O’Learys Camera World make me angry

Written November 15, 2007 in Cork, Equipment, Ireland, Oliver Plunkett Street, Photography, Sigma 10-20, Words

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Hmm. I’m seething! I’m angry! I’m pissed off! Yesterday I explained why I “reserve all rights” on my photographs. I want control over how and where they are used. I don’t want a photo of my 7 month old son to appear in an inappropriate context. There are other restrictions on usage. When I photograph people, I never get signed model release forms so those images cannot be used for commercial or marketing use. Also, as some of my images are on sale as fine art limited edition prints in a gallery in Kinsale they have a monetary value.

So, it was with some shock that I looked around O’Learys Camera World while waiting to have my lens looked at and I saw two of my images in an electronic photo frame. The two images are Clouds Move At Night and West Cork Landscape. There was also an image of St Finbarrs Cathedral which has been photographed to death and could be by anyone, and 2 images of a large manor-house I didn’t recognise.

When I pointed out the images were mine and copyrighted, that they were downloaded from my photoblog or Flickr I was told they didn’t know how the images were on the device, that they were on it when they got the frame. It seems strange to me that a wholesale distributor of photo frames who probably distributes to many parts of the country and other countries would just happen to put pictures of Cork on their frames. If they do, I need to find out who that distributor is and work out a royalty scheme. If not, how long have my images been used to sell a €99 photo frame in a prominent city centre photography shop?

I can’t remember if I received an apology, I probably did, but they turned off the frame and took out the memory card and promised to wipe it clean. Do those photo frames come with memory cards?

After that, the purpose of my visit was to have my Sigma 10-20mm lens fixed. The M/AF switch fell out, and I noticed a crack in the plastic casing near the base. It has to be sent to Sigma’s HQ in Bandon and I’ll hear from them in a few days. There was also a €50 non-refundable deposit, which will be deducted from the cost of repair.

The whole experience leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

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13 comments on ' O’Learys Camera World make me angry '

I don’t believe that cover story for a second, they were chancing their arm with that one. I’ve looked into buying a digital frame like that and they never come with the memory card included. That’s not to say that they don’t have a special deal with their suppliers but I think it’s highly unlikely that they would be given a memory card with photos already one it…and of Cork too!

I don’t think you could have done anymore really. Perhaps a strongly-worded letter to the manager stating what happened and that you would have to take action if it happens again.

Written by Claire on November 15, 2007 at 4:58pm
I can understand you being angry about this. Someone’s obviously taking the piss. Mind you, if it was one of my photos I don’t think anger would be my first reaction!

Written by Matty on November 15, 2007 at 6:42pm
wow, Donncha they do money with your work, actually they should give you a part of that money, it is at least a consciensous decission. Well, but some times, people want to be rich with the work of others. (My english is the best lol )

Written by WalaloPC on November 15, 2007 at 8:57pm
Donncha,

Part of me wants to tell you to burn the place down! But the other part of me wants to advise you not to put photos on the Web that you aren’t OK with having stolen. (I would never put children’s photos on the Web under any circumstances.)

I think the general rule is that in this new world order we have to expect that our work will be stolen, and just be grateful when people do actually ask us for permission. If you start with that assumption then you’ll actually be pleasantly surprised sometimes!

John

Written by John Pozadzides on November 16, 2007 at 12:34am
For one, these digital camera frames do not come with memory cards, so O’Leary’s were indeed as Claire says “chancing their arm”. You could probably take legal action over this, after all your images were being used to generate money.

But i cannot believe the cheek, to place photographs of Cork, taken by a Cork photographer, who’s living in Cork, in a a digital picture frame thing in a shop in Cork, with asking permission to be allowed do so… You’d say something if it was a shop in Australia, but Cork!! how did they think they could get away with it unnoticed? Most photographers do tend to visit camera shops from time to time and there being only like 3 in Cork!!!!!!

Other than that, start placing watermarks on your images. And do not allow for your images to be viewed at “all sizes” in Flickr.

Written by Alan Cotter on November 17, 2007 at 6:20pm
Alan and John - thanks. I was simply shocked that they had the nerve to use them without even asking me. They went to the trouble of looking but didn’t have the courtesy to go that one step further. They would have got some positive PR from my site, but instead this post shows up as the first link on a Google search for their shop name!

I’ve thought about watermarking images in the past but I hate doing it. The only image I have watermarked is my Thieving Duck, after it was made into a joke email and sent around to thousands of people .. The images I upload to Flickr are those you see here. They’re only 700px wide but obviously that’s big enough.

They rang back yesterday about the lens. The repair will cost €90, which I presume includes the €50 I already paid them. Still no sign of a discount, but I noticed someone came to this post from this search!

Written by Donncha O Caoimh on November 20, 2007 at 10:59am
That is disgusting. On the web, there is far too common a feeling that “if it’s online it’s in the public domain”. Too often I have found developers using Google Images or Flickr to get images to insert into documents/sites.

But such blatant use as you mention, and especially from a shop associated with photography astounds me!

Written by Nik Louch on November 21, 2007 at 1:17pm
Is there anyone that can help me as I would like to get into the photography world and just bought myself a Nikon D200.I was hoping to do wedding photography.Where do one start? Any advice will help.Great blog keep it up.Thanx Johnny

Written by Johnny on December 04, 2007 at 8:43pm
At the advise of a friend of mine who visited Ireland recently I went into camera world and was given great time and respect and attention from the staff in there. I met a guy called Dave who couldn’t be more helpful and gave great advice and suggestions as to what to buy and what suited me. What I liked most about it was he didn’t force a camera on me that I didn’t want. And I was more than happy with my purchase. I also met a young lady called Andrea who was chating away to me whilst I was in the shop. ( Very charming too) Over all very friendly staff who obviously know their stuff about camera’s and accessories.

Good on yeah Camera World. Tumbs up from me. I will be recommending you to all my friends who visit Ireland!

Written by Tony on April 19, 2008 at 10:31pm
Tony - the staff in there are great. I got my lens back yesterday, over 5 months later, but that was because of the repair company unfortunately. Declan in the shop was very apologetic and didn’t charge me the final €40 that was left on the bill.

The main point of my post here and why they made me angry was their denial that they knew anything about how my photos were used in their digital frames. You’d think that a company that deals with photographers every single day would be at least aware of copyright and licensing laws and norms. None of the images they used were licensed under a creative commons or public domain license. That’s what annoys me and makes me angry.

Written by Donncha on April 20, 2008 at 10:29am