I often create graphics and other images, which I upload and sell on a few stock image sites, so I can appreciate the fact that technologies have been developed and continue to evolve with regard to protecting these properties.
With tens of billions of photos and images on the internet, maintaining some level of control has increasingly become more difficult. Often images are simply lifted from another site and used without permission or accreditation, a real problem.
A technology has been developed to address this issue and I thought I would share it with you as I believe this will someday become commonplace in it’s usage.
PicScout is a company that offers several solutions to image control. One such solution is their Image Tracker software that through the use of algorithms creates a unique “fingerprinting” of the image so that it can be located anywhere on the internet, thereby enhancing copyright enforcement.
This technology locates your images even if they have been altered by cropping, coloration changes, or watermark removal.
A blogger with minimal use of images may not find this to be of great value, but for those who operate photography and scrapbooking sites (among other uses); this could be a very important tool and an alternative to watermarking.
Before going any further let me disclose the fact that I am a Beta Tester for the company’s “ImageExchange Firefox add-on” and have no other affiliation whatsoever with them. I am not paid or compensated in any way to write reviews or otherwise mention their products and thus, there are no affiliate links whatsoever contained in this post. In fact, I do not know if they even have an affiliate program as that is not at all the focus as my intent is to simply pass on some information.
Continuing on with Image Tracker, the company offers services that assist with image infringements and unauthorized uses. Now of course this is not free, but depending on your type of business, may be well worth checking into. You can read more about this at Image Tracker.
Another handy tool is the Firefox add-on “PicScout ImageExchange”. What this does is identify images while searching Google, Yahoo and other search engines and provides license information.
A blue symbol will appear in the upper right corner of images that contain license information when searching sites like Yahoo and Google (pictured below).
Clicking this symbol opens a pop-up that provides the data associated with the image.
When you click the “License Now” button you are taken to where the image resides, in this case DreamsTime.com, where you can find out more and purchase the image if you choose.
In the case of privately held images that are registered, you will be able to contact the owner directly and request permission to use the image. My guess is that any image that the owner does not have restrictions on will likely have some notation stating just that.
Conclusion
This is the future of image management and a step in the right direction in terms of control and credit. However, the huge drawback at this point in time is the fact that the technology is so far behind. Couple that with the restriction of cost, and it will likely be many years before this becomes a mainstream alternative.
I like what it does and how it does it, but with millions of photos being uploaded daily one wonders if technology will ever catch up.
If you are interested in becoming a Beta Tester for the Firefox add-on be sure you are running the latest version of Firefox (3.5.7 at the time of this writing). You may register at ImageExchange.
Stay Productive!
14 Responses to Protection for Images
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" @sbc111 That's quite a thrill ride. Great that you have that skill. " — JimiJones
The Firefox add-on Picscout looks cool. Now this is definitely something I can use. Fantastic thanks Jimi.
Although this might not benefit your average blogger a great deal, it will definitely be of benefit to those in the grphics and design industry. I already know of one or two people close to me that can use this.
.-= Robert Bravery´s last blog ..Image editing software for bloggers. =-.
Good deal, Robert.
I hope it works out to be a great tool for you guys.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Week In Review =-.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Robert Bravery, Gordie. Gordie said: Protection for Images http://bit.ly/4sHUcF via @JimiJones [...]
I think it’s a great idea. As someone who looks for images to use it is helpful to know what I can and cannot use and the best way to get permission. I use Flickr a lot and only those images that are shareable. And I always include credit to my source. I have yet to be asked to remove an image, but would do so without argument if it were to happen.
.-= Anne´s last blog ..How to Rid Yourself of Negativity and Let the Happiness Inside =-.
Yeah, the Firefox add-on is great for getting data on the ownership of images. The issue is that only a very small percentage of images are registered thus far.
I saw a great image by an AP photographer the other day, wanted to use it for my piece on Haiti, so I followed the info trail with the intent on purchasing a license to use it. Well, 44 smackers for a 1-day license sent me scurrying back to my own stock. LOL
Thanks for visiting, Anne.
I wonder if we’ll move to allowing free use of images posted on the net?
Anne raises a good point about how hard it is sometimes to know if you can use an image. I don’t have a problem with anyone using my original stuff, so I’m going to add that somewhere on my blog.
I do understand that artists and professional photographers need to make a living from their work, but for the average snap that I use day to day on my posts, I’m quite happy to share even without a link.
.-= Mike CJ´s last blog ..Being Positive =-.
As a photographer, this is a huge issue. I will have to check this out. Another concern is images that are “stolen” via screen capturing software. Does this program address this issue at all?
.-= Patty Reiser´s last blog ..Project 365- Day 18 =-.
Hi Patty.
The company claims that the technology used to “fingerprint” the images “does not rely on embedded code, so it survives many forms of alterations and can match highly manipulated images to their original sources”.
Their write up did not specifically mention screen captures, with the exception of them taking screen captures of your work and sending it to you when they find your image(s) elsewhere. They sound very confident about the technology used you find any copies even when altered. They make it sound like the DNA equivalent of images.
Here is a contact page for emailing and direct phone contact: http://picscout.com/about-us/contact-us.html
They have two US office listed in California and one overseas in Israel.
Hope this helps.
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by robertbravery: Protection for Images http://bit.ly/4sHUcF via @JimiJones…
Interesting stuff. I’m thinking of starting a photography site in 2011. This will come in very handy. Cheers, Jimi.
.-= Gordie´s last blog ..How To Stop People From Driving You Crazy. =-.
That sounds great, Gordie.
You take some really great photos, so why not?
That post of the old town in China was a real winner.
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.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Protection for Images =-.
[...] Protection for Images [...]
This is a great post Jim and it might turn out to be a huge help for us, we are getting very tired of our bottle images being ripped off by cheasy online companies.
.-= Extreme John´s last blog ..Extreme Tan and Smoothies 2009 Recap =-.
Hey John, how goes man?
Yeah, lots of scraping going on these days. This tool is a step in the right direction.
Thanks for visiting.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..10 Blog Launch Tips =-.