Storm is this true?
WinPitcher
Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
I read this on another site:
Warning: eBay will be using photos without creators' permission.
Starting on August 31st, eBay is going to institute a new policy where photos you upload to any listing are put into a "catalog" of online images that any eBay user can then use for their own listings. The default setting for this is opt-in, which is a problem if you, like me, consider your photographs your property and want to control how they are used and by whom. A copyright notice is posted with a link to your user profile, but no additional information is given, and the link is quite small.
Since the default setting is opt-in, and eBay has not sent messages out about this, a lot of people are going to be caught flat-footed by this new policy.
Again, the default for this setting is YES, you have opted in. Meaning "Yes, I will allow eBay to make my photos available for anyone to use."
Steve
Warning: eBay will be using photos without creators' permission.
Starting on August 31st, eBay is going to institute a new policy where photos you upload to any listing are put into a "catalog" of online images that any eBay user can then use for their own listings. The default setting for this is opt-in, which is a problem if you, like me, consider your photographs your property and want to control how they are used and by whom. A copyright notice is posted with a link to your user profile, but no additional information is given, and the link is quite small.
Since the default setting is opt-in, and eBay has not sent messages out about this, a lot of people are going to be caught flat-footed by this new policy.
Again, the default for this setting is YES, you have opted in. Meaning "Yes, I will allow eBay to make my photos available for anyone to use."
Steve
Good for you.
0
Comments
My Sandberg topps basic set
My Sandberg Topps Master set
But, the pics will only appear in the online/printed catalogs.
Obviously, other slothful sellers could borrow/steal your pic
and use it as a stock shot for their own listing. VeRO is the
only current remedy for such theft, though that will have to
change since few folks are VeRO members.
If your pic is selected, you will get a TINY link in the catalog;
if a buyer can find that link, he might click on it and be taken
to your profile page.
NOT opting-out gives EBAY the absolute and complete right
to USE your photos in any manner. They could, eventually,
be used in a manner that would solely benefit EBAY - or
other competing sellers - to your detriment.
///////////////////////////////
EBAY Policiy........
Get exposure for your product pictures
Why does the eBay product catalog include photos?
Photos are important for the convenience of sellers and for buyers to make the right purchase decision.
Starting September 1, 2009, eBay will begin selecting photos for the eBay product catalog from the listings of sellers who do not opt out by August 31.
Can I choose not to have my photos used in the eBay product catalog?
You can choose to opt out of having eBay use your photos in the eBay product catalog through My eBay. (See instructions below). If you opt out by August 31, 2009 at 23:59:59 PT, none of your photos will be considered for inclusion in the catalog (unless you opt back in at a later time). If you opt out after August 31, 2009 23:59:59 PT, any photos we select for inclusion in the catalog prior to your opt-out may continue to be used in the catalog.
Is there an advantage for me if my photos are chosen for the eBay product catalog?
If we choose your photos to represent a product in the eBay product catalog, you'll get an attribution including your user ID and a link to your profile page whenever your photo is used on a product details page. This can give you extra exposure to a larger audience of shoppers.
Buyers would see your user ID and a link to your profile page if your photo is used on a product details page.
Will eBay automatically consider my photos for inclusion in the eBay product catalog?
Yes, eBay will begin to select photos from sellers' listings for inclusion in the eBay product catalog starting on September 1. If you don't want your photos used, you can opt out at any time. If you opt out by August 31, 2009 at 23:59:59 PT, none of your photos will be considered for inclusion in the catalog unless you opt back in at a later time. If you opt out after August 31, 2009 23:59:59 PT, any photos we select for inclusion in the catalog prior to your opt-out may continue to be used in the catalog.
How do I opt out of having my photos considered for use in the eBay product catalog?
You can opt out of having your photos considered for use in the eBay product catalog, by following these steps:
Click My eBay at the top of any eBay page. You may be asked to sign in.
Choose the Account tab at the top of the page
Click on Site Preferences in the left hand margin
Click on Selling Preferences
Click on the "Show" link to the right of Share your photos
Click on the "Edit" link next to "Consider photos I upload in the listing process for inclusion in the eBay product catalog and other product offerings."
Click the checkbox that states "If you'd like to opt-out of this program, please do so by checking this box and clicking the "Submit" button below."
Click the "Submit" button.
Can I opt back in if I opt out?
Yes. To opt back in, just follow the same steps listed above for opting out, but uncheck the checkbox on the second page and click the "Submit" button. If you later change your mind and wish to opt back out, you can change your settings at any time in this section of My eBay. However, any content we select for inclusion in the catalog during a time when you are opted in after August 31, 2009 at 23:59:59 PT may continue to be used in the catalog.
What photos could eBay collect from me?
After August 31, 2009 at 23:59:59 PT, unless you opt out of this program, all photos in your eBay listings can be considered for addition to the catalog at our discretion.
Can I choose to have some photos included but not others?
