1 reply to this topic

[Mystic]

After getting the majority of the work done for the recent upgrade, I began searching for a method of offering increased image security for our members. We are probably all aware that images posted anywhere on the internet are quite often taken by others and claimed as their own, or used in such a way as to breach the copyright of the original owner. As we do like to encourage people to post photographs here, we ahd hoped to be able to offer a greater security measure for those images.

Unfortunately, after having discussions with a number of other coders, it appears there is basically no fool proof way to protect images. All of the protection measures to date have loop holes that can easily be exploited to gain access to images. I had thought the system we use at RT Gallery offered good protection, but have seen how that too can easily be bypassed. Basically, the bottom line is that there is no current security method that is 100% effective to prevent image theft.

If we are made aware of any person stealing images from this site we will take all action possible to prevent further copyright abuse. In the case of our own images (Shane & Myself) we will take legal action where appropriate and will inform original copyright owners of infringements so they may decide if further action is warranted. Every person who registers at this site agrees to our terms, which include respecting the rights of our contributing photographers.

Our suggestion is that you do not post full size images, reduce them to about 1024 pixels on the longest side, and perhaps also save your reduced size images at 72DPI. This does not ensure that your images cannot be printed, but does reduce the quality of any prints made from those copies.

We will continue to work with other developers to try and find a better form of security, but the structure of the web makes such things exceptionally difficult.

[Cascade]

Mystic,
As you know I always reduce my images. Instead of 1024 I always make the long side 600 and have had no problems since that discovery after the small image post I did awhile back.