how to keep photos from being copied?
I'm selling vintage photos and am seeing some sellers that are putting some types of marks on their photos to keep people from copying them. I thought I had read at some point that this was not allowable. Is it ok now to do this? Thanks.
14 comments
tita3334
OP2 years agoThanks every one; I always appreciate the help I get from the eBay community.!
bennotbill
·2 years agoThe only "watermark" eBay currently rarely object to are the ones with a website address on them.
eBay themselves stated a while back that they no longer take any action with your run of the mill watermarks.
monster-deals
·2 years agoIt is not. Your photos are ebay's photos and ebay's photos are free to use.
the_fancy_fox
·2 years agoHow I miss the days of when ebay would link to your photo on your computer. Someone stole my image? No problem! I would replace my photo with one of a very dirty cat litter box.
I knew people that would replace their picture with a graphic porn one and then report the listing.
ah the good old days…
watermarks are not allowed but ebay doesn’t enforce the policy. But it doesn’t matter. I’ve seen people using watermarked pictures that are not theirs.
redlinear
·2 years agoWHY? Why would you add your watermark or name or any identification to a photo?
If somebody swipes it and uses it, it's just a photo and stands to upset "their" customer later.
If somebody swipes a photo with indication that it's you? Then the customer might just be upset with YOU (thinking you might have several user ID's).
pbcbf-954
·1 year agoI'm an art photographer and landscape photographer for 50 years now and ALL my work is copywrite protected. It's not JUST a photo. A watermark on a digital photo being shown for purposes of selling an original work, protects the creator from having their work basically stollen. If you don't understand that, then you are EXACTLY the kind of person a watermark is used for, to stop a theft of original work. My work sells for thousands of dollars in physical form only, meaning printed on physical media, and is never sold as a digital image but can be displayed digitally for promotion, galleries and being entered in competitions and such. Those are controlled environments that protect the artist's rights for the most part. If Ebay doesn't allow watermarks, then my advice would be to sell the work thorough another venue.
an-57470
·2 years agoI have cut a thin piece of paper and fit it diagonally across the image
fab_finds4u
·2 years agoWatermarks are not allowed.
eBay allows copying.
rosszonebricks
·2 years agoClarification needed here: eBay only allows copying ONLY IF your photo ends up getting added as part of the official catalog.
If it's not part of the catalog, you CAN contact the other seller and ask them to remove your images. (I've done this many times, and if worded correctly the other seller usually complies. However, fair warning that if they don't there really isn't much you can do to force them to comply.)
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-policies/images-text-policy?id=4240
Relevant bit:
What should I do if my image, video or text is being used by another seller?
When you create listings you give eBay and its customers permission, through our User Agreement, to use your images, videos and product details. Your content may be added to the eBay product catalog, and may be used by other sellers in their eBay listings.
You may contact the seller and ask them to remove your image or text if it is not part of the eBay product catalog.
train_slide_central
·2 years agoWhat is this rule? I sell slides, and every slide seller uses watermarks to prevent copying.
ckimodog
·2 years ago@train_slide_central
Watermarks are supposed to be a no no on eBay, but they don't do much to enforce it. In this day and age, unless you have the photo secured to where it cannot be copied or clipped, anyone can right click and save it. I don't think there's much anyone can do and even the most cleaver graphic artist can get around watermarks. JMO.
Happy Selling!
itsjustasprain
·2 years agoEspecially when the photo IS the product.
You can do a pseudo-watermark by writing or printing your seller ID on a clear piece of acetate and overlaying it on the vintage print you're selling when you photograph it.
monster-deals
·2 years agoI usually place a quarter or a ruler or something on the photo so someone doesn't copy it and print it out for themselves.
...because
I once about 15 years ago asked for a high res picture of a 1954 World Cup final ticket pretending to be a buyer...I just printed it out.
tita3334
OP2 years agoJust what I was looking for, thanks! I was mainly thinking of buyers copying them, so this idea is perfect.