A WARNING ABOUT FLIGHTAWARE.COM

Bluedharma

I was recently at an air show in Akron Colorado on Sep. 11, 2010. Lots of great aircraft were flying over.

Right before the show began, this “Ryan” flew over my head with the most amazing “Bumper Sticker” display on the bottom!

I couldn’t quite read it, but after a few pictures with my 500mm I could see what it said.

Well, I laughed… but didn’t think too much more of it.

Later on in the week I posted my air show pictures on flickr.com to share with people who have an interest in aviation (much like everyone here has).

It did not occur to me that this photo would go viral a few days later, after someone copied my picture and posted it on Flightaware.com!!!!

http://flightaware.com/photos/view/224641-1cc8c6c15bf7e885ac2e3dc97723fc1c2a1cfc4f

Now, it really doesn’t matter that I agree with the message displayed or not. The fact was someone removed my copyright.

I requested that Flightaware.com remove the photo, and they will not.

See full thread here.

http://discussions.flightaware.com/viewtopic.php?p=121178&sid=30cdedd68ac98eb00f3d2b0ac3120b28#121178

I'm sorry, it is not. You need to send a letter to our designated agent registered with the Copyright Office containing all of the required elements in 512(c)(3)(A).

So this is a word of warning to you that Flightaware.com not only will host and display your pictures… you will have to prove they are yours to remove them.

I understand they have to have a process, but this could be made easier by them to remove my photo… could it not?

Best Regards,

Paul

Bluedharma

It was pointed out to me by another popular aviation forum that this picture may, although unlikely... be posted by the owner of the aircraft.

If so my personal policy allows for such use.

I just want to put out the word to other photographers that this issue may happen with flightaware.com.

Be very careful with your photos.

And of what you take pictures of! Sometimes pictures of just an airplane can turn into a bigger problem.

Best Regards!!!

DougRobertson

Paul,

I have had the same problem with flightaware.com -When they added the photo submit section, they did so with no disclaimers or legal advice re photo ownership and copyright recognition. I called their 1-800 number and got nowhere with the lady that answered re a ripoff display of my copyrighted photos by others with removal of the copyright line. One of her actual excuses was "We get a million calls a day", blah, blah, blah.

I strongly suggested they get legal advice and take steps to prevent copyright theft and cited US Code Title 17. I no longer visit their site, but get emails from A-D fellow photographers re seeing my copyrighted photos submitted by others appearing on flightaware.com

I also continue to see ripped-off photos of N240R, the last seen in a Russian website in Cyrillic language. At least the copyright line was still attached, but I assure you they did not seek my permission. Googling the N number brings up countless examples of copyright theft.

BTW, your Stop Obama photo was sent to me in an email; and I did not suspect you were the photographer. Nice shot

THoff

At one point their photo reporting mechanism permitted you to report ANY copyright violations. I think what happened is that they got swamped (partially from me, I started the thread you responded in by the way), and they have since changed the policy to allow the reporting of a violation of YOUR copyright only but not that of others, even if it is obvious.

Bluedharma

At one point their photo reporting mechanism permitted you to report ANY copyright violations. I think what happened is that they got swamped (partially from me, I started the thread you responded in by the way), and they have since changed the policy to allow the reporting of a violation of YOUR copyright only but not that of others, even if it is obvious.

THoff, you are correct.

They did in fact change the policy.

It appears that I will need to send the letter to have the photo removed. The problem is that many other sites are using "flightaware.com's" photo. They will not remove their copy unless the person who posted it on flightaware contacts them.

So in this case flightaware has enabled a theif to establish ownership of the photo for use on other sites.

So even if I remove it from flightaware, it will be a never ending process to track down the user who posted it on flightaware in the first place.

MOOSE061970

I'm unable to really make a. Great reply. I have yet to post any photos anywhere?.

RWB

I post photos on there as well as other sites, Flightaware added a 'reporting' feature for pointing out photos that had watermarks or copyright strips at the bottom years ago after several members complained about stolen photos. We were just trying to keep the site legit as possible as it would be easy AND less costly to just sit in front of the computer and steal photos and repost them verses actually driving to the airport and doing it yourself!

For the most part the photos were taken down the same day! One of the owner/founders of FA D.Baker posted this photo of Uniteds new B788 http://flightaware.com/photos/view/1-603e7120617cc887eeb3de3a0a7f99e23ebb6357/aircrafttype/B788/sort/votes/page/1 a month or so ago. Now someone with the user name 'Ray Rev' has posted the same photo http://flightaware.com/photos/view/1823562-603e7120617cc887eeb3de3a0a7f99e23ebb6357/aircraft/N20904/sort/date/page/1 and judging by his posted photos http://flightaware.com/user/RayRev he is clearly posting photos that not his own, I reported the UAL B788 pic using their system last week, I inquired this week about it as maybe the feature had a problem, well after several back and forth emails with Jackie Butcher of Flightaware, she still doesn't understand what the issue is. I wanted respond are you some type of dense idiot but just left it at if the owner of FA doesn't care his posted photos are being re-posted on his own site, why should I!!! Three other photos that have Copyright strips at the bottom were also reported, but are still up!

And BlueD that sucks that YOUR photo is still up on their site, If I was in charge it would have been down at your 1st request!

Bluedharma

RWB,

I have come to accept the fact that I am partly at fault here.

The photos were originally posted on my facebook account and on flickr.com

I failed to watermark them (accross the image) and also failed to recognize that they may have some viral value in addition to being just an aviation photo.

I have taken steps to watermark photos so that they can not be just copied and reposted.

Flightawares policy on this is that I have to prove I took the photo. But anyone can post the photo.

I am not in a position to fight a battle with Flightaware ( a good site that I do use ) over one photo. I just know that I have to be careful with future postings anywhere on the internet.

I am not happy about it, but I have taken steps to prevent a reoccurrence in the future.

Regards,

RWB

I guess that's a good way to look at it! A older spotter at KSAT told me once "You can walk around kickin' the dirt and be mad someone stole your photo, or be happy that someone thought it was good enough to steal" :

But my main issue for the post was the reporting issue not being addressed, especially given the fact the photo in question was re-posted on the same site, this is her latest response "I do not see a photo of Daniel this is the confusion on my inquiry. I only see a photo of a United Aircraft" : :

So I guess anyone could use it...UAL B788 at KSAT :

Ztex

Send her this picture...and ask her if she thinks this is a Michelangelo or a Mona Lisa? Sheesh...it is amazing how benighted and vapid some people are.

Bluedharma

Send her this picture...and ask her if she thinks this is a Michelangelo or a Mona Lisa? Sheesh...it is amazing how benighted and vapid some people are.

That is a good one Ztex!