Powerseller pirated my pics, really burns my a$$

morgansforever · October 26, 2008 6:50AM

I stumbled across this 08/07 reverse ASE auction, and was insulted when I saw my pic in the listing.

Many hours of trial-n-error photography, then to see it in a listing, really got my blood boiling.

I know without a doubt it's my pic, all pics have a unique signature, I know what my work looks like.

So how would you feel? Should I just ignore it?

I guess the only way to secure a pic is too insert text over it.

After 2 weeks of emails, he just sent this one, 15 minutes ago, "You and the people on the forums can suck my coc&".

Not a very professional response from a Powerseller, I expected a little more.

He didn't even put up a fight, or defend himself, guess maybe he's guilty.

Regards,
Scott

Pirated pic link

Bochiman · October 26, 2008 7:07AM

Scott,

Sorry that happened to you. Something I have noticed before is that assuming powersellers are a special breed is just wrong. They are like everyone else...some good and some slime.

All it takes is some volume or value, as you know, to become a powerseller.

I appreciate you putting the link, as I will not deal with the person now, in case I see their name come up in selling something I am interested in, but I wish people would also put the naming info in the post as well.

For photos that you care about, I suggest watermarking with something no one else will want in theirs (ie.... "Photos by Scott and only for use by Scott", or something like that).
If someone wins your auction, and wants the photo, and you agree, just keep a non-watermarked version around as well, and send that to them.

Doesn't help you in this instance, sorry, but hopefully it will help you moving forward. Unless you can prove, to ebay, it is your pic, I doubt they would do anything...powerseller or not, but it would be interested, as long as you kept your emails clean, to send his response to ebay as abuse of the system.

morgansforever · October 26, 2008 7:09AM

I wasn't going to make a stink, until he told me to suck his blank.

Now I'm fired up.

Scott

airplanenut · October 26, 2008 7:18AM

Someone once stole one of my images... I badgered him enough about it that he eventually paid the $50 invoice I sent him for the use of my image.

Try emailing eBay and see if they will do anything about it. Or, register a different account from a different IP address and buy all of his items without paying

TwoSides2aCoin · October 26, 2008 7:21AM

I would not recommend taking this powerseller to task. They probably call him "cupcake" for short.

morgansforever · October 26, 2008 7:23AM

<<Try emailing eBay and see if they will do anything about it. Or, register a different account from a different IP address and buy all of his items without paying>>

That's a little to evil for my taste, but thanks for the suggestion.

Scott

dbldie55 · October 26, 2008 7:25AM

Not sure why he would take your pic, it adds nothing to the listing.

NHSBaseball · October 26, 2008 7:27AM

Well, at least he didn't call you "Rowboat butt".

Bochiman · October 26, 2008 7:27AM

<< Or, register a different account from a different IP address and buy all of his items without paying

>>

There may be a smiley there but even suggesting that is way overboard, imho.......more dishonesty and just trying to turn another wrong with a wrong into a right.

morgansforever · October 26, 2008 7:29AM

<<Not sure why he would take your pic, it adds nothing to the listing.>>

Thought the same thing, it's painfully obvious the pics are from two diferent sources.

Apparently he felt it would help.

Scott

TwoSides2aCoin · October 26, 2008 7:29AM

You should be honored and send the seller flowers.

TwoSides2aCoin · October 26, 2008 7:31AM

Seriously though, there are lawyers looking for work.

OPA · October 26, 2008 7:36AM

Nice picture...do you mind if I "borrow" it from him & use it in one of my future auctions?

TwoSides2aCoin · October 26, 2008 7:37AM

<< Nice picture...do you mind if I "borrow" it from him & use it in one of my future auctions?

>>

Pardon me sir, have you any grey poupon ?

(sorry Scott, I'm joking, in hope that you will not be too upset with the vulgarity of the situation )

morgansforever · October 26, 2008 7:39AM

<<Pardon me sir, have you any grey poupon ?>>

Grey Poupon, can't even afford it, Stop&Shop yellow mustard for me.

CB2597 · October 26, 2008 7:59AM

<< I wasn't going to make a stink, until he told me to suck his blank.

Now I'm fired up.

Scott >>

What!?