At this time, you can't choose which photos you would like us to consider for inclusion in the product catalog. Unless you opt out, we may consider any of your photos for inclusion in the catalog. For example, if you have a listing with 12 associated photos, we may consider any or all 12 photos for inclusion in the eBay product catalog.
What if I want some photos included but not others?
If you have any photos you do not wish us to consider for inclusion in the product catalog, you should opt out. (See instructions above).
Will having my pictures included in the eBay product catalog interfere with or slow down my selling process?
No, if we choose your photos for inclusion in the eBay product catalog, we will do so in the background without interfering with your day-to-day selling activities.
Will I be notified if my photos are selected?
No, you will not be notified in this initial phase of the catalog project. We plan to add seller notification in a later phase. However, if we choose to use your photo, we will give you attribution on the product details page by referencing your user ID and link to your profile page (see example above).
How long will it take for me to receive attribution after I upload my photos to my listings?
If we select one or more of your photos for inclusion in the product catalog, it may take several weeks between the time you upload your photo(s) to your listings and the time that it is used on the product details page with attribution to your user ID.
Please note that being opted into the program does not guarantee that any of your photos will be selected for inclusion in the catalog. If your photo is used, you will see an attribution in the product details page as described above.
How long will I have my attribution?
The attribution on the product details page will stay as long as your photo is used to represent that product in our catalog.
Can my photo be replaced?
Yes. If we find another photo that we believe is a better fit for the product, we will replace the current photo. Only the owner of the new photo will then get attribution for their photo as described above.
What do I do if someone else submits my photo under their user ID?
You should report any activity that you believe infringes on your intellectual property rights immediately through the VeRO program.
Link
But put Storm's name in the title and get instant response.
I blame myself.
I'm sorry this happened to me.
////////////////
NO photos are exempted.
UNLESS the owner of the photo opts-out, ALL of his pics can be used
for purposes that EBAY chooses.
......
If a seller opts-out AFTER 8-31-09, any photos posted by the seller
between 8-31-09 and his opt-out date, can be used by EBAY.
....
I have NO recommendation as to whether it is appropriate for any
particular seller to opt-out.
Based on MUCH experience, I DO know that anything good for EBAY,
in general, is NOT good for small sellers.
.........
In a very short period of time, EBAY will have a photo-portfolio that could
be monetized by them - for their sole benefit - at any future time.
Once again and as always thanks for the info, I went and Opted Out. No matter what the Propaganda reasons Fee-Bay gives for this action, in the big picture it would end up no being good for the people that keep lining their pockets.
Neil
Will there be a way for bidders/buyers to tell if a picture is a stock catalog picture, or a picture of the actual item being bid on/bought?
My concern is that a crooked seller could put up oh, a PSA 4 T206 card that is "low-end" for the grade or OC (but not necessarily designated "OC" by PSA), but use a stock catalog picture of a PSA 4 card that is "high-end", or not OC. You'd still be bidding on/buying a PSA 4 T206, but the card you get is a borderline 3-4, instead of the card you thought you were getting based on the picture, that is a borderline 4-5. BIG DIFFERENCE THERE!!!!!
Steve
Let me guess, watermarking images will be one of the next things to be banned during the next eBay update...
////////////////////////////
Buyers can - just like they always have - ask, "Is the card pictured the card I am buying?"
The idea that we will be hit with a flood of new crooks due
to the picture-catalog is prolly not well founded.
There are already plenty of pics available for crooks to grab.
MANY sellers always use stock shots, in cats other than
collectibles.
Both EBAY and AMZN have stock shots that can be used
in numerous categories.
SOME lazy folks will use the collectible pics in their listings,
but the fraud element is not their purpose.
Most borrowed card-photos will likely be of raw cards.
That could be a problem for sleepy buyers.
MANY sellers will now simply add the familiar listing notes:
"You Are Bidding On The Card That Is Pictured."
"You Will Receive The Exact Card That Is In The Picture."
.............
My suspicion is that FEW small sellers will lose or gain
from the scheme.
BIG sellers may benefit from the more uniform look of
the site. Remember, AMZN is the model that JD aspires
to.
......................
Collectible sellers have little to worry about. They will
always get the collector traffic and the traffic that other
cats draw.
Collectible sellers are not really on EBAY's radar. They
generate some fees, but don't result in much crossover
traffic.
The vision is about, as JD recently said, creating the world's
largest "outlet mall."
..........
The true value of the picture portfolio is currently unknown.
Maybe, even EBAY has not figured out how to monetize
500-MILLION+ pictures. They will though.
<< <i>How do you "watermark" an image?? >>
......//////////////
Most editing software has a tool in it.
Here are a bunch; some free, some not.
Watermark Your Photos
It seems like a non issue. I can see someone selling boxes of Tide laundry soap using the catalog for their pics, but not cards.
Steve
Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
Need to buy something for the wife or girlfriend? Check out Vintage Designer Clothing.
<< <i>You could always put derogatory messages about eBay top executives in the background of your pictures.
Nick >>
////////////////////////////////
or, you could watermark your photos with these .....
PoppaJ