Who Is Stealing Your Photos Online?

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Up until recently it’s been nearly impossible to know for certain where your online photos might end up on the Internet. As we’ve heard over the years a growing vocal minority will be the first to jump on photographers complaining about online image theft stating “Get used to it. You put it online. That’s how it is.” This argument is anything but true and frustrates the hell out of photographers who know better.

It’s become clear there is a growing interest in new technologies to address the current “wild west” nature of image theft on the Internet by stock agencies and individual photographers alike. Google recently released a research paper on VisualRank that like text search assigns a weighting and ranking to images while also leveraging image-recognition software methods. Although Google is the 800 pound gorilla of search they’ve been beat to the punch by IdÃ©e Inc. who recently released a private beta of TinEye. As you’ll see in TinEye’s demonstration video they’ve created an image search that is as simple as a Google search. All an end user has to do is reference an image online or upload a low resolution image and TinEye returns results of where that image is currently found online. What is most impressive is their image matching technology that will match similar images even if they’ve been cropped, resized or Photoshop’d.

I am a born cynic, but after putting TinEye to the test with some of my photos I’ve quickly become a believer and can’t wait for them to expand their search index and hopefully implement a Google Alert like service. At the moment they’ve indexed a relatively small portion of the Internet (roughly 500,000,000 images), but they’re asking beta testers to recommend sites to index. The service at the moment is rather narrow, but I can see where this has legs to quickly expand.

Just to show an example I decided to search one of my more commonly referenced photos of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York City. The blog post containing this image has been accessed nearly 50,000 times and it is one of my most popular photos. With out a doubt I knew this would end up somewhere it was not supposed to. In the past by monitoring my web site log I’ve caught a few people using the image with out my knowledge, so I figured this would be a perfect example to test on TinEye.

Click to Enlarge

Sure enough I referenced the image on my blog and found a few more sites (see above) that had slipped by me who have been using my photo without my knowledge or permission.

Granted the jury is still out with TinEye, but my initial experience has been a good one. The simplicity of the interface, the image-recognition capabilities and speed at which it finds images has caught my eye. I’ll definitely be watching TinEye as it develops and provide feedback through its beta stage.

If you’re curious to try TinEye let me know in your comment to this post. I have 50 invites that I can share.

Technorati Tags: copyright, photo, image, search, theft, technology, TinEye

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Posted by Jim on 06.05.2008 at 7:11 am
Tagged: Copyright, Photography, Technology, Web , Copyright, Search, Technology

http://littleredtent.net Edie

I’d like to try it, Jim! Thanks for the offer.

Edie
http://inphotos.org/ Donncha O Caoimh

I’d love to try it. Maybe I can find a few more of the sites that used my “Aflac duck” photo from a few years back.

BTW – have you tried the wp-super-cache plugin? That may help with the load on your server, and on the new server too of course. More info and download link at http://ocaoimh.ie/wp-super-cache/
http://www.hockleyphoto.com Aaron B. Hockley

As a photographer and blogger I’m always looking for solutions such as these; if you have an invite code I’d love one.
http://www.lucafiligheddu.com luca

I’d love one, thanks.

luca dot filigheddu at gmail dot com

Luca
http://www.raoulpop.com/ Raoul

I’d like an invite, please. Thanks!
http://girl-inchoate.com/photos dawn

I’m very interested in trying it out. I do Google searches, have Google alerts, and a few other things, but I’m sure there are a few that slip through the cracks for me, too.
http://www.trphoto.com Tony Rath

Jim,

About time a tool like this is developed. Would be interested in trying it out. Thanks.

Tony
Esther G. Ure

I would be very interested in trying it out. What a fantastic bit of information!
http://www.cmiper.com cmiper

Thanks for the article and review. I would be interested in an invite While I do post all of my photos under CC BY-NC I still find them being used against CC often enough that this would be handy.
http://www.phillprice.com Phill Price

Hi Jim – I’d love to try out the service, if there are any invites left?
http://www.manderson.com/ Mark Anderson

I would love to test it out. Send an invite my way as well.
http://www.cmiper.com cmiper

Do you see the email address that is required for posting? Just in case not: cmi.per at gmail.com

Thanks again.
http://www.enriqueaguirre.com Enrique Aguirre

Good to see that you are keping yourself busy despite the broken toe!

If you still have an invite left, I would love one.

Thanks!

PS: Long time no see… we should meet up some time.
http://www.zanzig.com Mark Zanzig

Me, me, me!

Jim, if you could get me an invite, that would be great.