Ask him where he wants you to meet him and bring along your Bowie and chop off his "you know what"...then throw it to some animal nearby

Mar327 · October 26, 2008 8:16AM

Is the link in Photobucket or another such photo service? Then you can replace the picture with something REALLY unique!

CoinMaster1229 · October 26, 2008 8:29AM

No big deal, I steel photo`s all the time. one guy E-mailed me with a complaint. I told him I stole his, because it was the best one I could find. there for he should be flattered. I never heard from him again!!!!

PCcoins · October 26, 2008 8:39AM

I agree with not wanting other people to use your photos. Sometimes you can spend hours photographing coins and for someone else to steal your work and then talk cr@p afterwards!!! I would be pissed off too. Now if the seller asked nicely if they could use them, its a different story. It's all about respect and most people these days just don't have it, and you know most these people wouldn't say half the stuff they save if they were talking face to face.

ctf_error_coins · October 26, 2008 9:00AM

<< No big deal, I steel photo`s all the time. one guy E-mailed me with a complaint. I told him I stole his, because it was the best one I could find. there for he should be flattered. I never heard from him again!!!!

>>

It is a big deal. Do you own photography or pay someone else to.

ErrosOnCoins

timber100 · October 26, 2008 1:28PM

As he insulted all on this forum, and his acution has make an offer, perhaps all the forum members should make him a offer of $20. Flood his inbox

notwilight · October 26, 2008 1:38PM

I think you're pic is identifiable enough that ebay will end his auction if you report it.

I once had a guy steal my pic and undercut my price. Working with Trust and Safety we hatched a plan for me to just buy his auction to get it down before anyone else purchased it (there was a clear concern that my guy might have no coins at all. At least your bozo appears to have coins). I took it down and a day or two later ebay removed it permanently. I would at the very least report.

--Jerry

garsmith · October 26, 2008 2:44PM

<< I wasn't going to make a stink, until he told me to suck his blank.

Now I'm fired up.

Scott >>

If you can prove they pirated your pics report him to the Bay.

clackamas · October 26, 2008 3:47PM

Waaaa-waaaaa Don't you have something beter to do than to whine here about this? Most of us have better things to worry about, lighten up. I have it done to me and I did not care, in fact I was faltered. Today people are so greedy and self important. Its a picture for gods sake.

ctf_error_coins · October 26, 2008 4:42PM

<< Waaaa-waaaaa Don't you have something beter to do than to whine here about this? Most of us have better things to worry about, lighten up. I have it done to me and I did not care, in fact I was faltered. Today people are so greedy and self important. Its a picture for gods sake. >>

Hey, so photographs shouldn't get paid? The greedy one is the one who stole the photo. Photographers rights are very important. Don't steal photos. Period!!!!!!!!!!

ErrosOnCoins

clackamas · October 26, 2008 5:47PM

<< 

<< Waaaa-waaaaa Don't you have something beter to do than to whine here about this? Most of us have better things to worry about, lighten up. I have it done to me and I did not care, in fact I was faltered. Today people are so greedy and self important. Its a picture for gods sake. >>

Hey, so photographs shouldn't get paid? The greedy one is the one who stole the photo. Photographers rights are very important. Don't steal photos. Period!!!!!!!!!!

ErrosOnCoins >>

Lighten up Francis, people today get so worked up over such minor crap it damages all of us. Its a frikin picture on Ebay, what do you expect? It can't be proven, the other guy could say he stole his pic. Its a waste of life to worry about this minor crap. Now back to something that matters - real coins with out the whiners.

morgansforever · October 26, 2008 9:48PM

<<Waaaa-waaaaa Don't you have something beter to do than to whine here about this? Most of us have better things to worry about, lighten up. I have it done to me and I did not care, in fact I was faltered. Today people are so greedy and self important. Its a picture for gods sake.>>

I see your point, I don't feel I'm crying about it, was really looking for advise on how to prevent this activity.

Greed, I live paycheck to paycheck, and today I find out who is getting laid off. My company is downsizing, and eliminating 1500

positions. I was sort of flattered, but being used dominated my thinking.

Scott

7over8 · October 26, 2008 9:54PM

From now on, put an identifying mark on the pic.

