"Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest."
~ Henry Van Dyke

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

What a shock!

Now I have heard often of people warning against photos being taken from blogs and used by others. Today I happened to discover that five of my photos were taken without my permission. I guess I will have to learn how to use a watermark on my photos after all. I found out they were taken through my own blog of all things too! I had to change my music when the old playlist no longer allowed access to Europe. I switched to MixPod and it works great. It even has a video built in which you can watch from the blog if the music you choose had a video attached. So while playing around seeing which of my songs have video, you can imagine my amazement when I clicked on Little Toy Village and saw many of the photos from my OWN village being used in this video. They are obviously my village and it is unique as it was handmade by my mother and sister. Even the wall rack where the village is set up is visible and that too was handmade by Jos and I.

Now had the person approached me to ask if they could use my photos, I would have probably said yes but I think I should have at least been asked! It is shocking to discover this. Humm...they could pay me in embroidery threads to compensate along with an apology if they are reading this blog. *grins*

You can see this video by clicking on my song list where it says video and then scroll down to the song Little Toy Village.

18 comments:

Elizabethd said...

That is so annoying Heidi, and so impolite too. Can you ask them to put an acknowledgment that they are your photos?

Maggie said...

How rude!!
Is there no way to find out who did this?

Anonymous said...

So sorry to read this Heidi. I have found my blog banner photo online too, which is why I now watermark all of my photos. I use Picasa, it gives you the option to watermark photos, which I always do after learning the hard way!

Marie x

*Ulrike* said...

I guess I will have to watermark my photos too. Don't know if anyone would want them or not, but still it is a very rude thing to do. Sometimes what goes around comes around as the old saying goes for those who do such things.
Ulrike

Linda said...

This is not very nice...I would never think of being so bold. I'm sorry this happened to you Heidi...hugs, Linda

Celestial Charms said...

How very inconsiderate. I know that sinking feeling when you see your photo somewhere else and never even receive contact from that person. I watermark my photos on my blog most of the times, but many times the watermark can even be removed with certain software if someone really wants to use the photo. But some deterrent is better than none, I suppose. Sorry you had to be aggravated by such unthinking folks.
Maureen

onlymehere said...

Before I really got into blogging I used to copy and save pictures of sewing rooms as I knew soon I'd be getting one and I wanted to remember ideas but I didn't save the links of where they came from. When I started blogging I posted some rooms and soon heard from other bloggers whose rooms they were. I went back and gave credit but I felt bad and didn't realize what I'd done would be offensive. I'm not trying to put a stamp of approval on whoever took your pictures but I am wondering, have you contacted this person to let them know how you feel? I agree that watermarking or copywriting your blog is a good idea. I guess if I'm going to open an Etsy (I'm thinking about it) I should learn how to do this too so my sewing designs stay my own. You do such beautiful work you really need to protect it. I remember the village too. I'll have to go over and see the video.

onlymehere said...

Yeah, I see why your shocked and upset. They're using it for their own gain and not saying that they liked it but didn't know where it came from. I should have seen it before I posted the first comment, sorry. I even noticed they used an image that said the image was the property of some puzzle company. That's not right.

Ginny said...

I've heard of this happening, but never to someone I know. I am so sorry! My daughter taught me how to add a watermark in Picasa, which I use to edit my photos. It's small, but it works. I hope.

The Dutchess said...

O dear..I'm so sorry...I always worrie about this...on two of my blogs its impossible to "right click to save image"...but you never know...Everyting you put on your blog IS automatically copyrighted..so you could ask them to add you name to it or remove it from the net.. I also use Mixpod..its great .
You can find the thing to disable right click here...http://www.anshuldudeja.com/2009/04/disable-right-click-option-in-blogger_02.html

Have a happy day..T.D

Fluitenkruid said...

Hoi Heidi,
Wat vervelend! Ik maak mijn blog met Windows Live Writer, je kunt dan heel makkelijk een watermerk invoegen. Maar voor de echte diehard jatters is het misschien nog steeds mogelijk om het eruit te halen.
Succes! groetjes Jannet

Nancy said...

THAT JUST MAKES ME MADDDDDDDD. I don't think they should be allowed to use those pictures without your permission. Send an email an complain. I totally remember every brush stoke of that Santa house and how hard it is to get the gold tassels just right. The trees, I added later. AHHHHHHHHHHH, what a nerve.
Love you, Mom

Carolien said...

How annoying! I really do hope they will react with many, many threads of floss and a heap of quilting stash and ... lots of apologies.

Hugs, Carolien

Tammy said...

How rude!!!
Sorry this happened to you Heidi.
I would definitely contact them.
Hugs2u!
Tam

Nan said...

Heidi, I am completely stunned by this. I didn't know it happened.

Simple Home said...

Didn't you do a post at Christmas time about liking that song? I wonder if they found it at that time. What a shocking way to find out someone had done this. I have no idea how to watermark, but I have seen blogs info on the side about not using their photos without permission. Maybe you could add that until you figure out the watermark thing. I'm so sorry this happened.
Blessings,
Marcia

Kristen said...

Unfoturnately this is a very real problem. My photography website is was a bit more expensive than the other hosting options I had but they offer a feature that doesn't allow the pictures to be copied which is definitely worth it. Sorry that they stole your images! Not nice! People don't realize that they are really stealing when they do that. Your pictures must have teased them too much. :) Love you Aunt Heidi.

Happy@Home said...

I can imagine that would be a huge shock to stumble across your photos in the manner you describe. I can't imagine copying photos from another person's blog, but I have read about it happening.