One word of caution, though: the worst offenders will probably NOT found by the search as TinEye still needs to somehow spider the web. If they do and behave like good bots, they respect robots.txt rules. But the heavy infringers usually block bots from the areas where the infringement happens.

But I agree that such a service is a very positive step into the right direction, enabling us to defend our copyrights in an increasingly competitive market.
http://www.tomwinsteadphotography.com Tom

Sounds interesting. I’d love an invite too. Thanks!
paul s

I would like an invite as well, this could truly be a remarkable product when fully developed.
http://photosandponders.blogspot.com Ponder

I would also love an invite, I’d really like to try this out. Thank you!
Dave

Don’t know how many times I’ve had to hunt down people stealing my images. I’d love to try it.

Thanks,

Dave
jason

interesting article, would love to a invite for tineye, not that iam expecting to find many people who have stolen my images ( i hope)

cheers

Jason
http://www.hawkandtom.com Tom Steele

I’d like an invite – thank you.

tsteele93 A T yahoo . youknowwhat
http://pbase.com/dellybean Della Huff

Hi Jim,

I would love to try the service. I’ve had a few negative experiences with individuals and companies using my photos without permission. It’s very frustrating. One thing that I’d add to your argument is that image theft can put photographers at some legal risk, too, when they’re licensing images for exclusive usage and image thieves infringe on that license. Anyway, TinEye sounds like a great technology and I’d love to test it out. Thanks!
http://www.livefromsilvercity.com Avelino

I don’t think my stuff is of the caliber for theft, but I’d love to try it out and see if I’ve got a reason to be more cautious.
http://www.sherrimeyer.com/Blog Sherri Meyer

Jim,

Great post. I would also love to be added to your list.

Thanks,
Sherri
http://www.jmg-galleries.com Jim Goldstein

Now that my blog is back working the way it should I wanted to relay an update that I still have invites. If you’re not commenting because you’re assuming I’m out think otherwise.
s4to335

Hey Jim…put me on your list. Thanks.

Steve
http://schauplatz.org Claudia

Hi Jim, thanks for the tipp. I’d definitely like to check it out. Would you please also end me an invite?

Thanks,
Claudia
Gary Simmons

Very interesting…. I would love an invite to Tineye, if you don’t mind.
http://www.my-photo-blog.com Ron Niebrugge

Hi Jim,

I’m out of the office right now, but I would love to give it a try when I get back.

Thanks!

Ron
http://www.flickr.com/photos/liumorse looey

Hey Jim,

Please send me an invite. Everyone once in awhile, I’ll have a photo with a suspicious number of hits and it always leaves me curious as to where it’s ended up.

Thanks,

looey
http://iammatt.net matt sallee

jim –

this is interesting. love to try it.

matt
http://bradmangas.com Brad Mangas

Hi Jim, sign me up too. Thanks
Brad
http://www.allynedmonds.com/sites/who-is-stealing-your-photos-online-jmg-galleries-jim-m-goldstein-photography-travel-landscape-and-nature-pictures-stock-photos-and-fine-art-prints/ Who Is Stealing Your Photos Online? | JMG-Galleries – Jim M. Goldstein Photography: travel, landscape, and nature pictures – stock photos and fine art prints | Allyn Edmonds

[...] Continue Reading: Who Is Stealing Your Photos Online? | JMG-Galleries – Jim M. Goldstein Photography: travel, landscap… [...]
http://www.fotogenik.org/gallery/ Kurt Triebe

Hey Jim-

Very interesting technology, indeed. I’d love to have an invite to the service if you have any left… I’m curious if any of my images are being used “out there” without my permission.

Thanks!
Kurt
http://www.sterlingfrankensteffen.com Sterling Franken-Steffen

Good find. Any invites still available?
Jyoteen Majmudar

I would love to give it a go. thanks Jim.
http://www.postorino.com Mike Postorino

Sounds like an interesting bit of technology. I would love to give it a try. Thanks!
http://www.embracelifephoto.com Embrace Life Wedding Photography

Jim -

Thank you for sharing this. If you still have an invite left, I’d love to give this a try.

Thanks a lot.

- Adam George
Embrace Life
bruce eichman

thank you! sounds like an unfortunate, yet necessary, bit of technology…love to give it a try should you have an invite left…thanks again
http://steven.vorefamily.net/ Steven Vore

I’m definitely interested, it’s a common discussion and “problem” that we all share.
http://www.marsavius.net Tim Marsh (TRM)

Wow, one of the reasons I don’t post a lot of my work. However this tool would possibly open that up so I could share more of the killer photos I have to solicit folks for prints, etc.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention Jim!
http://lightfantasticphotography.com Don Hall

Jim, I’d be interested in trying the search product.