Actually, if you email ebay your listing with your photo, as long as it appeared before his auction, they will cancel his auction. It happened to me too. That was the disposition.

That Powerseller status if offered to anyone. Unless you are a guy with 10,000 feedbacks, ignore it. Meaningless.

RBinTex · October 26, 2008 11:20PM

Report it to eBay for an IP violation.

Put unique identifiable text over it in the future (such as your eBay ID) to make your claim of piracy even easier to proove.

Relax.

StopYurWhining · October 26, 2008 11:36PM

you have every right to be mad.
i made several lowball offers on his crap

and asked him if his stolen photo was for sale.

19Lyds · October 27, 2008 1:18AM

I'd forward his response to Trust & Safety although it may mean nothing.

I've had folks "use" my photo's in the past and it is a but irksome. Especially when your photograph is used to sell a different coin. The only real way to prevent this is to put a watermark on your photo's as suggested. At least eBay can then respond to your complaint if its that important to you.

As for the intellectual property rights to a photograph, I guess if you made your living off of photography and your photo's were absolutely perfect, you'd have some groundwork for really complaining but, hard work or not, most of us are just amatures.

Your best bet is to just add the watermark if it really means something to you.

BTW, I wonder which ex-Forum member this might be? Definitely looks like an Anniversary Set Baby with a birthdate of August 2006 and he's obviously had some interation with the forum in the past (i.e. a good roasting)!

dac076 · October 27, 2008 2:01AM

<< <<Waaaa-waaaaa Don't you have something beter to do than to whine here about this? Most of us have better things to worry about, lighten up. I have it done to me and I did not care, in fact I was faltered. Today people are so greedy and self important. Its a picture for gods sake.>>

I see your point, I don't feel I'm crying about it, was really looking for advise on how to prevent this activity.

Greed, I live paycheck to paycheck, and today I find out who is getting laid off. My company is downsizing, and eliminating 1500

positions. I was sort of flattered, but being used dominated my thinking.

Scott >>

I've had that happen to me. I emailed the seller complimenting him, saying "That's a great photo. How did you take it? No, really, how did you TAKE it?" I guess he got the message because he replaced it with his own in just a few minutes.

I'm always amazed at some people's disregard for the property of others, and yes a picture is the photographer's property. Maybe it's not a huge deal, but I wonder how they feel about Chinese knock-offs of American brands, pirated DVD's and software, etc.? Maybe they feel "faltered"

Good luck in the downsizing - hope you come out ok.

messydesk · October 27, 2008 2:05AM

I know that PowerSellers are allowed a certain number of shill bidding violations before eBay slaps their hand. I wonder how many IP violations they're allowed.

jdillane · October 27, 2008 2:11AM

<< Well, at least he didn't call you "Rowboat butt".

>>

Hey! That's below the belt!!

BECOKA · October 27, 2008 2:21AM

I thought there was a link at the bottom of each auction to report the issue. One of the options is stolen picture. Just report every auction he puts up with your pics and they should be pulled.

Walmann · October 27, 2008 2:25AM

"After 2 weeks of emails, he just sent this one, 15 minutes ago, "You and the people on the forums can suck my coc&"."

You may want to carefully weigh your reaction, tone of the response indicates seller may be a resident of a some state or federal facility.

Type2 · October 27, 2008 5:23AM

<< "After 2 weeks of emails, he just sent this one, 15 minutes ago, "You and the people on the forums can suck my coc&"."

You may want to carefully weigh your reaction, tone of the response indicates seller may be a resident of a some state or federal facility. >>

This is getting good.

ozzyfan269 · October 27, 2008 5:36AM

ModernCoinMart · October 27, 2008 5:38AM

Unfortunately, this happens all to often on eBay, and it seems like it's often a fight with eBay to get them to remove the picture. And it's especially tough if you didn't use the picture on eBay in a previous listing. I don't know what to tell you to help you get through, because I have found the whole process incredibly frustrating and unproductive (even with having representation at eBay since we are PowerSellers). The only non-standard canned response suggestion I ever got was to enroll in the VeRO program. That may be your only hope, but I don't know what is involved with the whole thing.

Silverstate · October 27, 2008 5:45AM

Please give us the links.

...We can all take care of the rest!

