Hi there folks! Today I found one of my images on another 'image site'. I have no idea how it got there... After a quick look, I also found one of Cosme's (isacos) images there. Apparently they have been posted on that site by a person (in this case 'gdmora') who just posts other people's images. The funny thing is that the name of the 'creator' is mentioned (in this case: 'miss you by girsempa'). I guess that prevents it from being classified as image theft... but still I'm a bit uneasy about this, because I didn't give permission to post one of my images. Have a look here: http://xwall.metropoliglobal.com/galerias/details.php?image_id=70523&sessionid=d23e0ea72d137347406c83823c4d3c19 (it's a spanish site; you may get asked to confirm your agreement to view the images, and if you want to further explore, you have to register) Has anyone encountered these or similar situations? Maybe there are other images from other RR members on that site... Try doing a google search with your 'artist name' and 'xwall' to see if one of your images is there... who knows? One thing's for certain: my image was posted by somebody who has seen and copied it here on RR, because it hasn't been posted anywhere else on the net (by me that is) ;o)) I would like to know what you think about this situation, and if I could or should do something about it...

I found out that the person who posted my image on the xwall site, gdmora, is a member here on RR... isn't that strange, that a member of RR goes posting other member's images on other websites without any agreement or permission..? Can any of the mods perhaps tell me if this is 'done' or 'not done'..?

While waiting for response: I also found one of Valou's images there, posted by fidato50, also a member here on RR... Is that the normal procedure on that site...??? Someone fill me in on this ;o))

I suggest you post this in the copyright forum...what has been done is illegal.  If that person is a member here, I am sure Rendo will take measures....

Thanks for the notice Girsempa, I'm going to have a look right now !

This is certainly Not done Yes report this to the copyright forum.. Action will be taken I will also bring it to their attention

You can post it in the Copyright forum as suggested but also you should contact this person and demand they take down your work since you did not give them permission. The copyright guru's will also give you additional information. 

page is spanish - the user probably thought you would never find it... but yeah - something should be done about that.

One thing you can do to prevent it is to post images which are lower resolution - because if it is  800x600 someone is less likely to steal it than the high resolution image you just found at 1024x800.  Some people i have seen on deviant even go as far as putting it at 400px max on the longest side.  Choice is up to you i suppose - but i have stopped putting up anything longer than 800px on its longest side.  Also - you could take it as a compliment, they thought you were good enough to "steal" ;)

This brings us right back to what I have been saying for some time here.....if you post anything...it will likely get stolen.  And that will continue to happen unless you make it more difficult.
Post small low res images, put on a watermark the covers the ENTIRE image...or...don't post.
I have suggested to Rendo on numerous occasions to add a "standardized" Rendo watermark on all uploads if requested by the author....but no one seems to want that.

@ Inshaala...yes, posting small is one option...but with new up-resing software out there you can upsize 4 to 6 times with very little quality loss.

I have severely cut down on my uploads here since I discovered my images had also been "borrowed".....and as I previously stated to Rendo staff I am still deciding whether or not to continue uploading here in the future.  In its current format, Renderosity is like a freebie shopping mart for image thieves.

I wish everyone success in getting their works removed from that site....but remember, there are probably several others out there that you are not aware of.....

I posted a link to this thread the Copyright forum. Someone replied saying that she found some of her works there too. How sad. :sad:

Thanks for the advice everyone (Gradient, Stacey and Rich). And thanks, Radlafx, for posting the link in the Copyright forum. Thanks, Danny, for taking care of it. Cosme, have you found anything out yet..? So, there's at least four RR members that got their works 'borrowed' on XWALL... possibly more. Could we say that that site has a very poor copyright policy..? Or has this become inevitable..? I guess I would be changing my posting habits if I really wanted to start making profit of my images. For now I find it just plain sad... (and not a big compliment at all, Rich) ;o)) But maybe the other members will think otherwise...

@girsempa...you said....
**"I guess I would be changing my posting habits if I really wanted to start making profit of my images."

**The problem here is that SOMEONE ELSE is making a profit from your images....

The best thing is to go right to the ISP...

Go to the Domain host and rattle some cages..

