After 10 months informed that a non-cleared sale was refunded, when it was actually used

[mwakeling]

I had an image published in Canada's largest news magazine in December 2021, both in print and online. The article has two Alamy credited photos, one mine. It never cleared. I kept notifying CR, with the same "we're chasing it" response each time. This time I was told that the sale was refunded.  I was told, "When we say “refunded” technically this term’s not accurate as very rarely does money actually change hands.  Most common refund reasons are: incorrect invoice, customer’s price agreement not factored in or occasionally a customer’s project cancelled."

The photo was published, and is archived online. The article was picked up by news organizations and used worldwide. There seems to be no reason for "refunding" when the image was used extensively.

 

Edited October 14, 2022 by mwakeling

[Phillip]

36 minutes ago, Steve F said:

 

Good to know 😉

errr.... There are various paid for services, I don't use any. Not heard amazing things from other Forum members. Otherwise, use Tineye.com or Google Images to reverse search for particular images - one by one, tedious.... If you find the image somewhere and it's been uploaded by the end user at least 4 months ago, fill out an infringement form with Alamy. If you have previously licensed the image, it's a bit trickier, you'd have to keep a record of the license details and make sure the image is breaching them. If an image is in print only, you'd just have to be really lucky to find it.

 

One 'benefit' of being exclusive to Alamy is that they are more active seeking out infringements on your behalf. Other people have said good things about this, I haven't had any yet myself.

 

Steve

 

p.s. Philip, mountains is misspelled in the Caption for image 2N4TP0Y. Also, you should put the state / country in the caption if you can fit it in.

 

Thanks for the mountains misspelling, and I will put the state country in the captions, Thanks for the advice much appreciated.  

[NYCat]

6 hours ago, Phillip said:

 

How do you know when an image that you have taken was used for example in a newspaper or magazine?

 

You can Google your Pseudonym/Alamy -Alamy.com

 

Paulette

[NYCat]

3 hours ago, Steve F said:

 

On your Dashboard, see 'Recent Sales' on the right. Then click on the 'see all sales' link below that.

 

I go to Sales History on the Dashboard. I didn't know about your method.

 

Paulette

[Steve F]

3 minutes ago, NYCat said:

 

I go to Sales History on the Dashboard. I didn't know about your method.

 

Paulette

 

Ditto 🤣

[Cal]

On 12/10/2022 at 11:09, spacecadet said:

If not, remove the image from Alamy temporarily,

 

Just out of interest, how do you go about this? Last time I deleted some images here, there was something like a 90 day wait before they get removed from the site.

[NYCat]

2 hours ago, Steve F said:

 

Ditto 🤣

 

You said you go to "Recent sales". It's interesting that that's possible but it is different than going to Sales History. Not arguing. Just interested.

 

Paulette

[spacecadet]

2 hours ago, Cal said:

 

Just out of interest, how do you go about this? Last time I deleted some images here, there was something like a 90 day wait before they get removed from the site.

As per my post, put gibberish on the caption and delete the tags so it's still up, but unsearchable.

[Steve F]

1 hour ago, NYCat said:

Just interested.

 

 

I know you're not arguing. The "ditto" was because I didn't know about your method. But they both take you to the same page anyway.... I just tend to gravitate to recent sales because you see some thumbnails of sales.

[NYCat]

4 minutes ago, Steve F said:

 

I know you're not arguing. The "ditto" was because I didn't know about your method. But they both take you to the same page anyway.... I just tend to gravitate to recent sales because you see some thumbnails of sales.

 

I see. I misunderstood your ditto. Now all is cleared up and I can go about my day.  😀

 

Paulette

[Cal]

4 hours ago, spacecadet said:

As per my post, put gibberish on the caption and delete the tags so it's still up, but unsearchable.

 

Isn't that against the contributor agreement? something about captions and tags have to be accurate?

 

Only asking because I'd do the same, but was always stopped by my above understanding.

[Steve F]

9 hours ago, NYCat said:

 

You can Google your Pseudonym/Alamy -Alamy.com

 

Paulette

 

Thanks for the reminder. Just sent 2 infringements to Alamy

[CAROL SAUNDERS]

1 hour ago, Steve F said:

 

Thanks for the reminder. Just sent 2 infringements to Alamy

Wow thanks from me also.  I've just checked and found one of my images was used on 5/8/22 this has never been reported as a sale let alone refunded.  Mine is the 3rd image down on this website (2H60PF4 on Alamy)

 

https://svenska.yle.fi/a/7-10019321

 

Who and what email should I report this to please - apologies if I've missed it on here somewhere🙃

 

Thank you

 

Carol

 

 

[Steve F]

1 hour ago, CAROL SAUNDERS said:

Who and what email should I report this to please - apologies if I've missed it on here somewhere🙃

 

Hi Carol,

Go to your Dashboard, click on Report An Unauthorised Use at the bottom.

Steve

[spacecadet]

12 hours ago, Cal said:

 

Isn't that against the contributor agreement? something about captions and tags have to be accurate?

 

Only asking because I'd do the same, but was always stopped by my above understanding.

Yes, as I also said in my post.

[mwakeling]

Well, this darned sale has been refunded again, although it's still being used in the magazine's archives. No infingement was ever pursued. To add insult to injury, it was refunded in late August. If it had been refunded in late June, it would have been against last year's sales totals and not possibly impacting my commission down the road. Needless to say, I am very disappointed in how this was handled.

Edited August 31 by mwakeling

[CAROL SAUNDERS]

15 hours ago, Steve F said:

 

Hi Carol,

Go to your Dashboard, click on Report An Unauthorised Use at the bottom.

Steve

Many thanks for that Steve, I've just completed the necessary info 🙏

 

Carol