Thanks

Don
Ilse

I would like to try it.

Ilse (gorgopis)
Bill Woolf

Interesting, I would like to try it. Than you for the information about this new technology.
Ben

Hi Jim,

I’d appreciate an invite if there are still any available.

Cheers,

ben
Flemming Gade

Hi Jim,

Looks quite interesting!
I’d love to try it!

Have a great weekend
Flemming
http://www.markhiggins.net Mark Higgins

Hi,

Can I have an invite please, this tineye tool looks amazing…

Cheers

Mark
http://www.matimilstein.com/ Mati Milstein

I’d like to try TinEye if you have an invites left. Thanks much! Very interesting…

Ciao,
Mati
http://blog.epicedits.com/2008/06/07/link-roundup-06-07-2008/ Link Roundup 06-07-2008

[...] Who Is Stealing Your Photos Online? JMG Galleries Info & review of TinEye image search and the benefit it provides to photographers tracking image usage. Invites available for private beta of TinEye. [...]
http://blog.urbanbohemian.com Brian

The service sounds great, if you (or any other commenters by now) have an invite code, I would love to try them out.
http://www.jmg-galleries.com Jim

I’m out of invites at the moment. As soon as I get more I’ll be sure to pick up on inviting those that comment here. Sorry Brian I ran out just before you commented.
http://www.envisiontsp.com Anthony

I’d love to have a go at the service if/when you get more invites.
http://www.jmg-galleries.com Jim

Just got more invites… leave a comment and I’ll relay one to you if you’re interested.
http://www.photolaboratory.com Andrea McLaughlin

I would love to have a TinEye invite. BTW it’s such a great name!
Thanks!
http://www.beyondmegapixels.com Lisa

Hey, Jim. This is a great thing. Finally, right? I’d love an invite if you still have one.
http://www.brookemayo.com Brooke

Wow! Amazing!! I would lovelovelove to try it!!
http://geoffreyday.com/ Geoff

Jim, I’d like to try this out if you still have any invites. Thanks, Geoff.
http://www.scottvandykestudio.com Scott Van Dyke

Thanks for the info Jim…if there are anymore I would love to test..I understand if you are max out.
http://www.jmg-galleries.com Jim

Just in case people are arriving to this post late I still have invites.
http://www.beyondmegapixels.com Lisa

Got the invite. Thanks, Jim!
Toby Smithe

Hey, still got any invites? I’d be very glad if one appeared my way
http://www.coreymichaelphoto.com cj99si

Looks like im too late, I would like to try it though. Thanks for the info!

-Corey
Funda Hemimoglu

l would be very very happy to see your pictures taken all over this nice world.
Thank you if you’ll do.
Funda Hemimoglu

Sorry, l have some more to add;
Congratulates on your work, you know you are best. You are young and have lots of years full of success.
l must give my especial thanks by your link to one of your friends; Mr. Dan Calistrat ,whom l got your name; he is great too.
Good Luck(Salute from Turkey)
http://www.future-breed.com/ Dan Gonyea

I’m a concert photographer who has been fighting with several users on Ebay and online in general who are stealing and selling my photos. Cease and desist letters always seem to work well, but the trick is to find these people in the first place. I’d love to get an invite if that is at all possible. Thank you for posting this; I’ve been waiting for something like this for quite a bit.
http://macateephotography.com melissa

Any invites still available? would love to give it a try.
Charmaine

I sent u an email about the invite before, and you told me to drop a line here =] I’d love to try TinEye, so it would be great if you could send me an invite. Thanks again, Jim! =D

- Charmaine
Jorge

This is by far the most interesting thing I’ve read so far this year. Very promising! Send me an invite if you have any left. Thx
http://www.tzplanet.com/words/pick-of-the-week-link-edition-jun-10-2008/83 Pick of the Week: Link Edition – Jun 10, 2008 | Words: Irrational

[...] Who is Stealing your photos online? – JMG-Galleries – Jim introduces a new platform (or shall we call it search engine), TinEye, that uses image recognition algorithms and allows you to search for copies of your images online (even modified ones). I’ve been using TinEye for some time and can say that, although their search range is still small, it works. Jim also has some invites to give, in case you’re interested. [...]
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schloo Sarah

If you still have any invites left, I’d be very grateful for one. I’m nowhere near professional photography standard, but I have two flickr images that seem to have massive hits, and although I google them, I fear they are being used but not coming up in google searches. Especially when my stats reveal search terms like “free wizard image” and “free mountain image” have come up!

