AOL endorsing & Smartmoney.com photo theft/copyright infringement

[Onrey]

Preaching to the choir here I know, but found this info on Sports Shooter last night. With all the PR prolems AOL has had recently, I couldnt believe aol was endorseing or even suggesting this, photo theft or copyright infringement.

Discuss please

Heres what they said with a link

Parents' Gripe: Spending nearly $50 for a full package of individual, class and sport team photos -- multiple times per year!

Ever wonder why the school takes so many darned pictures? Turns out those adorable snap shots are often yet another fundraiser. Only this one pulls at the heart strings. We found one photo studio based in California that advertises on its web site that it's willing to pay schools a 10% commission on all orders.

Money-Saving Tips: Just buy the class picture. And don't even consider placing an order during the spring session, when many schools host a secondary picture day. If you just can't resist, purchase the smallest package possible. At the Clark School in Swampscott, Mass., parents can spend as little as $24 for a few wallet-size photos and one of the class. The bill rises to more than $50 if parents splurge for a package that includes a couple of 5-by-7s. Worried you won't have a spare to send to Grandma? Consider scanning your copy or email a cute digital shot you took yourself.

Link http://money.aol.com/top5/general/most-obnoxious-school-costs-2

[Stormdancing]

Blows my mind!

I recently had a meeting with a Head Start committee chairperson about taking photos of the kids in 35 Head Start Classes. She sat right there and told me that she does exactly this with her kids school pictures. I asked her if she knew that was theft and copyright infringement and she nodded her head.

All I can say is put your logo on your pictures and hope for the best.

[JimM]

Wow, I can't believe they are promoting this.

So what if the studio kicks back to the school. Isn't this good for the school that YOUR CHILD is attending???

[JimM]

I sent them a nasty comment about this. We could blow up their mail servers if we all sent comments on it. (okay, maybe not blow them up, but at least they'll get the point they are in the wrong here)

[Onrey]

Jim, I read your thread concearning parents scanning your photos ect, that is bad enough but to have the largest Internet provider promote this aswell is horrible. Woder what they would say IF someone ws stealing from them? Hmmm thats right!

Also, if you go to that link, there is a link to e-mail them I did so lastnight and havent heard a word from them.

[Stormdancing]

I've already emailed from the link. No repsonse as of yet.

[Andy]

http://www.digg.com/business_finance/AOL_Promotes_Promotes_Photo_Theft

[fdpiech]

http://money.aol.com/top5/general/most-obnoxious-school-costs-2

An customer have to ask why we as photographers have to charge so much for our services.

I'm off to write a REAL nastygram to the person who wrote this article...

I'd like to suggest everyone else out here do the same...

[photodoug]

links are dead now

[Stormdancing]

links are dead now

Not at SmartMoney.com, which is where AOL got their story.

http://www.smartmoney.com/top5/index.cfm?story=20061108

sbradford@smartmoney.com

[photodoug]

Not at SmartMoney.com, which is where AOL got their story.

http://www.smartmoney.com/top5/index.cfm?story=20061108

sbradford@smartmoney.com
my email sent....to everyone on the site's contact list

[claudermilk]

Saw this over at FM the other day & many there (including myself) sent emails. Looks like AOL got the point--their link is now dead. Let's see if the originating site gets a clue.

[DavidTO]

I sent mine to the editor

letters@smartmoney.com

[StevenV]

Top Annoying Reading Costs

* high-priced magazines: just find one friend who's bought a copy of one of these glossy goodies, SmartMoney for example, and photocopy the articles, making sure you don't copy the advertisements. Heck, go ahead and make a hundred copies and send them to everyone you know - that way they don't have to buy the magazine either.

next week's article, how to easily photocopy Stephen King doorstops and bind the copies nicely. Almost free, and they make great Christmas gifts too!

:barb

[Stormdancing]

I sent mine to the editor

letters@smartmoney.com

How about the General Manager
bshaw@smartmoney.com

[ExposeTheMoment]

bshaw@smartmoney.com
letters@smartmoney.com
mdesenne@smartmoney.com
pr@smartmoney.com
rhennessey@smartmoney.com
sauwerter@smartmoney.com
sbradford@smartmoney.com

How can you have a writer tell your readers to just scan a copy of the picture. Pictures taken by a Professional Photographer are Protected By Federal Copyright Law. You should be ashamed for putting that in print. I call for the writer and the editor that approved the story suspend.

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[AntoineD]

very nice story :huh

[Andy]

Top Annoying Reading Costs

* high-priced magazines: just find one friend who's bought a copy of one of these glossy goodies, SmartMoney for example, and photocopy the articles, making sure you don't copy the advertisements. Heck, go ahead and make a hundred copies and send them to everyone you know - that way they don't have to buy the magazine either.

next week's article, how to easily photocopy Stephen King doorstops and bind the copies nicely. Almost free, and they make great Christmas gifts too!

:barb:rofl :rofl

[bham]

next week's article, how to easily photocopy Stephen King doorstops and bind the copies nicely. Almost free, and they make great Christmas gifts too!

:barb

Save money on copying and just scan it, create a pdf and distribute and let the people who you give it to print it out if they want a hard copy.

Next week: 101 other ways to save money and break copyright laws!

[photodoug]

the story is still up. Obviously we don't count. $$ makes the world go round. Anyone receive a reply to their email?....no, surprise surprise.

[richW]

Top Annoying Reading Costs
next week's article, how to easily photocopy Stephen King doorstops and bind the copies nicely. Almost free, and they make great Christmas gifts too! :barb Almost free!!!!!! No I want free. Thats why your employer has copy machines..Right?

[truth]

I sent this:

Stacey,

Perhaps you're not in the "know" in regards to intellectual property right law but your article is a blatant endorsement for the theft of the photographers property. How would you feel if I copied your article and made a few minor changes and then sold it to another source as my own? I'd wager you'd try to stop it. Is plagiarism in the literary realm any different than the same act in photography?

C.C.'d to all emails on the smart money site as well as to the BBB (http://www.bbb.org/about/contact.asp)

[AntoineD]

Instead of sending mails which no one will ever respond to, what don't you contact a prosecutor?

I'm sure he's got some convincing arguments :D

[truth]

Instead of sending mails which no one will ever respond to, what don't you contact a prosecutor?


Send me $10,000 usd and I will. :rolleyes

[AntoineD]

Send me $10,000 usd and I will. :rolleyes

…you cannot just inform about the fault? It wouldn't be in your own name…