CoinMaster1229 · October 27, 2008 5:45AM

<< Waaaa-waaaaa Don't you have something beter to do than to whine here about this? Most of us have better things to worry about, lighten up. I have it done to me and I did not care, in fact I was faltered. Today people are so greedy and self important. Its a picture for gods sake. >>

Thank God, someone with a little sense. anybody want my photo`s on E-bay, you are welcome to them!!!!

puritan9 · October 27, 2008 5:53AM

I copied years ago when I was new at selling on e-Bay. I got caught and received a stiff warning from e-Bay. They threatened to throw me off e-Bay. It worked for me, I learned my lesson and learned how to take pictures.

ttown · October 27, 2008 5:55AM

<< I copied years ago when I was new at selling on e-Bay. I got caught and received a stiff warning from e-Bay. They threatened to throw me off e-Bay. It worked for me, I learned my lesson and learned how to take pictures. >>

Well let that be a leason, always put them though PhotoShop before you re-deploy them

ARCO · October 27, 2008 6:03AM

I know it sucks, but the image is of a very common bullion coin, not a unique collectable. The photo, as spectacular as it is, is merely of a "widget". Secondly, unless this powerseller is directly competing for you, I guess I do not see what the conflict is.

It is a beautiful looking pic. If anything you ought to feel proud your skills are in such demand. Because of his profane brushoff, I would probably write back and drop about ten f-bombs on him just for good measure!

Tyler

ModernCoinMart · October 27, 2008 6:06AM

<< I know it sucks, but the image is of a very common bullion coin, not a unique collectable. The photo, as spectacular as it is, is merely of a "widget". Secondly, unless this powerseller is directly competing for you, I guess I do not see what the conflict is.

It is a beautiful looking pic. If anything you ought to feel proud your skills are in such demand. Because of his profane brushoff, I would probably write back and drop about ten f-bombs on him just for good measure!

Tyler >>

Actually, it's not a "very common bullion coin" and has been a very popular coin. At the minimum it's a $500 coin.

ctf_error_coins · October 27, 2008 6:15AM

I can't believe some of the attitudes of some on this forum, like it is only photography so it is ok to steal someone's photographs. That photographers are "Greedy" for wanting to be paid for their work. Great photography takes skill, time, and money. If you steal someone else's photos you are just a common criminal. As a professional photographer I am very insulted by some of the comments in this thread. Either learn how to take photographs or pay a professional to image your coins.

Photo Web Site

ErrorsOnCoins

GUINZO1975 · October 27, 2008 6:20AM

By the way, the powerseller he is talking about is me. He has been sending me emails constantly. He even got his friends to break my chops. Now I see he is wasting his time on the forums. If any of you have a problem with me, then fire away.

Regards,

Vic

MadMarty · October 27, 2008 6:22AM

<< By the way, the powerseller he is talking about is me. He has been sending me emails constantly. He even got his friends to break my chops. Now I see he is wasting his time on the forums. If any of you have a problem with me, then fire away.

Regards,

Vic >>

The picture is HIS, and you are stealing it! Pure and simple.

GUINZO1975 · October 27, 2008 6:22AM

What a bunch of whiners.......holy crap. You guys are worse than women. I think I may just take the pic off my listing just to stop your whining.

MadMarty · October 27, 2008 6:24AM

Some people put a lot of work into taking pictures for their auctions. The pictures are theirs, unless you get permission or pay for the right to use the picture you are in violation of E-Bay policy and the thief, pure and simple.

GUINZO1975 · October 27, 2008 6:32AM

You guys should see the emails he sent me......My response was appropriate. He also used profanity in his email and got all of you to email me and break my chops. Don't you people have better things to do? I can remove the picture since it has no bearing on my listing. It's worse than dealing with a woman. You know when your wife nags you about something and you just do it to shut her up. Well I feel the same way in this situation and may take the picture down.

On another note, I would like to thank the board members. I started collecting in 2006, and thanks to the likes of ericj, and a few others, I purchased these coins, W platinum, 20th Anniversary sets, etc. I have made a few bucks thanks to this forum and I would like to give credit where credit is due.

Regards,

Vic

Powerseller pirated my pics, really burns my a$$

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