Image theft

[Alex_Manifest_M]

There is an agent that runs an escort introduction program that continues to lift our images and use them on his site. Each time we see this, we demand that he remove them, but this is often after he has sent out mass emails using these images. He has already been successfully sued by a large studio for copyright infringement and does not seem to have learned a thing. We do not wish to be associated with this individual in anyway. Sometimes he even does this with models that are not associate with his service.

Advice?

[Lee]

Dont talk to the site owner.

Talk to the site host, by way of a DMCA notice EVERY time you find one of your images on his site, for EVERY image, after a few times the site will get shut down by the host

Regards,

Lee

[Vendzilla]

look at what happened in the case of pornkings, they lost big time!!

[Lee]

look at what happened in the case of pornkings, they lost big time!!

Haha true, Roger jumped ship just in time

Regards,

Lee

[Squirt]

I agree DMCA to the host

[Alex_Manifest_M]

Printing the out as we speak...thanks guys.

[Titanmen]

The only thing that works with him is to hit him in the wallet. Send a Cease and Desist along with a invoice for payment for use of your image. CC the C&D to his ISP and ALL vendors associated and listed on his website where the infringement occured.

Keep doing this over and over again. If the ISP doesn't respond and do anything about it then they become liable as well.

Be prepared for crazy ranting emails from him that are cc'd to his "corporate lawyer". He doesn't have a corporate attorney, it's all bullshit. Don't even try to engage him, it's not worth it. Just send the paperwork and ignore his crazy emails.

Also, be aware that he loves to BCC others in his emails to try and make you look bad. Just be careful what you say and don't get dragged into his drama!

Good luck! <G>

[Alex_Manifest_M]

Man oh man Keith...do you have have that guy pegged. I have been dumbfounded to receive copies of emails he has sent to to others which for some reason he copies us. I will follow your advice to the letter. When you say "all vendors" I'm not sure I understand exactly who would qualify. Do you mean the other studios that have images there? Of the programs to which he is an affiliate?

Thanks very much!
Alex

[Titanmen]

All the affiliate programs he has on his site:

Flirt4free
http://getyourfixxx.com/ CCbill program
TLAvideo
Playboylive.com
cockyboys.com
seancody.com


If he is using your images to draw traffic and then upsell them to other affiliate programs, then they need to know about it. If they chose not to do anything and he continues then they can become liable as well.

It's easy to just CC them all on your Cease and Desist letter to him.

[LavenderLounge]

I've found myself "lost in the forest" a few times over the years, too, and Keith's description of dealing with him is accurate.

[Alex_Manifest_M]

Thanks much. That clears it up for me. Its very strange to see images of models that have worked for us that then deny any knowledge of ever having spoken to him. The letters will go out today.

[krunnch]

Let me know how it goes, Alex... We know the story...

[Alex_Manifest_M]

Will do bud!