Sorry to hear it happens to you, Girsempa.
I'm with Pushinfasers here, go straight to the ISP and send them a nice little cease and desist letter. If you feel adventurous, you can send that dude who "shoplifted" your image a bill about a fee for using your image :)

It's called copyright (not copywrite, copyrite or whatever funny combinations I have seen) for a reason: the right to copy, in this case his right to copy your image, and you as the original creator have the last say how and who can use your image. nod

I found also one of François'picture (FB101) on the same site : 
http://xwall.metropoliglobal.com/galerias/details.php?image_id=70523&sessionid=d23e0ea72d137347406c83823c4d3c19   !!

Domain Name: XWALL.COM
Registrar: DOMAINDISCOVER
Whois Server: whois.domaindiscover.com
Referral URL: http://www.domaindiscover.com
Name Server: THIS-DOMAIN-FOR-SALE.COM
Name Server: NS.BUYDOMAINS.COM
Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK
EPP Status: clientTransferProhibited
EPP Status: clientDeleteProhibited
EPP Status: clientUpdateProhibited
Updated Date: 29-Dec-2005
Creation Date: 29-Dec-2003
Expiration Date: 29-Dec-2006

Unsettling stuff. My sympathy to those of you who have been "lifted." Thanks for bringing it to our attention and for everyone who has helped with this.

Attached Link: Stolen art

And here is another site that deals with basically a one person crime wave epidemic, if any of you post at DA you may have heard about this one.  If not worth looking into as she does on occassion lift photography, and has been a member here... Lots of links and tons of stolen work.

Brenda

Ironic, I was just considering posting a link there, given me and my wife's history with that woman. If nothing else, she shines as an example of the twisted sorts that are out there. :m_redfaced:

Just another strange detail here: In the guidelines of this XWALL site, it is mentioned (in Spanish) that there is a part of the site (Usuarios) where the users can post their personal favorite images (from other creators!!!) that they find all over the internet... and that the ownership of these images remains with their original creators. Of course, the site owners can't be held responsible for any mis-use of other people's images. It seems that the site itself is encouraging the posting of other artist's images... Is that legal..????????????? Without permission from the creators of the images... Aren't they asking for trouble if they allow that? I mean, who can keep track of (the proper use of) all those 'borrowed' images..? This seems to go further than I thought...

:b_unbelievable:

Just found one of creanum on this xwall site too... postet here in RR on November 27th

and one of Punaguy, postet here in RR on okt. 15th

and another one of jogi1302, postet in RR on Dec 7th, postet in Xwall by "maxlara" even without naming the artist

and one of Dalyn, postet in RR on Nov. 21, postet in Xwall by gdmona
and another one from Kimarie, postet in RR on sept. 7th, postet in Xwall by gdmona

Wow, Ulla, you did a great job of tracking these down! Maybe that's only the tip of the iceberg...

yeah think so...found one of danob too... and that are only the ones I can identify on spot... there are others I know I have seen in RR but can't remeber the artists nick...sigh

found another one by TwoPynts, postet here on Dec. 2nd, postet in Xwall by gdmona... so Kort sorry to say so, but you have been liftet too

same goes for kjpweb with his image postet here on Nov. 17th, postet in Xwall by gdmona under the thread artisticas

This is really disturbing! Thanks Geert for bringing this important issue to everyone's attention!

At least one of "romanceworks" images has been stolen from here (& put there). Its the one named "LoveSwept"

