Copying Images from CCFC Facebook Page

Many of you know me and will therefore know I am quite a laid back person. So this post should not be considered as being a warning or a threat. It is merely posted for the benefit of those on here - and avoid anyone being invoiced for a substantial amount of money (which I know has happpened elsewhere)

Along with other agencies I provide images to Cardiff City Football Club and the National Newspapers via an agency. Those images are provided to Cardiff City for Editorial Purposes Only. Cardiff City are allowed to put the images on their Facebook page and within their Match Day Programme as they hold a Football DataCo Licence.

To most all you will see is the image. However, within the background coding of each image, there is a tracker and various agencies can see where and how often the image is used. If anyone copies an image from the Cardiff City Facebook page (without permission or without purchasing the image) there could be several consequences.

1) The Club can get into trouble
2) I can get into trouble
3) The individual who copied the image can be invoices directly for the use of the image - by the Newspaper Agency

To back this up I know of a situation where Getty Images invoiced an individual £1500 for the unauthorised use of a picture. It was so much because the image was no longer "exclusive".

Like I said. I am very laid back. As a photographer I get a great amount of pleasure in photographing our Championship winning season. The last thing I would like is for people to end up in trouble because they do not know the rules regarding use of images - (Which is all this is)

Thanks

Paul.

So what happens when a right-click happy teenager goes and saves all the images onto their pc as they love all the player images, etc etc but doesn't disperse them else where? You wouldn't know tiddly wink would you surely? I know a few of my mates kids that have printed out pictures like this to stick on their bedroom walls..... You won't get a penny out of those spotty little adolescents though! Unless you accept snickers and coca cola as payment?

By all means - Enjoy the images on the CCFC Facebook page

So what happens when a right-click happy teenager goes and saves all the images onto their pc as they love all the player images, etc etc but doesn't disperse them else where? You wouldn't know tiddly wink would you surely? I know a few of my mates kids that have printed out pictures like this to stick on their bedroom walls..... You won't get a penny out of those spotty little adolescents though! Unless you accept snickers and coca cola as payment?

Like I said I am the photographer and not the Image Police.

But what I do know is that during the course of this season the Football League has contacted several clubs (possibly including ours) re the use of images - and I know this from the Agency that I work with.

In answer to your question Yes they can be monitored. In the example I used the sister of a former workmate went on to Google Images and downloaded a baby photo to use in her shop window. Purely innocent and never put on a website. She basically printed the image and put it on her window. She was invoiced £1500 some 4 months later.

I accept the point you make re the ability to pay.

I am glad kids get enjoyment out of the pictures I produce and I certainly dont have the facilities, or indeed the time, to police this. Just dont make it obvious by putting it on this website (Avatars, Caption Contests!)

I dont want to lose my licence afterall!

As a photography student I'm really unaware of the laws involving Sports Photography which is worrying as it's something I want to aspire to be, is there anywhere I can learn about as I don't think it'll be brought up in my course I'm doing. What I'm also curious about is that for example what Jon Candy does, that's acceptable right? Your own images are fine but I've seen YouTube take down videos of fan filmed footage, I know there's a difference between photography and film but surely if you're capturing something it comes under the same guidelines?

If you really want an image and are determined to get one, use this site.

http://www.hidemyass.com/

If you put an image in the public domain then as far as I'm concerned its there for everyone to see and use as they see fit (within reason).

To sue for intelectual property rights costs a fortune and whilst you are within your right to do it, unless you are a big company with deep pockets one would say the risk of doing so to your average jo public is minimal.

I can understand why Paul has posted this. There is unlikely to be any issue with those people that use the images for fun and non-profit reasons even though it states "for editorial purposes only". However, if someone was to then use the image for something that generated profit then there would be a serious problem. Paul is just giving people a heads up which he didn't have to do.

So in terms of say facebook.....

copying a photo taken by you of Cardiff City and then uploading it to my own page would be out of order.

what if i was to click "share"?

then your not doing anything wrong? your just sharing a link which happens to include all the photos anyway.

bit like not posting the fixtures onto a website forum, yet you can post the direct link

Didn't know this. Thanks for making me aware.

I'll try and answer a few questions that have been raised. But please don't shoot me. I am only trying to avoid people, including the owner of this website, getting into trouble.

Who can Photograph matches

The rules relating to Football League and Premiership Photography are very simple. In order to be allowed to photograph at pitch side you have to be licenced to do so by Football DataCo. Please remember that, in many respects, these licences are peoples livelihoods.

Someone mentioned Jon Candy. Jon, in my opinion, provides some very good images. He does so from the stands and is not therefore covered by any licence restriction.

Who can publish images

If a photograph has been taken by an accredited photographer the images will only be supplied to accredited companies (Newspapers, Football Clubs) who are themselves accredited by Football DataCo. The images will always state that they are to be used for Editorial Purposes only - as it is a breach of licence to use them for Commercial Use (i.e. the making of Calendars etc)

Copying Images

Contrary to the belief of some if images are in the public domain it does not follow that they are available to copy. All images are copyrighted and each image says "All Rights Reserved". Copying an image without payment or permission is a strict "No-No".

In any respect neither myself, nor Cardiff City, are able to licence the image to anyone who is not accredited by Football DataCo.

I fully understand that there are those who will download images and place them on their own computer. I am not allowed to say that I approve of that but equally I am not naïve to know that it happens. Just don't be really obvious about it

What are the implications

I discussed this earlier but additionally the owner (and host) of this website could get into trouble - as I am assuming they do not have a licence.


Additional Info

Just as an aside I am in the process of building my own website www.paulkeevil.com

Because of the rules relating to the licencing of sports images I will never put images on my own website. I will only provide a link to the company that hosts my images - that way I cannot fall foul of the rules myself.


FINALLY

I want to make it very clear that above all else I am a Cardiff City Supporter and have been since 1973. I posted this information to avoid people getting into trouble. I am not policing it. I am far to busy doing the BBC Championship Predictor to do that. But be careful.

We all know images get copied. I've even seen some Avatars which contain the names of agencies in them! - but the "Caption thread" that I saw earlier really was something that got me worried for the individual involved.



If anyone wants to PM me I am happy to answer questions/concerns.