30 Jan 2013 22 Comments
Blogging Lesson: Don’t Just Take! (A Rant)
Tonight I found out about a blogger who posted one of my photos on her own blog. I know this is something that can happen, but in the four years of blogging, this is a first. And I’m angry.
Yes, she did credit my blog underneath the photo but that doesn’t make it better. It’s simply not cool to me that you just lift something off of someone’s page and post it as part of your content — without asking.
Blogging is hard work. Taking photos and editing photos is time consuming and often difficult.
All I hope for is a bit of respect for the work we put in to our sites. Ask for permission. Or, better yet, just link to the post that interests you or want to share with your own readers.
It’s simple. It’s easy, and it’s fair.
I hope she gets the message.
Jan 30, 2013 @ 20:14:01
I have to admit, I’m really surprised and a bit disappointed at your reaction to what this blogger did.
I’m not saying you’re wrong because this is your blog, you felt that something was stolen from you and not properly credited, and you have FULL right to feel that way.
However, I was going to get angry along with you until I read that she had credited you back for the photo. If you fully disclosed that it is not YOUR content but something you admire and want to share with your readers, my personally opinion is that there’s nothing wrong with that and in fact, it’s flattering and helpful. I just can’t get angry at the fact that she didn’t ask you first. I see that you are on Pinterest and have pinned images that are not your own. Have you asked every single one of those sources whether you could pin their image? If not, I’m not sure how that is different from what this blogger did.
*I’m not sure if this post was meant to be a point for discussion or simply a rant so my apologies if it is only the latter and not to be debated.
Jan 30, 2013 @ 20:56:43
Hi Lindsay, thanks for your input! I’m always up for debate and for discussion
You brought up some really good points and ones I hadn’t thought of. My issue with her site is that a lot of the content is pulled from other blogs, and it’s my guess she has not asked them for their permission either. What differs on Pinterest is that the photos are linked to the sources in many cases. In the case of my photo on this blog, it simply said lipstickrules, no link. I’m probably over-reacting but needed to get it off my chest. Hope you understand!
Jan 30, 2013 @ 21:21:00
Hi Michelle, thanks for your gracious response. I really appreciate you not taking it personally even though my response was the opposite of yours. You bring up good points and I can absolutely see your side now. Thanks for explaining it so well. I didn’t realize Pinterest actually links back to the source you pin from…that’s great!…and you’re right, that is a difference that may seem minor but makes all the difference in terms of actually crediting back to the original owner in a meaningful way. Thanks again for your response. I enjoy reading your blog and my respect for you as a blogger and a person has just gone up 10 fold.
Jan 30, 2013 @ 21:32:02
Thanks so much Lindsay. You gave me food for thought and perspective and I’m always appreciative of that. Thank you for piping in and sharing your thoughts. Always welcome!
Jan 30, 2013 @ 20:25:46
I hate people who do this! I am dealing with one who obviously isn’t online because contacting her via G+, Twitter, Email, and her blog (which is here: http://prettyfyersbrand.blogspot.com/2012/11/eyeliners.html)
is not working! Might want to check this blog too, this person seems to use pictures from other blogs without permission. I don’t understand these people who think blog pictures are stock photos!
And I agree as much as we enjoy blogging, it is hard work and that includes taking the many pix to get that one good one!
Jan 30, 2013 @ 20:58:41
Thanks Olivia. It seems to happen a lot. I guess all I’m asking for as a fellow blogger is to be asked. This community is so positive and I believe does love to share.
Lindsay above brought up an interesting discussion point — what about Pinterest? Aren’t we just repinning other people’s content without the original source’s permission? I think it’s a really interesting point.
Jan 30, 2013 @ 21:58:19
Hey Michelle,
Technically you have to ask to pin, but because Pinterest drives so much traffic (and it links right back to your site) it would be nuts if a blogger asked a reader not to pin.
But of course, they can. The important thing here is to ask – both ways. Assuming you can pin to pinterest is fine (because it is a huge boost for the blog). But if the blogger doesn’t want it (nuts) she can politely say, “Please remove them.”
And if you get your image swiped, the best thing to do (and the first) is to ask the blogger to take it down.
Of course it’s still way annoying. But really, sometimes people don’t know that you can’t do that.
#hugs
Jan 30, 2013 @ 22:26:48
Hi Bon, thanks for your insights! I did ask her and she has taken it down. What was particularly alarming though was how many photos she had on her site that were pulled from other blogs. It was eye opening. Maybe, and I’m hoping this is the case, she is new to this and doesn’t get it. Still doesn’t make it right…but I could understand.
Feb 01, 2013 @ 20:47:39
I don’t mind Pinterest because the pictures link back to the blog or the website it was taken from giving the owner some exposure. I know some do not want their photos to be pinned at all and they are taken down by Pinterest. Others just put in a code so no one can right click and download. I thought about that but then no one could pin on pinterest.
I just find and I probably sound like Mark Zuckerberg’s sister to some extent, there is a blogging etiquette and taking someone’s picture from a blog without crediting is wrong. Linking back is always the proper way and not to mention a chance for both blogs to get some traffic.
I just hate the person who uses mine like they are stock photos and can’t be contacted. *grumbles*
Jan 30, 2013 @ 21:09:21
What people need to realize is that this blogger’s stolen images are coming up in Google image searches. So when I look for a collection, I get to see Michelle, or Jessica, or Karen’s work on another person’s site. Why should I bother going to the source if I already got to see the swatch/product I needed? When traffic doesn’t go back to the original blogger, the original blogger will lose out on page views. Less page views = less money (if the blog is monetized). Less page views = lower in the google search results and less people being referred from Google Images. And an extreme response of less page views is potentially losing brand partnerships over not making minimum quotas. Sure Pinterest is similar, but at least when you click on a pinned image it takes you straight back to the source. Stealing a blogger’s photos (even with credit!) is like illegally downloading music and movies. Of course you will admit you didn’t produce it, but you still reap the benefits of having the media.
