any thoughts on this problem?

[jonahsonlinesales]

I have around 22,000 original steam locomotive photo collection on eBay. I have been selling them for 2.5 years. I learned recently from a customer, that someone has been scanning my photos in my listings and selling them in his store at a discount. So he scans the photo without much border to identify my background, and does not show photos of the back so as not to show the original photographer stamps or other markings, then sells them at a discount and makes money off my photos. These are not copyrighted photos and I have contacted eBay and nothing has been done. According to eBay policy, there is no way to watermark these photos. I also have many many hours of listing, so I cannot redo the listings. Any thoughts are appreciated. Oh, and looks like he is doing it to other seller too. He has a big operation. 

Thanks,

Tim

[blingfling123]

Take 4 front on scans/images each one with a quarter in a different position/ corner of the image. This way the buyer can see the full image from your listing, it is not a watermark (that can be removed pretty easily).

If he wants to use them, he is going to have to work hard at photoshopping the image to make one whole one. 

[simply-the-best-for-you]

You CAN watermark &/or put text on the photos.  I put text on my photos periodically.  Technically against policy, but it's not a policy they have ever enforced b/c the second they implemented it they realized they couldn't tell the difference between typing on the photo vs words that are on the item.  That's my understanding anyway.   

It IS possible that items with watermarks &/or text may be lower in search results, but there are plenty of big sellers who do it & don't seem to have any issues with selling them.  I've never had a problem selling items with text on my photos.  If I were you, I'd just start watermarking all of them ASAP. 

[femmefan1946]

I like the idea of scanning the photos with a clear acetate overlay with your identification.

[gdiesel70]

You are the copyright holder of any photo you take the moment you take it. 

This is a copyright violation. You should be able to file a DMCA takedown notice  explaining how your copyright is being violated and link to the originating media being infringed (your listing photos) and the photos you are reporting. 

source: was a DMCA agent from 2008-2017.  

https://www.copyrightlaws.com/how-to-protect-photos-you-post-online/ 

(link opens in a new window)