Thanks a lot for your help, and the article was a really insightful read.
DRoOpY

Wow, this is very ineteresting… hook me up if you can!
http://www.jmg-galleries.com/blog/2008/06/12/exif-and-beyond-leila-boujnane/ EXIF and Beyond: Leila Boujnane | JMG-Galleries – Jim M. Goldstein Photography: travel, landscape, and nature pictures – stock photos and fine art prints

[...] an invite to TinEye? I’m happy to share those I have or go directly to TinEye and submit a [...]
http://acmephotography.net/ Adam Nollmeyer – AcmePhoto

Who would want to steal images, you know with the lowering cost of digital cameras..

TinEye looks pretty great, I can’t wait to try it. Now they should just partner with somone to email / invoice people who “borrow” work without asking.

Adam in Phoenix.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisugar/ Charlene

It sounds like magic! The internet is great but has so many negative aspects.
I’ve started to upload smaller sizes and including a copyright on images with the hope that it is too much trouble to get it off.

I’d love an invitation to try it

Charlene
jon

This sounds really good. Would love to try it if you could possibly send an invite. Thanks

jon
http://www.photonetcast.com/2008/photonetcast-6-some-thoughts-on-analog-and-digital-photography.html PhotoNetCast #6 – Some Thoughts on Analog and Digital Photography | PhotoNetCast

[...] Who is Stealing your Photos Online?; EXIF and Beyond: Leila [...]
http://www.flickr.com/photos/naveen_kumar_reddy NaveenKumar

Hi,

I would like to try TinyEye.

Would be glad to receive an invitation from you(if you are still left with invitations )

Thanks,
NaveenKumar.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p-s/ Petra

Hi, This sounds like a great tool! Thanks for bringing it to our attention. I’d love to try it out if you still have invites.
Thanks!
Petra
S M

Great post. I wonder if a new google search tool would possibly be more effective due to increased scope/cache? Would love to try TinEye if invites are still available.
http://pecunium.livejournal.com Terry Karney

I’m interesed in trying it. I’ve applied for an invite, but if you have one going spare, I’d be more than willing to try it out and let you know what I think.
nicole armand

I am interested in an invite also.
Thank you,
Nicole
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyjcase/ Tony

Realizing that I’ve come into this party a month late, if you have any invites left, I’d love one. While I dont think I’m nearly important enough to steal from, this sounds facinating.
http://cindiaugustine.wordpress.com/ Cindi

Sounds like a very handy tool! I’m late to the party too, but I’d love an invite if there are any left to be found.
http://dmphotogallery.com/ Aaron

Not sure if you have any invites left, but if you do I’d love to try it. I do portrait photography and would love to know who’s “borrowing” my images (http://dmphotogallery.com/).

Aaron
http://www.jmg-galleries.com/blog/2009/02/25/marketing-through-infringed-photos-with-watermarks/ Marketing Through Infringed Photos with Watermarks | JMG-Galleries – Jim M. Goldstein Photography: travel, landscape, and nature pictures – stock photos and fine art prints

[...] TinEye – While TinEye.com has a limited index at the moment I still will find photos of mine from time to time that have been cropped or embedded in other photo montages or digital art. (See Who Is Stealing Your Photos Online?) [...]
Arlene

TinEye does not always work. Each photographer has to remember to put some unseenable codes in the pics before they upload it in the internet. I heard tineye can recognise the pics if the photographers did so (eventhough the pics are re-named by the thieves).

The safest way to protect your pics from being used illegally by someone else is to put watermarks allover it.

Does anyone know a more powerful tool than tineye ?
fil

Hello, I’m fil and I would like to try this product because I’ve got people in the past stealing my photos and I found atleast two that did. And this was on myspace and xanga sites before privacy issues were taken into action. I would also like to expand tinyeye’s search engine as well as help my friends protect and securing their images.
Deana_girl

I had an employer steal my private photos and email them to my ex co workers is there anything that I can do??? [email protected]
John

Hi,
I have been trying to find out where a photo came from online (I believe someone is stealing photos and has made a fake facebook page) but I am missing how TinEye and Google Image searches work, because all it seems to do is give you back the link from where you’ve dragged the photo in question from in the first place. This obviously doesn’t do any good. Am I using it the wrong way?