Jan 30, 2013 @ 21:35:51
Thanks Alison for bringing this to my attention. What you brought up are points that I hadn’t really even thought about. So much to think about.
Jan 30, 2013 @ 22:02:37
Another way to think of it…
Suppose you take your sister’s favorite tube of lipstick. Every time someone says, “Hey, great lipstick!” you reply, “Thanks! It’s my sister’s!”
Is your sister cool with that?
Heck no!
Jan 30, 2013 @ 22:27:11
LOL good point. Thanks Bon!
Jan 30, 2013 @ 23:15:52
I saw your tweet about this earlier tonight, and I am so glad that you were able to contact her and she took it down. Perhaps she hasn’t quite figured out a beauty blog?? Maybe i’m too hopeful. In any event, I am sorry that this happened to you! :/ I don’t know if this has happened to me, and at the same time, I’m not sure if I’d want to know! I am glad that she at least credited you (and alison and jessica!) but I do agree with you that linking a particular post and telling your readers about something that you find helpful/inspiring/etc is a much better approach. I don’t know where i fall on this issue, but my first thought was definitely that it could be worse! She could have tried to pass off your work as her own! And that would be even more upsetting! :/
Jan 31, 2013 @ 21:44:11
Hey Joyce, thanks for your input here! The thing is, she credited my blog like this: (lipstickrules) and there was no link. Same with Jessica’s. So essentially, if you didn’t know of our blogs, you wouldn’t even know what that credit referred to. I agree it could be worse but it’s the principle of it all. If someone searches for a swatch, and my image comes up, I’d really prefer if they were linked to my post, not someone else. Pinterest is different – it’s not my site and more a collection of images that link somewhere else. I’m not trying to pass off my Pinterest account as my work at all nor am I categorizing it as content I created. Anyway, this is such an interesting debate and I appreciate all views!
Jan 31, 2013 @ 04:44:50
I’m going to (try to) give you another example.
I’m writing a research paper, and I read other review articles from various journals from my field. If I find something good, I rephrase/modify that and mention the source in the end of my research paper in references. I mention the article, writer, journal, published date and all that information there. I do not ask for a permission to quote/rephrase their work, I do it without really asking, but I give them the credit. If this is done in academic texts, why should someone ask for permission in blogging? Wouldn’t a direct link to a specific blogpost where the picture is from, be enough? As long as the credit to the original poster is done in an acceptable manner (credit+ direct link, specific), shouldn’t it be enough?
Jan 31, 2013 @ 15:14:27
Hi Serafia, I can understand your analogy but the difference is that you can’t profit from paraphrasing work in your research papers. Plus, to my mind, publishing someone else’s picture in your post rather than just linking to them is not like paraphrasing, it’s more like passing that work off as your own. You would certainly get in trouble if you started plagarising published work in your research papers!
Michelle owns the copyright to her pictures, whether they are water-marked or not, so permission is required for someone else to use them. As Alison M explains above, good pictures generate traffic for a blog via Google so a blogger that uses lots of useful pictures they have taken from elsewhere, is likely to profit from it (either financially or from improved ranking). There are also legal implications in using copyrighted work without permission as some bloggers have discovered to their cost – http://www.rockalily.com/blog/blogging-and-copyright-is-your-blog-a-potential-mine-field.html.
Jan 31, 2013 @ 21:47:00
Hi Serafia,
Unfortunately in this case, there was no link. Simply “lipstickrules” underneath the image. It would be a different situation if the photo was widely used everywhere and difficult to pinpoint where the original source was from. It’s another when a blogger creates content, categorizes it under one topic, and then uses other bloggers’ images to support her topic. When people search for the topic or do an image search, her post will start to appear given all the images she’s got…from other people’s work. I do appreciate your views though. Thanks for sharing it!
Jan 31, 2013 @ 16:12:01
I’ve had a whole post reproduced by someone who ” loved the pictures so much”, one used by a French magazine site and one by an MUA who said said linked but had only put my name. Oh and one used to sell on eBay. Never mind the host of pictures taken to show how horrendous my makeup is. I love taking pictures and work hard at getting good shots. Every one of these incidence of theft has made me cross. If someone appreciates your pics as yours, then they will be directing the ‘love’ towards your blog. Not taking them and using them to their own ends. I’m with you all the way on this. X
Jan 31, 2013 @ 21:47:44
Thank you. Appreciate your comment!
Jan 31, 2013 @ 20:39:31
Hmm…it has never bothered me when someone takes my photo and then links back to my blog on their blog. I don’t know why, but it doesn’t bother me. To me, the link back is giving my blog credit and could potentially introduce new readers to my blog. However, what does upset me is when eBay sellers use my photos to sell clothing. I have had to file numerous claims on eBay because of this. That, to me, is worse because they are not only not crediting me, but they are also trying to make a profit off of my images.
Jan 31, 2013 @ 21:52:12
I don’t think it would bother me as much if there was an actual link to my blog Veronika. It was simply lipstickrules listed underneath the photo, no link. I’m all for linking to each other. That makes sense.
It was more about pulling images without linking back. What alarmed me most was the sheer volume of images pulled from other blogs, including Makeup and Beauty Blog!