Melody Road Got Me Thinking - What a Beautiful Day !

Little Confession First

Always busy, doing something, I don't spend as much time, hunting thieves, as I should.

There's a service I use, called Digimarc which, tracks any photos I post on the internet.

They get about 100 bucks a year, to help me nab folks, who think my images are for free.

It's nice, to think people are honest and, I still believe, most humans are, that way.

Well, I got lazy and, haven't checked Digimarc for a long while. GUILTY !

Three Companies Swiped this Photo

Some photographers would become highly enraged to learn their images were being used.

We're talking about businesses taking images and using them commercially on their websites.

There's a road in Japan, that makes music, as you drive over it and, I SELL ASPHALT.

LOL I got to thinking and, had to dig up this tune on YouTube:

Kind of a goofy old tune from the movie Oklahoma but, this melody is what, I'm singing.

It really is a beautiful day outside and, I don't want to write some long legal letters.

So, I sat here smiling and typed up some real simple letters to the criminals.

"Dear Sirs, I am the copyright holder of that photo, taken on Melody Road in Okinawa.

We can discuss payment for the licensing of the image via (My email address). Classified.

If, my photo is on your website, any longer than, the next 48 hours, I hope you're doing well.

Hopefully, business is fantastic and you are some sort of millionaire. YAY

Because, my attorney and I, are gonna get a bunch from you."


For the Spanish site, I added something a little extra:

"Contact me and, we can discuss payment in English or Spanish.  My Spanish is horrible.

But, the lawyer dude, on vacation at the moment, can handle your language, just fine."

Melody Road in Futami, Nago, Okinawa

It's been a few years since, I've rode along with someone on that highway.

The last time, was with the wife and, we got stuck behind someone driving too slow.

The recommended speed is 40 and, they were only doing 20 kilometers per hour.

The wife said the tune sounded like me, when I'm drunk and singing karaoke.

Here's how to find Melody Road.

Previous Post: Music from the Highway in Okinawa Japan

Crappy Bird Image May Be Worth Thousands of Dollars

The Best Things on the Internet Ain't Free

 

 

They have lots of freebies on that WWW-Thingy but, not all photos are that way.

For example, none of the photos, I post online are free.

 

This pigeon photo is worthless and, I wasn't planning on selling it.

But, if I put it on the internet, somebody might take it.

If they take it without my consent we could have a big party, thanks to DMCA.

That's the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

After the party, I'd sober up and probably order some more cameras and lenses.

To Fully Understand You Have to See This

 

The $8,000 Mistake That All Bloggers Should Beware by KARI DEPHILLIPS 

It had to be the most enjoyable blog, I've read so far, this year.

What a gal. She had to get a lawyer because somebody snitched a photo.

She got a great discussion going in the comments.

Over an hour, I spent, reading everything.

Entertaining and lively, it was.

She even calls the attorney names.

Me too, I think lawyers are a bunch of leeches.

But, I wouldn't put that in writing.

Oops.

The Moral of the Story

Don't steal photos from photographers who post them online.

Even if you think it's not worth a dime.

A crappy bird picture may cost you a few thousand bucks.

If somebody asks me nicely, I could give this one away for free !

Best to put it all in writing, nice and legal-like.

They have these things called laws.

Bloggers Of The World: Did You Know You Have RIghts ?

 

Anyone who has followed this blog more than a few days knows RyukyuMike likes photography, the Ryukyu Islands, travel, wildlife, dogs, pretty women (maybe, some not so pretty women), children, humor and beer not necessarily in any particular order.  I like to laugh and joke.  I like to see people lend a helping hand to other people.  Today, without any humor,  I want to tell you something about the Electronic Frontier Foundation.  

I am a contributing member, (giving them a small annual donation) and if you are a blogger you should consider joining, too.  

You don't have to give them a penny if you don't want to.  It's absolutely FREE.


The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is a USA based non-profit organization that is looking after the rights you have as a blogger. It doesn't matter where in the world you do your blogging or what country you may be a citizen of.  These folks work to protect individuals like you and I from government interference, legal threats and violations of our personal freedoms as writers.


Living in Okinawa, Japan I am not too concerned with every dingbat lawsuit I read about going on back in the good old USA.  So, I can't say every action the EFF takes gets 100% of my support.  But,  when it comes to bloggers rights, you just can't beat them.  Go have a look, yourself by clicking on the banner above.  

When you get to the site take a peek at some of my favorites:

BLOGGER'S RIGHTS and TEACHING COPYRIGHT.  You can learn a lot.  And it's FREE !


PHOTO OF THE DAY