I post few pictures of myself or my family on the internet, as I tend to think that we need to be happy that they could be used for mysterious and sometimes nasty purposes if we choose to put them out there.
Seeing a tweet flashing by from @schofe (Philip Schofield for those of you who don’t use twitter), I decided to read a bit more about this. I thought that any pictures we put up through the web applications belonged to us and we use the app to channel them to twitter etc. This is a pretty hastily written blog post, but I am quite surprised at what ten minutes rooting round the internet after reading a tweet can reveal.
@schofe said
“I just realised I posted my pic through Twitpic .. Who now have a deal with WENN to sell our pics to ..”
“anyone who wants to publish them. They make money on our pics!! Personally I’m not up for that. So for anyone who wants to use it for free”
My first impression was that this just seems to be so out of order. How many people are clicking and sending their pictures thorugh the system, without realising that the pictures are now potentially UP FOR SALE. This seems to be even more sleazy than the lowlifes who steal pictures and use them for free, or without crediting them.
Who owns twitpic?
When did this start to happen?
How did I not know about it?
Keeping on the search, I found a mashable article.
Who Owns Your Twitpics
The article (published yesterday) makes it sound like twitpic have officially announced that our pictures belong to us, now and in the future. Even more confused, I decided to try and dig a little deeper.
Doing a search for “Twitpic”, “Wenn” and “Deal”
Yesterday, twitpic signed a deal with Wenn (according to the internet).
The British Journal of Photography explained it in terms that are easy for me to understand.
Photo agency’s CEO addresses TwitPic controversy
This part of the new terms and conditions outlined in the article above concerns me.
“You retain all ownership rights to Content uploaded to TwitPic. However, by submitting Content to TwitPic, you hereby grant TwitPic a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicenseable and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform the Content in connection with the Service and TwitPic’s (and its successors’ and affiliates’) business, including without limitation for promoting and redistributing part or all of the Service (and derivative works thereof) in any media formats and through any media channels.”
So, we own the pictures, but we really don’t own them. And Plixi are also in a contract with Wenn according to the article.
Marylin says
May 13, 2011 at 1:36 pmOk I’ve just gone through my twitpic account and deleted every picture! Thanks for the heads up honey. 🙂 x
Scottish Mum says
May 13, 2011 at 2:30 pmNo problem. Best using our own blog space for things like this I guess.
Scottish Mum says
May 14, 2011 at 7:42 pmSafest thing to do I think..
Frugaldom says
May 13, 2011 at 11:53 amAs far as I’m aware, Facebook has a privacy option for photos but it defaults to permitting their use elsewhere. I do remember something being said about the new facial recognition programme being used on there, which would tie in nicely with all the conspiracy theorists beliefs that it really is a global ID parade freely accessed by all.
The reason I don’t use personal photos is simply for the fact that I’ve already had an attempt at identity theft and for the likes of those doing that, it would be a simple exercise to lift off a headshot photo and attach it to a fake driving licence or any other form of fraudulent ID. It’s when you hear of the horror stories that it makes you proud to be financially challenged. 🙂
It doesn’t bear thinking about what else gets done with otherwise innocent family photographs.
Scottish Mum says
May 13, 2011 at 12:17 pmI hadn’t heard about the facial recognition. I did realise when facebook changed the privacy settings that people didn’t realise had changes. Many were open to public, who thought they were protected. My family photos just don’t go on the internet at all. Soo many of their friends pictures are out there, but mine are not. The identity theft would be worrying. Too many things can go wrong.
Frugaldom says
May 13, 2011 at 11:17 amThese same conditions seem to apply to many public forums, platforms and websites.
Sites such as moneysavingexpert exert the same rights over everything submitted to their free forums, but most also include in the small print that they are neither liable nor responsible for anything resulting from third party inclusions.
To me, that means they have the rights to everything that goes onto their webspace but, in the event of future ‘trouble’ of any description, ultimate ownership and responsibility is with the actual owner of the material, be it text or graphics.
Glad to see more people picking up on this. My opinion is that if it’s on the web, it’s an open invite for abusing or capitalising on the system in any way, shape or form, by those who have an interest in doing so.
Scottish Mum says
May 13, 2011 at 11:28 amI suspect that too many bloggers twitpicing and plixing away etc just think it isn’t an issue. My opinion is the same as yours.