Here's a little more info

Domain Name: XWALL.COM<br></br>   Registrar: DOMAINDISCOVER<br></br>   Whois Server: whois.domaindiscover.com<br></br>   Referral URL: http://www.domaindiscover.com<br></br>   Name Server: THIS-DOMAIN-FOR-SALE.COM<br></br>   Name Server: NS.BUYDOMAINS.COM<br></br>   Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK<br></br>   EPP Status: clientTransferProhibited<br></br>   EPP Status: clientDeleteProhibited<br></br>   EPP Status: clientUpdateProhibited<br></br>   Updated Date: 29-Dec-2005<br></br>   Creation Date: 29-Dec-2003<br></br>   Expiration Date: 29-Dec-2006<br></br><br></br>This WHOIS database is provided for information purposes only. We do<br></br>not guarantee the accuracy of this data. The following uses of this<br></br>system are expressly prohibited: (1) use of this system for unlawful<br></br>purposes; (2) use of this system to collect information used in the<br></br>mass transmission of unsolicited commercial messages in any medium;<br></br>(3) use of high volume, automated, electronic processes against this<br></br>database. By submitting this query, you agree to abide by this<br></br>policy.<br></br><br></br>Registrant:<br></br>   RareNames, WebReg<br></br>   4200 Wisconsin Ave NW<br></br>   Washington, DC 20016-2143<br></br>   US<br></br><br></br>   Domain Name: XWALL.COM<br></br><br></br>   Administrative Contact, Technical Contact, Zone Contact:<br></br>      RareNames, WebReg<br></br>      4200 Wisconsin Ave NW<br></br>      Washington, DC 20016-2143<br></br>      US<br></br>      202-478-0990<br></br>      202-478-0990 [fax]<br></br>      brokerage@buydomains.com<br></br><br></br>   Domain created on 29-Dec-2003<br></br>   Domain expires on 29-Dec-2006<br></br>   Last updated on 08-Apr-2006<br></br><br></br>   Domain servers in listed order:<br></br><br></br>      NS.BUYDOMAINS.COM<br></br>      THIS-DOMAIN-FOR-SALE.COM<br></br><br></br><br></br>domain and discover web site<br></br><a href="https://www.domaindiscover.com/index?_sid=Cu6A3EMU9wMOGyqBHN8hFllkTI"><br></br><br></br>https://www.domaindiscover.com/index?_sid=Cu6A3EMU9wMOGyqBHN8hFllkTI</a><br></br><br></br>Here's how we stop this...<br></br><br></br>please get together a list of all the artist who<br></br> have been ripped by this site..<br></br><br></br><br></br>We also need links to the images here on Renderosity and on xwall<br></br><br></br>The folks at domain and discover have a policy stated <br></br><br></br><a href="https://www.domaindiscover.com/help/doc/policies/?_sid=Cu6A3EMU9wMOGyqBHN8hFllkTI">HERE</a><br></br><br></br><br></br><strong>Content</strong><br></br><br></br><br></br>You may not upload any material, transmit any message, link to any<br></br>website, execute any program, or otherwise use our services or<br></br>infrastructure to engage in any activity, that:<br></br>

1. Infringes on any copyright, trade secret rights or patent rights of any third party;
2. Violates any law or regulation, including without limitation the laws and regulations governing export control;
3. Solicits the performance of any illegal activity;

and

1. Results in multiple complaints from third parties.

Further more

Violation

If you violate these rules, you may be subject to additional charges for the costs and time we spend on diagnostics and troubleshooting, corresponding with legal counsel, communicating with authorities, responding to complaints, removing files, deleting unsolicited correspondence, and/or suspending or terminating your account.

If we believe that you are violating, or have violated these rules, we may, at our sole discretion, immediately suspend or terminate your account without notice. If we terminate your account, this does not release you from liability for charges due and owing.

The person we need to contact is

Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) For problems arising under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, please contact us at:

DomainDiscover
PO BOX 502010
San Diego, CA 92150-2010
(858) 560-8120
(858) 560-9417 (fax)
support@domaindiscover.com

Or, contact our registered agent:

Robert K. Peddycord, Esq.
Knight & Peddycord
169 Saxony Road, Suite 106
Encinitas, CA 92024

Let's get all of this together and every artist that has been ripped needs to send an e-mail and perhaps a letter to this person..

Take it straight to the top..the hosting company..

Here's my point of view.

1. Ban the guy who did this from R'osity for good.
2. Have xwall remove all images in question
3. Do not start posting tiny and compressed images
4. Do place a watermark on each image you post. (A thing that maybe R'osity could do automatically  -Works on my personal Gallery - so maybe they can add this feature).
5. Don't get all wound about it - watermarking is a good way to protect your images and this guy, though his actions were illegal - did post the images (I believe) without thinking, as found on the web images and left our user names intact and didn't pretend they were his...
   And it does also not appear, that any "profit" was made in the case.
6. Phushinfaders suggestion I see as a last resort, rather than a first step.
7. First step is to have this guy initiate the removal of all images he posted on xwall.
8. If he does not comply - then we should demand the removal from xwall
9. and then...I know some guys from New Jersey (well connected) who can visit and make xwall an offer they better not refuse...The boys sometimes get a little out of hand and go overboard...

