Workshop Provider Using My Photograph

Mark Lissick, a Photography Workshop Provider, is using MY photograph to promote his Scotland workshop.

This is my photograph:



It appears on Mr. Lissick's website:

http://www.wildlightnaturephotography.com/Scotland%20Highlands%20Trip.htm

You may wish to view Mr. Lissick's offerings. Who knows, you just might find one of your photographs there. One other photographer has already.

I have retained Carolyn E. Wright as my attorney in this matter and appropriate actions are presently underway.

Should you find one of your photographs on the website, I encourage you to contact Carolyn immediately via: http://www.photoattorney.com/

Or, feel free to contact me via PM or bill@lockharts.com

I cant believe someone would use another's images to advertise their own workshops. I hope you get a good out come, its a shame these people cant have their websites removed.

Hi Trev,

Just got a note from another photographer.

Seems there is one more photographer who may have been infringed by Mr. Lissick.

Our world is changing, workshop providers have become a big business on the Internet. Unfortunately, those who wish to improve their skills are too often fooled by providers who use the work of others to embellish their offerings.

This is a sad thing for our community.

Best regards,

Bill

I just recently discovered that the Globe and Mail, a major Canadian newspaper, has had one of my grizzly bear images on their website for over two years in the business section with an article relating to bear markets. I contacted the photo editor, we sorted out where the mistake happened (I had donated use of that image to go with an article about grizzly conservation and they had not put in their files my restriction that the image was for that one time use only). They agreed to pay me for use of the image in their business section for the time it has been online and to remove it from further use.

I hope that you have as easy and agreeable time sorting this out with Mr. Lissick, Bill. Though certainly he should not be using assorted images from assorted photographers without their authorization. Good luck with it and let us know how it turns out.

Roberta Olenick
www.neverspook.com

Hi Roberta,

There is a great deal of difference between a misconception of copyright and an infringement.

Mark Lissick infringed my photograph. And, I know he has done so with one other photographer. I have seen absolute proof.

So I proceed with appropriate legal recourse. Thank goodness we have strong copyright laws in the USA.

Best regards,

Bill

Update

Mr Lissick's website displaying my photograpgh no longer is accessible.

But, this won't work.

Seems I have screen captures, web archives, and full documentation.

And, he is legally obligated to preserve his site in the matter at hand.

Now my website is down.

So is his, your link to his website worked earlier but not now. As someone who runs workshops I think this behavior sucks. Good Luck.

Bill, I'm curious how he grabbed your image. Did you provide it to him for critique during a workshop? Thought that may be the case since your copyright is not present. Or, did he take it from your website? If that is the case, was your copyright removed? If so, his liability exposure is greater, as I'm sure your counsel has advised you. Hope this is resolved to your satisfaction.

Ron Day wrote:Bill, I'm curious how he grabbed your image. Did you provide it to him for critique during a workshop? Thought that may be the case since your copyright is not present. Or, did he take it from your website? If that is the case, was your copyright removed? If so, his liability exposure is greater, as I'm sure your counsel has advised you. Hope this is resolved to your satisfaction.

I have never met Mr. Lissick and have never given him permission to use my photographs for any purpose.

My copyright is embedded in my photo and on my website.

My counsel is the best.

My website is still offline.

I'm glad you thought to get screen captures of his infringement. It is important to have a good evidence file to support your case. I hope every photographer who sees his or her image being used illegitimately takes note and gathers evidence immediately when they find out about it. Same goes regarding the guy ripping off photos for FB in another thread. It is especially easy on an I-pod/I-pad/I-phone to get a screen capture by simply pressing two buttons (home and off) at the same time! Good luck, Bill.

SFJ

This morning my website is back online. It appears that my ISP had some issues last night, which have been fixed. Whew!

While surfing the net this morning, I ran across this interesting review by Larry Hansen:

http://www.hotfrog.com.au/Companies/Wildlight-Nature-Photography

Amazing what one can find on the net.

BTW, one can use http://www.tineye.com/ to search the Internet for your photographs. All you have to do is enter your photo via upload or URL and the site then finds ALL photos which match yours. It is a good way to find out about copyright violations.

The saga does not end. Today I found my photograph on a Pinterest page. See: http://pinterest.com/source/wildlightnaturephotography.com/

Grumble.

I have filed a notice with Pinterest asking for removal of the photograph, which uniquely appears four times!

POST SCRIPT: Yes I have saved the offending Pinterest webpage as a web archive.

Hard to understand how someone could hold themselves out as a workshop leader and then steal photographs for advertising.
Mike

Thanks for the alert Bill - we have seen this before - in fact in the past some have posted other's images on our workshops forum that did not belong to them in order to advertise their workshops and this has been done by some well known photographers which is baffling to me. Buyer beware!

Greg Downing wrote:Thanks for the alert Bill - we have seen this before - in fact in the past some have posted other's images on our workshops forum that did not belong to them in order to advertise their workshops and this has been done by some well known photographers which is baffling to me. Buyer beware!

Hi Greg,

My concern goes well beyond this example of an infringement. There are thousands of photographers who seek out photography workshops to improve their personal photography, and to enjoy the adventure that travel provides. I am deeply distressed that the photographic workshop industry has seen hundreds of new offerings by beginners who haven't a clue about conducting one. You and I both know that one can't just post a workshop offering without all the highly detailed work that makes it succeed. Few of these new providers understand the necessity of knowing areas in great detail. Beyond this is safety, medical evacuation procedures, insurance, and a host of other matters that are critically important. And, of course, is the expertise and skill of the workshop instructors. Sadly, many folks expend thousands of dollars and get absolutely nothing in return.

In this instance, I feel totally violated. To think that a so-called expert photography workshop provider would use other's photographs to attract participants is a very sad commentary indeed.

I wish there were a way that photographic workshop providers could be certified through some process and have that list posted on the Internet. I have done many reviews of photographic workshop offerings, and in doing the reviews have looked in detail at the reputation, skills, and details of planning that anyone might expect from such a provider. I would never recommend a provider without knowing the person over a number of years and seeing the works that the photographer has produced.

As a photographic community, part of what we do is mentor others. I might add, that we have a duty to inform those who read our words about ethical issues which confront our community.

I commend you for your efforts to provide a forum through which such matters might be discussed.

POST SCRIPT:

I would encourage you to do away with the "Workshops, Tours, and Events" Forum from NSN entirely. Why? Because, de facto, the very listing of a "workshop" or "tour" at NSN implies that NSN sanctions the offering. The fact that you know of instances at NSN where photographers have advertised their tours while using the works of others is reason enough to end it.

Best regards,

Bill

I can't believe some people think they can get away with this, and that behaviour described in the review of his tour. Keep us updated please. I see he is still talking about upcoming trips he is 'leading' on Facebook, but if there was any content on his FB business page it is now gone.

Neil Fitzgerald wrote:I can't believe some people think they can get away with this, and that behaviour described in the review of his tour. Keep us updated please. I see he is still talking about upcoming trips he is 'leading' on Facebook, but if there was any content on his FB business page it is now gone.

There is more to post about all this, but presently I have legal counsel and the matter is active. Bottom line is that I will take all appropriate civil actions necessary to claim my rights under copyright law. I will keep the community updated.

Thank you for your support. As a community we need to be constantly aware of what is occurring in our own backyard.

Best regards,

Bill