Onyx
18-Jul-2013, 12:41 PM
Recently, a member of Hong Kong Lepidopterists' Society found that his own butterfly photo was republished (not shared) by a Hong Kong Facebook user (Chinese name: 柏斯李). This Facebook user republished the involved photo under his album as if it was his own work. While it is a clear copyright infringement, our member approached this guy to request proper citation of the source or immedaite removal. Yet, there was no positive follow up. Later on, the incident caught the attention of more Hong Kong butterfly watchers. After a higher profile public protest within the butterfly watcher community on Facebook, the infringing photo was withdrawn.
Unfortunately, the withdrawal of the photo was not the end of the story. Instead, this is just the beginning. During the protest, we found that this Facebook user actually made more infringements. More local butterfly watchers were aware that they were also victims. We were able to track the source of some photos through Google photo search. The infringing photo originated from other butterfly watchers' online album, winning photo of photo contests, and various butterfly resources all over the world. We even found that he republished some photos from Butterfly Circle.
Although this guy did not explicitly suggested these photos were his works, he did all the odd thing in republishing the photos:
He may edit the photo, such as cropping and tuning the color
He seemed to have mixed others' photos with his own photos
He added descriptions like "Fungyuen shots direct JPEG output", or "Roof top photos". This may mislead people to think that these are his own works.
Strangely, he often added photos of some foreign species that should not exist at the specified location.
The following Facebook album contains at least a photo from Butterfly Circle (You should be able to see it if you have already logged in Facebook):
http://www.facebook.com/parsonly.lei/media_set?set=a.650381821653591.1073741890.1000004 53361261&type=3
Here's the infringing photo:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=650382008320239&set=a.650381821653591.1073741890.100000453361261&type=3&theater
Through Google photo search, we tracked back to the Butterfly Circle web site. From the watermark, we believe the photo belong to Sunny Chir:
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist%20V2/CI/index.php/start-page/startpage/showbutterfly/149
While Facebook requires copyright owner to report such copyright infringement, we are still trying to look for other infringed owners and inform them.
Unfortunately, the withdrawal of the photo was not the end of the story. Instead, this is just the beginning. During the protest, we found that this Facebook user actually made more infringements. More local butterfly watchers were aware that they were also victims. We were able to track the source of some photos through Google photo search. The infringing photo originated from other butterfly watchers' online album, winning photo of photo contests, and various butterfly resources all over the world. We even found that he republished some photos from Butterfly Circle.
Although this guy did not explicitly suggested these photos were his works, he did all the odd thing in republishing the photos:
He may edit the photo, such as cropping and tuning the color
He seemed to have mixed others' photos with his own photos
He added descriptions like "Fungyuen shots direct JPEG output", or "Roof top photos". This may mislead people to think that these are his own works.
Strangely, he often added photos of some foreign species that should not exist at the specified location.
The following Facebook album contains at least a photo from Butterfly Circle (You should be able to see it if you have already logged in Facebook):
http://www.facebook.com/parsonly.lei/media_set?set=a.650381821653591.1073741890.1000004 53361261&type=3
Here's the infringing photo:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=650382008320239&set=a.650381821653591.1073741890.100000453361261&type=3&theater
Through Google photo search, we tracked back to the Butterfly Circle web site. From the watermark, we believe the photo belong to Sunny Chir:
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist%20V2/CI/index.php/start-page/startpage/showbutterfly/149
While Facebook requires copyright owner to report such copyright infringement, we are still trying to look for other infringed owners and inform them.