Here is a phone call between the Independent Newspaper and myself as I try to resolve the issue of my photo being published without my permission in this story.
I must add that this is not the first time it has happened. I had to make similar calls regarding photography taken in Iraq. Once a photo has been kept on file (with or without permission) it is impossible to know if it is being used unless you buy every newspaper every day. It is especially difficult, as in this instance, when a picture has not been captioned at all.
This is lazy journalism, but above all, disrespectful to those supplying you with the content to fill your pages.
[UPDATE] They paid! The video of me on the phone was on Phreadz which is sadly no more.
Thank you for bringing attention to this. Excellently handled. Good Luck!
Well handled, Christian. However, can’t say I like the video system you’re using – it’s counter-intuitive and I got quite lost trying to navigate it.
Albert.
Good for you Christian, for the brilliant way you’ve handled this frustrating situation.
And most of all, your sharing tips and tricks with your fellow photographers, warning professional as well as amateur on how to avoid being taken advantage of should earn you much much more than the few quids you certainly didn’t steal back given the amount of time and nerves the whole stuff has taken from you.
I’ve always appreciated your sharing but do not always take the time to thank you for it (well, you share so often, that maybe it would be a full time activity for me to ackowledge it each time).
And for commentator Albert above, I’d say that I personally like the video system you’re using, however I can understand his feeling that it would be counter-intuitive, but intuition is a very subjective notion, as I have always found it very intuitive myself, so I am probably a counter-example here.
However, maybe now we should think of how we could share those testimonies on the standalone player of Phreadz without alienating non accustomed users, shouldn’t we?
Wow dude…… This has to be the 3rd time now? People really have no regard for content and credits. Fight the good fight D.
With luck this whole story will be reprinted in the Guardian but without crediting you. Which gives you a whole other set of Blog content , videos and income source.
You should invoice for your phone calls as well.
I can’t believe they actually said they couldn’t get in contact with you because whoever stole your picture didn’t put your name on the photo! Incredible! Thanks for sharing this ordeal…well done.
Conversely to my earlier flame comment, this post is brilliant and intriguing. The Phread was great
Despite what I said earlier, I have a crapload of respect for your photography. Hope these guys dont rip you off again.
peace brother
@influxx
Those following the conversation at the time will know that the Independent finally paid up after I made an awful lot of calls and sent an invoice.