Competitor using our image

[Rob S]

We have discovered that one of our competitors has lifted an image off our website and used it on their website.

It is one that we have taken and then our web designer has changed to show a certain product - it is a unique photo - no chance of being a lucky duplicate.

What is the best way forward from here.

 

[bargainmania]

ask them to remove it

 

[BobbyBoy]

Hi Rob - you may find this useful

http://www.oldwelshguy.co.uk/web-marketing/beating-the-content-thieves-stolen-website-content

Certainly helped us sort out a similar problem recently

Thanks

Bobby

 

[contract hub]

also be sure to get a screen print of the offending page. We have (wrongly) been sent legal letter from getty images in the past. They always include screen grabs, dates, times, urls etc. So be sure to capture all the details.

Its probably not as important for you because image companies have written hefty penalties into their clauses and pursue these very aggressively. Im sure a "friendly" word will suffice for you but better safe than sorry - have the evidence to back it up

 

[Faevilangel]

Have they actually lifted it or just using the source from your website?

If the latter then there are a few ways to stop them doing it (including changing the image to something inappropriate).

If the first then not much you can do apart from contacting them, give them 7 days to remove the image, if not then contact their webhost (use this tool to tell you who hosts the site) and ask the web host to remove the image (as they are holding copyright material).

Final step, but most expensive is court action, sue them for misuse of your imagery.

 

[Rob S]

They have lifted the image rather than linked to it.

I have sent them an email asking them to remove the image within seven days or I will be sending them an invoice.

I will also phone them as well.

 

[ITsoldUK]

I have sent them an email asking them to remove the image within seven days or I will be sending them an invoice.

If you send them an invoice will this not allow them to pay and keep on using it???

I would have sent them a cease and desist notice before action...but that is just me.

 

[lynxus]

If you send them an invoice will this not allow them to pay and keep on using it???

I would have sent them a cease and desist notice before action...but that is just me.

Just invoice for £300,000
Explain that this is the price of said image and that court action will be taken for the full price if payment isn't received or the image is removed.

Might get lucky and they pay lol

 

[ITsoldUK]

Just invoice for £300,000
Explain that this is the price of said image and that court action will be taken for the full price if payment isn't received or the image is removed.

Might get lucky and they pay lol

In this instance, ignore my first post...do this

 

[deniser]

Just read this and moments later, by complete chance, discovered one of our competitors has taken many, many images from our site and is using them to sell our products in direct competition to us. These are images which we had taken professionally and which we spent a lot of effort on as well as money. Not just that but we photographed our stock (which costs us money to buy in and house) and they just dropship so don't even invest in stock to have it to photograph.

Given the sheer blatancy of what they are doing - this is an individual who has been in business for a long time and is fully aware of us as a competitor and they know they are not allowed to do this, I'm going straight to the solicitor's letter with a demand for payment for lost profits and I shall pursue it because it has made me really cross.

I've spent this afternoon digging out my copyright assignment and copying screenshots.

Good luck with yours!

 

[lynxus]

Just read this and moments later, by complete chance, discovered one of our competitors has taken many, many images from our site and is using them to sell our products in direct competition to us. These are images which we had taken professionally and which we spent a lot of effort on as well as money. Not just that but we photographed our stock (which costs us money to buy in and house) and they just dropship so don't even invest in stock to have it to photograph.

Given the sheer blatancy of what they are doing - this is an individual who has been in business for a long time and is fully aware of us as a competitor and they know they are not allowed to do this, I'm going straight to the solicitor's letter with a demand for payment for lost profits and I shall pursue it because it has made me really cross.

I've spent this afternoon digging out my copyright assignment and copying screenshots.

Good luck with yours!

I demand a separate thread and updates on how it goes!
Good luck. What an a%^"£$%

 

[deniser]

I demand a separate thread and updates on how it goes!
Good luck. What an a%^"£$%

Thanks I'll start a new thread when I send my letter demanding payment and let you know the outcome.

 

[PDC]

Hope you get it sorted.

We had a competitor who not stole a bunch of text and the image within it ourselves. Very annoying.

Took and email to the company and the websites designers but they did remove it(each blaming one another) after we threatened a Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown request for their website.

 

[Deleted member 59730]

You could try reading http://www.epuk.org/Opinion/994/stolen-photographs-what-to-do

Also there is now a small claims track for copyright cases up to £5,000.

Don't underestimate the value of photography.