I watermark my working images religiously, if they go on-line. And I'll keep doing so. Having a watermark is like having a bike lock. Sure they can still steal it, but they're just as likely to take another bike. One that's not locked.
Watermarks are ugly and detract greatly from any image I put them on and yes they can be removed. They're a neccessary evil for the working photographer. SOme of course don't. They may dislike them strongly enough or in the case of the cited Steve McCurry, the images are so well known that watermarking doesn't make any difference to them being recognised as the author of the work. My stuff isn't well known and I need/want the money they generate.
Mostly, the people who steal my images (on a monthly basis usually) don't have those skills. They're just reposted, watermark and all. It's usually the hairdressers and makeup artists at weddings who do it and they just take them from my Facebook page and put it on theirs. I do it because they're getting commercial use out of them and I'm going to get the credit. And in their minds they don't value images, even though they make money from them, enough to actually think about licencing them. But I get noticed by the brides and grooms that vivit their Facebook pages and websites. And yes I do get referrals from those.
The one's who do remove the watermark do actually know they're stealing. There's no blind ignorance there. I can find them. I often do and they get a rather large invoice, a letter from my lawyer and a pull down notice. We don't have any of the silly copyright registration laws that the US has. If you take one of my images without permission then you're open to all legal avenues. I rather enjoy the frantic phone calls telling me that I'm going to send them under or they thought it was OK because every one does it. Mostly I'll let them off and come to an arrangement. A couple of times I've collected on the invoice I've sent. I don't steal music, movies, images or software and running my puny little business is expensive. I don't have an employer supplying me with my gear, computers or an expenses account. If you want to benifit from my work then there's something in it for me, period.
I've had more than one instance where an ASX200 (equiv to the US Fortune 500) has used my images in both printed and on-line form. These are companies who turn over BILLIONS of dollars who have the same "it's alright to steal" culture as some recalcetrant teenager in a loft. When people are making money off your images it's alright to ask for compensation and it's allright to employ method to deter theft.
I'm not a fan of the "I can't stop it" or "I don't care" brigade. As far as I'm concerned those attitudes make it impossible for those that DO care. It aids in the creation of a culture where it's OK to be a theif. It's cool if you want your images shared, even for free. But I think you should clearly say so. Use the Creative Commons licence system to clearly explain that your images can be used. By not chasing theives you both empower them and passively support stealing. If all enthusiasts took advantage of whats available and clearly stated what usage they'll allow and then actually chased it up then all that would be left to steal would be millions of iPhone photos.
And if a watermark puts you off from looking at my images? To be perfectly honest I couldn't give a stuff. There's plenty of other works you can look at. I have a nice watermark free print on the wall at home for myself.
Gordon
Watermarks are ugly and detract greatly from any image I put them on and yes they can be removed. They're a neccessary evil for the working photographer. SOme of course don't. They may dislike them strongly enough or in the case of the cited Steve McCurry, the images are so well known that watermarking doesn't make any difference to them being recognised as the author of the work. My stuff isn't well known and I need/want the money they generate.
Mostly, the people who steal my images (on a monthly basis usually) don't have those skills. They're just reposted, watermark and all. It's usually the hairdressers and makeup artists at weddings who do it and they just take them from my Facebook page and put it on theirs. I do it because they're getting commercial use out of them and I'm going to get the credit. And in their minds they don't value images, even though they make money from them, enough to actually think about licencing them. But I get noticed by the brides and grooms that vivit their Facebook pages and websites. And yes I do get referrals from those.
The one's who do remove the watermark do actually know they're stealing. There's no blind ignorance there. I can find them. I often do and they get a rather large invoice, a letter from my lawyer and a pull down notice. We don't have any of the silly copyright registration laws that the US has. If you take one of my images without permission then you're open to all legal avenues. I rather enjoy the frantic phone calls telling me that I'm going to send them under or they thought it was OK because every one does it. Mostly I'll let them off and come to an arrangement. A couple of times I've collected on the invoice I've sent. I don't steal music, movies, images or software and running my puny little business is expensive. I don't have an employer supplying me with my gear, computers or an expenses account. If you want to benifit from my work then there's something in it for me, period.
I've had more than one instance where an ASX200 (equiv to the US Fortune 500) has used my images in both printed and on-line form. These are companies who turn over BILLIONS of dollars who have the same "it's alright to steal" culture as some recalcetrant teenager in a loft. When people are making money off your images it's alright to ask for compensation and it's allright to employ method to deter theft.
I'm not a fan of the "I can't stop it" or "I don't care" brigade. As far as I'm concerned those attitudes make it impossible for those that DO care. It aids in the creation of a culture where it's OK to be a theif. It's cool if you want your images shared, even for free. But I think you should clearly say so. Use the Creative Commons licence system to clearly explain that your images can be used. By not chasing theives you both empower them and passively support stealing. If all enthusiasts took advantage of whats available and clearly stated what usage they'll allow and then actually chased it up then all that would be left to steal would be millions of iPhone photos.
And if a watermark puts you off from looking at my images? To be perfectly honest I couldn't give a stuff. There's plenty of other works you can look at. I have a nice watermark free print on the wall at home for myself.
Gordon