Klaus

If that is the right strategy, I have a suggestion: Maybe someone from the RR Copyright section here can make up a suitable and legally funded letter that we could all send through e-mail to the appropriate person or contact address. Some of us (including me) are not used to write these kind of things in English... And another question: do we have to react as individuals, or is Renderosity Admin going to react in some way..? I have a feeling that a considerate part of the RR community is being harmed (and can be harmed further) by this matter... Hi Klaus, we crossed... it's clear that there are at least three different illegal posters on that site... probably more. It's not gonna end with the banning of one person...

I wrote this gdmora guy and gave him 24hrs to remove my stuff.
Let's see what happens. As I said - he probably thought it would be ok, to do what he did - since he also named us as artists. The unsettling the whole issue is - again - we should not overblow it either.
An official letter from Renderosity to the xwall site would be appreciated.

Is it the same person who posted all of the stolen work?

We can contact them here

It's just my opinion..but, I'd go straight to the top..

By doing so, the host contacts the site owner..forcing them to adhere to the hosts rules..

if not the entire site goes down..

no sympathy..

I've contacted ClintH about what Renderosity can do in this matter..

I need a little more help from you folks..

please post the following information

**girsempa

original

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1318844&member

stolen post

http://xwall.metropoliglobal.com/galerias/details.php?image_id=70523&sessionid=d23e0ea72d137347406c83823c4d3c19

please give the locations any stolen work you find .....
**

Bruce, to be honest, there may simply be too much stolen work there to identify.  I see this gdmora is very active in posting photographs as is fidata50.  I've even seen instances where the same photo was posted by two different people.  It's definitely one of the largest sites I've seen of this nature.  I could see the works of four or five Rendo members posted there just in the photo section alone and I wasn't even half-way through.  And a lot more looks very familiar.  Most of it appears to be model related.

OK, this gdmora needs to be canned.  He's downloading Poser images by the hundreds.  Incredible.

It's not just that one person, I think. It may be site-related. The site itself seems to allow and support this sort of actions...

This can take a lot of time, Bruce... There seem to be lots of Rendo images there. You mean like this..?: Valouchufy Original: http://excalibur.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1199954&member Stolen post: http://xwall.metropoliglobal.com/galerias/details.php?image_id=64377&sessionid=142cdfede47a5a8515d823cf4da5b7ca

Yes...that is just  what I need..
I need as much as possible

OK, another one: Kimariehere Original: http://excalibur.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1288971&member Stolen post: http://xwall.metropoliglobal.com/galerias/details.php?image_id=71349&sessionid=93d680ebd73bd2574c05a371c9a90625

I think this is one of Jimbo's images, but he deleted his gallery here (again): Nameless_Wildness Original post: no longer in the gallery Stolen post http://xwall.metropoliglobal.com/galerias/details.php?image_id=71349&sessionid=93d680ebd73bd2574c05a371c9a90625

Undertaker...

Original
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/media/folder_133/file_1320865.jpg

Stolen
http://xwall.metropoliglobal.com/galerias/datos/media/153/farm_shooting_17_by_undertaker.jpg

I could go on all night

EDIT:  The Stolen link works if you copy and paste into your browser.

Erlandpil...

Original
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/media/folder_132/file_1316098.jpg

Stolen
http://xwall.metropoliglobal.com/galerias/datos/media/19/Blue_Girl_by_erlandpil.jpg

easyjobrob Original: http://excalibur.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1238503&member Stolen image: http://xwall.metropoliglobal.com/galerias/details.php?image_id=71349&sessionid=93d680ebd73bd2574c05a371c9a90625

Punaguy

Original
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/media/folder_131/file_1309129.jpg

Stolen
http://xwall.metropoliglobal.com/galerias/datos/media/159/Emerald_Tube_by_Punaguy.jpg

You may have to copy and paste the link.

Again...dozens of photos, perhaps hundreds of others if you include 3D art.  I found a LOT of Poser art there from Rendo artists.

easyjobrob Original: http://excalibur.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1282759&member Stolen image: http://xwall.metropoliglobal.com/galerias/details.php?image_id=71349&sessionid=93d680ebd73bd2574c05a371c9a90625 Something strange with this image: it's definitely the same shot, but another crop... Maybe it's from Rob's own site...

inshaala Original: http://excalibur.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1260307&member Stolen image: http://xwall.metropoliglobal.com/galerias/details.php?image_id=71349&sessionid=93d680ebd73bd2574c05a371c9a90625