OT - You know that picture you posted on facebook?

[Don]

The internet is really ungovernable in this regard. Look at all the photos we link to on a regular basis, without regard to copyright.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31214408/?GT1=43001

ST. LOUIS - When Danielle Smith and her family posed for their Christmas card photo last year, they knew they'd share it with family and friends. But the Missouri family wasn't expecting it to show up in the Czech Republic, splashed across a huge storefront advertisement.

Smith, 36, who lives in the St. Louis suburb of O'Fallon, said Wednesday that she posted the photo on her blog and some online social networking sites. It featured her, her husband Jeff and their two children.

About 10 days ago, a college friend was driving through Prague when he spotted their huge smiling faces in the window of a store specializing in European food. He snapped a few pictures and sent them to a flabbergasted Smith.

Mario Bertuccio, who owns the Grazie store in Prague, said the photo was from the Internet. Details were sparse, but he said he thought it was computer-generated. When told it was a real photo — of a real family — he said he started taking steps to remove it.

"We'll be happy to write an e-mail with our apology," said Bertuccio.

The Smiths and photographer Gina Kelly hadn't authorized anyone to use the pictures. Kelly said she has asked a professional photographers' organization to help figure out how her image wound up in Prague.

Smith has gotten 180,000 hits to her Web site since she recently posted the story about the well-traveled snapshot. She said the photo wasn't used in an unseemly manner, only to tell potential shoppers about the store's delivery service.

Smith said next time she posts a photo on the Internet, she's going to lower the resolution or add an electronic watermark to make it hard to reproduce.

"This story doesn't frighten me, but the potential frightens me," Smith said.

[Snowblind]

Well, when people post "private" pictures of themselves online, they do not have a clue who might use it for whatever reasons. That's exactly why I have no personal pics online.

[jrnyman28]

If you saw me you would know I have nothing to worry about!! (No one wants a picture of THIS!)

[Snowblind]

If you saw me you would know I have nothing to worry about!! (No one wants a picture of THIS!)

Awww Jrnyman28, sure we would love to see you!

[JasonD]

If you saw me you would know I have nothing to worry about!! (No one wants a picture of THIS!)

Awww Jrnyman28, sure we would love to see you!

Uh,..... I do believe I already can see you & me likes.

[T-Bone]

Are you talking about the picture of Eve Wyrwal?

[G.I.Jim]

Well, when people post "private" pictures of themselves online, they do not have a clue who might use it for whatever reasons. That's exactly why I have no personal pics online.

Will you send me one in a PM? You can trust me!

[bluejeangirl76]

Here's the stupid part in all this...

"A Missouri family has no idea how their Christmas card ended up as a huge ad in Prague."

Has no idea?

Um... hi... ok, see when you put pictures online, and especially when you don't restrict the settings on your facebook, myspace, whatever... ummm... we can ALL see what you post! Who doesn't know this?

I say both parties are at fault, but most of the wrong is on the end of the people who snagged that picture and used it in the ad. I don't know what the copyright laws are outside the US but there has to be something in place, I would figure.

But, I also read that this company that used the picture moved to action to have it removed as soon as they found out about this, so I really don't see what the big problem is (other than people shouldn't just grab whatever they want off the internet and claim it belongs to them).

[DavidC]

Wow.............that's just scary. Good to know.

[jrnyman28]

If you saw me you would know I have nothing to worry about!! (No one wants a picture of THIS!)

Awww Jrnyman28, sure we would love to see you!

Uh,..... I do believe I already can see you & me likes.

Please take note that my name is JrnyMAN28. As T-Bone mentioned, if you are referring to the picture, it is of Eve Wyrwal.

[The Sushi Hunter]

BINGO, and that's why my wife and I have never put up our photos at all on the internet, not photofucking bucket, not anyplace! I don't even like putting pictures of stuff that I've taken during trips around the world on the internet anywhere, some fuckhead will take a good shot and make money off it.

[Since 78]

Does this mean no MR photo thread this year??

[Zedul]

Try being a photographer and "sharing" a few pics online. There is an entire ad campaign for bath salts and soaps in Turkey using my pictures and I don't get a cent for it.