Dealing with content theft

[JOSourcing]

I think you miss that I credit everything?

That's not how copyrights work. Copyrights literally mean the right to copy or reproduce something. If you didn't create the original images or buy a license to copy them, you don't have the right to reproduce them anywhere.

 

[dreadpixel]

It's a profitable niche, I generate small income to the content owners through product sales. Often these celebs are wearing sponsored clothing. I think you miss that I credit everything?

I'm not mad, I just want to ride that traffic wave that his posts generated with my collage and actively compete.

I was just saying, I've had some problems with the Education & Science niche. And people behave like you, like a niche. And shouldn't be that, education should be open for everyone.

Anyway, I have a point. Why you even ask this if it is not your content? Not your pictures, not your rights, not your image. Do you even mention the original source?

 

[jamie3000]

I do not think you owe the rights, but the easiest thing you can do is to reach out to that account and ask to tag you as collage creator

I second this. It's better to gain an ally than create an enemy.

 

[Goatboat]

I was just saying, I've had some problems with the Education & Science niche. And people behave like you, like a niche. And shouldn't be that, education should be open for everyone.

Anyway, I have a point. Why you even ask this if it is not your content? Not your pictures, not your rights, not your image. Do you even mention the original source?

This thread answered some questions I had.

And yes, main source is tagged in all posts. Hiding the source would actually hurt my business.

 

[blazekhai]

Well, I would suggest just ignoring the person and just continue what you're doing.
You could put "collage by : @username" in the photo.
That would make the person followers check your profile out.

I myself have a 100k+ collage account in fashion niche and I just use jarvee to repost those other collage accounts to be honest.
I mean, most collage person are not own by anyone unless the original poster itself(that's who we must credit).

 

[Brighter Faster]

Just because you don't own the copyrights of the images used to create a collage, doesn't mean you don't have copyright on the collage itself (and on any written captions, etc, you've included in your collage). Such a creative work is called a "derivative work" (https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ14.pdf) and depending on how much originality it contains (i.e., how different it is from the pieces that make up the collage) you absolutely have copyright on derivative works you have created.

Of course, if your collage is mostly similar to the original work then it won't rise to the level of derivative work. It needs to substantially deviate from the original works included in the collage to be copyrightable. Whether the images you used are yours or not doesn't actually matter. What matters is if the work is a "new" creation, even if it uses source material that is not yours.

Also, crediting the original creators is irrelevant unless they have told you that credit is sufficient to use their copyrighted work.

So, depending on how original your collages are, you can pursue a copyright claim against someone who is copying your collages and captions. I don't see any reason not to report it to IG if someone is stealing your work. Of course, if you're just slapping a caption on a picture from a magazine, then there's not much you can do.

 

[Goatboat]

Just because you don't own the copyrights of the images used to create a collage, doesn't mean you don't have copyright on the collage itself (and on any written captions, etc, you've included in your collage). Such a creative work is called a "derivative work" (https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ14.pdf) and depending on how much originality it contains (i.e., how different it is from the pieces that make up the collage) you absolutely have copyright on derivative works you have created.

Of course, if your collage is mostly similar to the original work then it won't rise to the level of derivative work. It needs to substantially deviate from the original works included in the collage to be copyrightable. Whether the images you used are yours or not doesn't actually matter. What matters is if the work is a "new" creation, even if it uses source material that is not yours.

Also, crediting the original creators is irrelevant unless they have told you that credit is sufficient to use their copyrighted work.

So, depending on how original your collages are, you can pursue a copyright claim against someone who is copying your collages and captions. I don't see any reason not to report it to IG if someone is stealing your work. Of course, if you're just slapping a caption on a picture from a magazine, then there's not much you can do.

will look into this, thanks!

Well, I would suggest just ignoring the person and just continue what you're doing.
You could put "collage by : @username" in the photo.
That would make the person followers check your profile out.

I myself have a 100k+ collage account in fashion niche and I just use jarvee to repost those other collage accounts to be honest.
I mean, most collage person are not own by anyone unless the original poster itself(that's who we must credit).

I did wonder if it was jarvee doing the reposting, only the CTA was changed specific to their page.

 

[John242]

Hi,

So I've got an IG page that has collages of celebs with a fashion sale CTA.

A large competitor ( verified page ) has stolen some of my content and copy/pasted my caption + posted on same hashtags with his own CTA. These posts are getting high engagement and thousands of likes where mine are stagnating in the hundreds. This allows him to place higher in the hashtag that i'm targeting where i'm not even placing.

Can I report and have his pictures removed? I do not own the pictures but the pics are credited.

I understand this is just part of the game but any advice for attacking this sort of scenario?

All I can think of is watermarking but as a user I can see that reducing engagement and cluttering the pics. And If i use a frame he could always crop the pic.

Thanks

If you and the company doing this are both in the USA, then consult with an attorney who deals in copyrights and trademarks to see what your rights are. Make sure to clarify exactly what you're doing, and show the attorney examples. You'll probably have to pay for 30-60 minutes of legal time, but it would be worth it.

If you're both not in the USA then don't waste your time. International law is expensive and a waste of time.

I'm not saying you should sue the company doing it, but knowing your rights could help you leverage them to stop. If indeed you are creating derivative work that might fall under copyrighted works.


Sucks when others rip off your stuff, especially if you've tried to put your own spin on it. But unfortunately that's one of the reasons so many people are on IG trying to make a buck and so many companies providing services/software that can easily copy, scrape, repost....

You live by the sword, you die by the sword.

 

[high mike]

Use a thoughtful watermark, I know it's cancerous but I've watermarked over other peoples watermark before, 95% of posts on IG is recycled anyway (my niche anyway).
Just use a light grey color on your watermark. Put it in a thoughtful position where people can't crop it off.

 

[John242]

Use a thoughtful watermark, I know it's cancerous but I've watermarked over other peoples watermark before, 95% of posts on IG is recycled anyway (my niche anyway).
Just use a light grey color on your watermark. Put it in a thoughtful position where people can't crop it off.

To clarify, are you referring to a watermark as an actual watermark or a username? It's two different things. A real watermark usually contains a company name or photographer's name, not their page name. For example:

-Are you putting @yourpagename over @theirpagename ?
-Or putting your company name over theirs?

Either way, you're kind of walking a thin line and if it's the latter of the two, you could potentially be sued regardless of where you are in the world.

 

[LibroHat]

as soon as you update a content, make sure it fetch on webmasters so google will now the original content first in your website.

 

[gumspit]

The people who made the content that you stole put effort into the content, you stole it and are essentially profiting off of somebody else's content. If you are doing that you have no right to get upset if somebody else decides to do the same and steals your "hard work".

You can not avoid media and content from being stolen, it just happens and you just have to put up with it especially if you, yourself are stealing content too.

 

[Alexnvo]

If you use others content without permission in any way shape or form in your own posts you are a thief too

 

[Tozzy]

Someone stole the content I managed to steal, the thread

Bravo

 

[Aveil]

Okay so I don't own the content



Yes i'm "recycling" content but not carbon copy steals. Honestly, I wasn't sure if there was any action I could take at all which is why I've reached out.



I think without some sort of watermark they will just laugh at me. But this is likely what I will pursue and have a gentle watermark / frame in future.

Use the watermark, the frame is too easily removable.