Microsoft and Nikon - Stealing Photographers’ Images
Jul 31st, 2008 by Intermanaut
Microsoft and Nikon have teamed up to create the Iconic Britain web site, illegally using images from photographers.
Millions of photos have been harvested from the internet without the owners’ or copyright holders’ permission so that people who have no connection with the photos can vote on them in a competition. While claiming to take copyright theft “very seriously”, Microsoft is actively breaking copyright legislation around the world. The images used on the site do not even link back to, or name, the copyright holders, so not even the slightest accreditation is given.
The site doesn’t link to original images, but instead uses republished copies of those images. Microsoft’s statement claims that the images they use are already in the public domain. Actually, they’re not. Just because they’ve been posted online does not implicitly or explicity make them part of the public domain anymore than if I leave a 6×4 print on a bench in a park.
Now, regardless of why Microsoft and Nikon are doing this, they’re knowingly stealing images from photographers, and people who just take pictures, and are republishing them without consent. Rather than seeking permission in the correct and legal manner they’re trying it on and will sit back and wait to see who complains. Everyone who has their images republished to this site should complain, in writing along with an invoice for the use of their images.