Hi people!
A couple of days ago, a colleague sent us a link to an article entitled “Un chauffeur de TBS qui ne cesse de cracher par la fenêtre”. While everyone else was laughing at the article, my attention was immediately caught by the picture used by Defimedia on this same article.
Wait… That picture of the bus – it says something to me!
I TOOK THAT PICTURE!
Yes! To be sure, I googled “TBS yashvin” (That’s the advantage of being wonderfully indexed by search engines) and I got the link to my article, written back in 2008, with the same image:
Oh god, I have such a good memory!
I agree that I did not put my watermark on my images at that time but that does not mean that you can use whatever pictures you get on the web and get them published anywhere, especially on an official web site of a newspaper group. On top of that, you don’t even acknowledge/credit the source of the original image.
Defimedia, it’s time that you start practicing good practice. Stop stealing pictures to start with. And shoot better composed shots. The one below featured in one of their articles. I let you guess what the dog was doing at the shooting time:
A previous incident involving radioplus
At one point of time, an employee of RadioPlus (member of defimedia) even downloaded one of my youtube videos and uploaded it again on RadioPlus’ Official web site. After making some noise, he removed the video and asked for forgiveness.
So, that’s confirmed that ethics and defimedia group do not go along very well.
Ethics
Coming back to this article, ethics mean a lot in this world. And as a media group, I “assume” that there are journalists, news editors and people reviewing articles before the official publication. It is a shame that a blogger, without any training or professional support has to point out such ethical issues to a media group. Now just imagine, how many pictures published by the group have been used without the authorization of the concerned people!
I would like to have some legal advice on this matter, anyone? And what if they published it on a newspaper instead on just their site? (Note: It is without doubt that they might pull down the picture after knowing the facts).
To the person who did this, you suck! You should be fired!
.
Update#1:
The following mail was sent on the 24th November 2012 after publishing my article. The recipients are the
- Director -Ehshan Kodarbux(ehshank@defimedia.info),
- Editor – Manouraj Gungea (d.gungea@defimedia.info),
- Publications Coordinating Editor – Teddy Pierre (t.pierre@defimedia.info),
- Webmaster – webmaster@defimedia.info
Yashvin
On 26th November 2012, I noticed that the pictures were changed, without any official response from defimedia following my complaint (above). I then mailed back the same persons with the following text:
Update#2
First mail received on 27th November 2012
My reply:
Bonjour.
And a last mail for the day:
Radio+ and Defimedia are same group and have same attitude..remember they used video without your permission??
Disapponted.. I think this article should show up in defi media itself as for the cases of rape,passionate crime,etc.. 😀
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Yeah! You made me remember that episode.
I will update the article right now! Thanks dude!
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Report this to the Police. Go to TopFm. DefiMedia sucks.
I want to put this article on Leverlepep.
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You are free to do so.
Just link in here 🙂
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Something you can do to annoy them is take their pictures and publish it here haha! But I’m sure you’re not like this sucker photographer.
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I won’t bring me to such low level 😛
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Its not only for your case as you already mentioned. Let’s take the following article as example:
http://www.defimedia.info/dimanche-hebdo/dh-reportage/item/21028-vivre-un-cyclone-intense.html
The 2 photos have been taken from L’express newspaper archives and above that, no credits about the source mentioned in the article.
The source of the first 2 photos used are from : Article l’express 01.03.2010 : Alix la terrible , page 38 & 39
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man, they have indeed breached the copyright act..Gather all evidences possible, you can claim them for damages by suing them…
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“Ethics” and “Defimedia.info” in one same sentence? Why make such an insult to ethics?
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I did publish a comment on this post but I am not sure if you got it. Anyway, I will publish it again:
Defimedia’s office is located at Grande Riviere, right? If yes, they could take a picture of a TBS bus which comes from Point aux Sables, as it passes in front of their office! No big deal!
Defimedia is well-known for its censorship of comments, poor quality videos of its documentary series “Archives Criminelle”, and also of its poor quality contents.
I have criticized them many times, personally I think they lack good web developers, bloggers and article writers.
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its as simple as that… the writer googled ‘triolet bus service’ and got your photo among the result. obviously if the photo doesnot contain any watermark he/she will used it… just like anyone would do for any report/assignment/ article and so on
try google it too yourself u’ll see…
So next time u upload a photo make sure u have your watermark on it!!!
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Unfortunately, that’s not how things work for professionals and also for academical needs especially for a properly written assignment where you quote references/sources etc.
Just to reassure you, defi mailed me and said sorry. I will quote the mails later on.
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Your statement makes no sense at all buddy! You mentioned the writer
googled Triolet bus service, so what? Does it mean it is legal even
this? Go and Google something right now on images, and see if Google
does not remind you that “This image may be subject to copyright” on the
right and then you tell me…
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Le Défi Média n’est pas le seul groupe de presse à faire ça. Récemment, une autre bloggeuse dénonçait la même chose de la part du Mauricien ! ( http://chocotique.blogspot.com/2012/10/et-sinon-le-mauricien-ma-vole-une-photo.html )
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Nous sommes tous visés!
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Copyright Protection
Another legal protection is copyright. This is the creator’s (or legal owner’s) rights in creative works like paintings, writings, photographs, drawings, advertising works, videotapes, CD, TV commercials etc. Unlike patent protection, copyright need not be registered in Mauritius but arises automatically once a work has been made, under the terms of the Copyright Act 1997. To avoid others copying your material it is essential to be able to show proof of ownership and proof of copying. Copyright exists in all works published or unpublished. It is advisable for an author that his/her work is signed, dated and witnessed as an aid to proof of ownership. The copyright symbol © accompanied by the name of the owner of the copyright and the year of its first publication, is an internationally recognized convention and is normally an essential aid to proof of ownership if one is taking an action in another country.
The owner of a copyright can control how the work is exploited, including copying, adapting, public performance, broadcasting and public distribution. Often copyright material is used under license (e.g computer software) or permitted in specific circumstances (e.g private study and teaching).
You infringe copyright when you copy any part of another person’s work without prior permission of the owner.
More info on : http://www.gov.mu/portal/sites/smeportal/potential/property.htm
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Thanks 🙂
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Cher ami, veuillez lire ceci et vous preparer a engranger le maximum de fric possible, car votre histoire peut vous rapporter gros, tres gros.
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