PetaPixel

Man Finds His Photography Used Around the World Without His Knowing

 

This is the incredible story of how one man’s photography was used hundreds of times all over the world without his permission before he finally found out.

(via f stoppers)

 
 
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  • Grrrr

    fucking assholes!

  • http://twitter.com/Crestopher Brett

    I think that’s probably a horror story for artists. Both becoming a “faceless” celebrity, and also having your work stolen and even claimed by other people.

  • Annwphotography

    be careful where you post your photographs. once you post on facebook, you definitely become “faceless”. you have just given it to them.

  • miketh

    … this film is about 6 minutes too long.

  • Gcampos

    had that happen to me also, but not on such a large scale, still not much you can do about it…

  • http://twitter.com/bkwineper Per Karlsson

    It all depends on what kind of license model he choose when posting it on Flickr, doesn’t it?

  • J.

    Oh for fuck sake, get over it!

  • Nils

    He’s being really cool about all this.
    Another person would be suing half the world right now.

  • http://twitter.com/davehodg Dave Hodgkinson

    Soon as it goes on the internet, all bets are off.

  • http://photography.badlightgoodlight.com Nikhil Ramkarran

    He has responded with a great deal more grace than I would have. I don’t suppose there is much that he can do now, but at the very least I hope he gets the credit he deserves (even if it’s not monetary).

    I have to ask though; how can someone (an artist) take another person’s work and pass it off as their own (the Mexican book)? I can understand (but not forgive) a commercial interest like a t-shirt maker appropriating someone’s work because they are only interested in making a profit.

    For an artist to represent his work as their own is just the worst kind of dishonesty.

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  • Joakimfj

    Id get a money hungry lawyer.

  • Grrrr

    youre an idiot.

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  • Steve

    Why doesn’t he take legal action? He should at least be able to make people stop selling his copyrighted photo without his permission. It isn’t as difficult as he makes it out, if a person doesn’t respond, contact the site or ISP they use and get them to remove it.

    It was interesting that Getty refused the photo, he should try alamy, they have a much better review policy. The problem is, if he doesn’t do anything about people publishing this photo without payment, why would anyone pay for a license?

  • http://www.davidsanger.com David Sanger

    Fascinating to read the righteous indignation from so many other photographers.

    If you want to read Noam’s own perspective check his Facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/noamgalai

    In his opinion the best writeup is by his cousin at

    http://goodmenproject.com/arts/the-man-behind-the-scream-noam-galai/
    “Noam’s response was mostly a sort of awed fascination. He liked seeing how people used the portrait, what settings they chose. He had no quarrel with anyone, except perhaps those selling scream T-shirts for a profit. He posted an album on Facebook: images from all over the world, of his face. A face that seemed to imply protest. ”

    “He’s started a small sideline, too: selling Scream products. Mugs, T-shirts, magnets, aprons, even shoes. He says he takes it as a compliment when other artists use his photograph, and likes seeing what they do with it. ”

    http://www.zazzle.com/screamography/gifts

    “Noam’s response was mostly a sort of awed fascination. He liked seeing how people used the portrait, what settings they chose. He had no quarrel with anyone, except perhaps those selling scream T-shirts for a profit. He posted an album on Facebook: images from all over the world, of his face. A face that seemed to imply protest. Rage. Despair. Fist-pumping populism. …or, in some cases, just a rockin’ good time. His face seemed to mean all things to all people.”

  • DW

    That was horribly put together. Bad music, bad editing, bad mix. But that’s beside the point. Why hasn’t this guy sued anyone yet? He should be sending cease and desist letters and filing lawsuits to collect from anyone that has made money through the unauthorized use of his images and the unauthorized use of his likeness.