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| Brulee with her morning hairdo that sticks out all over the place |
Several years ago (2013), we were notified by some of our blogging friends that someone had stolen Brulee's photo from our blog and had created a meme on LOLCats - I Can Has Cheezburger. With the help of many people, we tracked down the graphic on the website and ICHC gave us credit for the original photo. However, the meme continues to float around social media (without credit to us) with several hundred thousand shares! The meme was very funny and at first, we were thrilled that our photo of Brulee had been shared so many times. Then we realized we weren't receiving credit. Since then, Mom Paula has attended several sessions on copyright law and photos on the Internet. Contrary to what many people say, photos you find on the Internet are copyrighted (even if there is no © symbol on the photo) and you are not allowed to use the photo unless you have permission from the owner. What many people don't realize is that the photo is the property of the photographer as soon as the photo is snapped. There are a lot more details to copyright laws. Even if you purchase a photo from an online resource, you must still give credit to the source. The best rule of thumb to remember is - If it's not yours, don't take it!
Here is the original meme. If you ever see it posted online, please notify the person that posted it that this photo belongs to Sweet Purrfections and Paula Gregg.
You can see more Sunday Selfies at The Cat on My Head.
As a photographer, my human is really unhappy that the internet gave so many people a false sense of being able to use photos they find randomly when they clearly belong to someone.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of people who don't respect copyright, it's really annoying.
ReplyDeleteLuv that staticy photo of your Brulee!
Brulee...you had a blow out! :D
ReplyDeleteGood info, thanks! Brulee's meme is darling and funny - you really should get credit for that amazing photo.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a fun photo, hiss to the stealers!
ReplyDeleteToo bad it was stolen, but it is a fun meme.
ReplyDeleteWe love your super static fur Brulee!!! Like...wow!!
ReplyDeleteWe also send hisses to picture stealers!
Purrs Georgia,Julie and JJ
just want to ruffle that fur,xx Speedy
ReplyDeletePeople feel 'entitled' because it's online and they found it for free. We love Brulees look though.
ReplyDeleteAwww, she looks perfectly electrifying! © is quite a thing but still folks pinch photos and blogs willy nilly.
ReplyDeletePurrs ERin
We love that photo but dont like that it was snagged. Purrs friends
ReplyDelete