egafd.com

The internet was originally a private network. Set up by Darpa americas defence research lab. The idea was that in the event of a nuclear war top officials would still be able to communicate. With the demise of the cold war they started to realise its potential for other matters and it was opened up to the public market. Thus it became a free medium for all. Only when the huge players like Microsoft, AOL jumped on the band wagon did it become a money spinner. In my opinion and in alot of other companies too, is that the net should be kept free for all. And not used as another mass marketing money generating tool.

Basically what is on the net is public.

There are always gonna be these 2 divided opinions now as E-commerce is adopted by so many people. Yet there are also many sites out there that dont adopt those principles yet offer the same services online.

Example

Napster : - Their philosophy was download what you like and share and enjoy.

Record Companies Reply. You asses you cant do that as we are loosing millions, so we are going to do all we can to shut you down.

Example 2. Kazza
Come join our file sharing group and download anything to your hearts content.

Porn Sites Reply. Dam customer are not buying from us as they are getting quality clips without even having to hand their card details over to us or even lay out a penny.

Ditto for Porn Vid Shop,Software Shop, Record Shop.

Example 3. The numerous free porn sites online that offer free vid clips
P-Bot.com
Come to our site and download all the good clips.

Again customer thinks mmm. well why do I need to sign up for anything.

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A couple of big companies that are free and offer open source matrial.

Linux
Oracle
Opera

Last statement :

For every 1 pornsite that offers something either the same as the rest or specialises in something that isnt. There will always be a mirror or mirrors that does the the same for nought.

Now most men on here would rather get something for nothing. Its human nature.

And as we speak I am sure there are court cases going on at the moment all over the world re this issue. Microsoft, Linux, Netscape. Kazza, Record Companies, Porn Makers, Napsters etc.

The nets potential for making money has burst.

The argument goes on and on but you can't get away from the basic fact that Napster, Kazaa et al don't create any of the material they offer for free.

Mart

That is true. But is still dosnt stop them from offering it to the masses. They are just a middleman.

Whats to stop someone from signing up with your site downloading your hot new vid clips renaming them and then putting them on kazza. Effectivley they have just lost you lots of revenue then.

There are some like Anjali's webmaster and myself that chase these sites and take legal action to have any of our material removed.

I had one site lose it's hosting earlier this year. He moved to another then Anjali, a content provider and myself had his second host close him down the other week.. He's now on host #3 in less than 6 months and very soon.. We'll shoot him down again.

If more photographers and content providers had the time to attack the thieves it would soon stop but I can tell you that it can be slow and painstaking work which a lot of people don't have time for..

As I only work the one niche, I know most of the sites to go to and see if my work has been stolen and luckily I have good friends who always email me if they see a pic that looks like one of mine. This means that my material, if stolen, doesn't stay on line for too long but even a day or two can lose sales etc. This is the world today.. Whether it's a porn pic or Madonna's latest album someone somwhere will upload for others to access for nothing and we can only try to stop them..

Its an impossible mission jo. People may put a copyright mark on their site. They may watermark pictures, they may disable right clicking on their website. But 99% of the time your work will get taken and put around for others to see for free.

I know its bad but there are not really any effective measures to combat it. The only thing you can do is go chasing around like you say.