the Grapefruit Cometh

So this morning...little did I know as I slept ever so peacefully....

That there were a number of people waiting for me with a message....

Uh.....

Several emails were waiting for me this morning hoping to inform me that one of my photographs was recently used in an article and was I aware of it.  Their skepticism was due in part to the fact that the site claimed that the source of the photograph was "Archives"....which was clearly bullshit.  (I don't know about you, but I never saw a photographer from Quebec in our press corner.)

Anyway, where were we? Ah yes...

No, I was not aware.  Thank you, however, for informing me of it.


Enbeauce.com:

It has come to my attention that you have made an unauthorized use of my copyrighted photograph entitled "Maxime+leaning+into+the+ice+blog+ready" in the publishing of your article.  

I have reserved all rights to the photograph, which was first published on February 21 2011 on http://www.youareahockeyfan.com with copyright registered to me.

You neither asked for nor received permission to use this photograph within your article, nor to make or distribute copies of it. I was never contacted, compensated, or even credited.  You removed my watermark, cropped my image, and referenced the source as from "Archives" which is clearly false. Therefore, I believe you have willfully infringed my rights under 17 USC Section 101, et seq. and could be liable for statutory damages.

And Enbeauce.com....Maxime is 22 years old.  Not 26.  Not 23.   So the next time you decide to update your article, be sure to either remove the photograph you stole, or compensate me for it and properly credit it.

Pamplemousse poops on you.

Sorry, guys, it's not in my nature to publicly address something like this, but theft is serious.  It's not difficult to properly request permission, obtain permission, compensate and credit, or remove the image if payment and credit is just too much for your organization.  When a company gets lazy and rips an image that is loss of revenue for me and for every photographer out there unable to properly showcase their work for fear of theft.

Thank you so much, readers, for looking out for me.  I'm on this. 

And Max, I remain as ever your biggest fan in Utah, best of luck to you with the new team...though I would much rather have you back here, of course.  Take care!