhere in the program.

if you need more on the photography thing let me know I'll log my girlfriend in on here! She's lost on planes but she does know her way around a camera!

Hey good idea, I do have photoshop but I'm far from experienced with it. I'll have to check that out and see what I can find, thanks!

Enthusiast Joined: Mar 30, 2005 Posts: 94 Status: Offline

Alex

Feel free to PM me if you need any specific advice on this (I am a full time freelance military aviation photojournalist and I have experienced this situation first hand).

How you handle this depends a lot on how far you would be prepared to go in order to seek remuneration for the theft.

My suggestion to you would be to make absolutely sure that the images in the publication are the same as those that you have taken.

Assuming that they are, then write a letter to SS and explain the situation - tell them that you would like them to offer you a financial settlement, a written apology and the appropriate credit in future print runs of the publication. Send this to them via a recorded method of delivery and advise them that they have 14 days to respond, after which you will commence legal proceedings to recover damages.

It may be the case that they actually refer you to the author. I have never written for SS, but in my contracts with Osprey, Airlife, Crowood and the other publishers I have worked for, there is a clause that indemnifies the publishing house against copyright claims, and which places responsibility (quite rightly) at the feet of the author for ensuring that images are being used legally. In fact, several of the publishers I work for require a Rights form to have been completed before they will publish.

Anyway, if SS tells you that you need to address your claim to the book's author, then you have a different battle on your hands...

PM me if that happens.

If it doesn't, then SS may offer you a cash settlement that will probably be completely underwhelming. My advice to you would be to accept it and use the contact as a form of 'in' with the publisher for future opportunities - the likelihood that SS 'stole' your images is slim; indeed, they have probably printed them in good faith.

If they don't get back to you within 14 days, then you can choose whether to pursue the matter or let it drop. As I said, it's a question of how much you want and what you're prepared to do to make that happen.

Cheers

Steve

Thank you very much, Gentleman ! I think I'll try to contact the author first and I want to know what he will say.

I have no scanner so I tried to take picture of the pages containing "my" photos. Let me know your opinion after comparing the photos on the SS book and the photos I attached at the beginning of this topic.

Enthusiast Joined: Apr 11, 2007 Posts: 25 Status: Offline

VPRGUY I've been scolded by the girlfriend, the watermark part of photoshop is something you have to set up not a menu drop down. Also she says there is a real good article in the April/May edition of Photoshop User...I believe she said the article is titled Learn the Copyright tutorial

I hope I'm helping and not just confusing you!

Elite 1K Joined: Jul 20, 2005 Posts: 1035 Status: Offline

Don't take 'talk to the author' from the publisher. Regardless what the author signs, he/she can in no way sign your rights away if taken illegally. They (the publisher) may think they're covered, they are not.

Check

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Publishing photos without permission