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Author Topic: Bait & Switch agency using my photos without consent  (Read 1078 times)

mcr-minx

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Bait & Switch agency using my photos without consent
« on: 10 July 2020, 07:22:01 pm »
Hi folks,

Done a search and not sure if this has been covered before - apologies if so.

So, I recently discovered that a 'bait and switch' agency in Manchester has taken my photos from my AW profile and is using them on their site.

A friend actually rang up whilst I was with them and asked if 'I' was available, and they had the cheek to say yes.

I messaged the agency to take my photos down, but they then had the cheek to ask me to send my I.D. to prove it was me?!

Obviously they're so brazen they won't take them down in a hurry, so wondered if anyone had any advice as to what to do next.

Thanks xxx

Pretty Pink

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Re: Bait & Switch agency using my photos without consent
« Reply #1 on: 10 July 2020, 07:59:33 pm »
You could email them to let them know you have copyright over the photos (if you do, if you don’t then your photographer will) and they have xx days to remove them or you will be seeking legal advice.

If you can in the meantime change your pics on aw, I know it’s a joke but aw will take your profile down for your pics not being exclusive to them. A few girls also watermark their pics with their aw name so it’s pointless stealing them.

Good luck!

saltysweet

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Re: Bait & Switch agency using my photos without consent
« Reply #2 on: 10 July 2020, 11:31:50 pm »
.
« Last Edit: 11 July 2020, 01:57:03 pm by saltysweet »

Gingerella

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Re: Bait & Switch agency using my photos without consent
« Reply #3 on: 12 July 2020, 06:29:14 am »
What’s the name of the agency. I’m Manchester based and would like to see if my pics are on it.

mcr-minx

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Re: Bait & Switch agency using my photos without consent
« Reply #4 on: 14 July 2020, 10:23:09 pm »
Hi guys,

Sorry for late response.

So, I went to the web hosting company of the offending site to ask them to remove. They quoted me 72 hours for a response (from Friday) and heard nothing. I also contacted the photographer who took the pics,  and he's willing to back me up. My pics are still up there, so looks like it's fallen on deaf ears. It looks like I'll have to go the legal route now, does anyone have any advice with regards to solicitors? Absolute pain in the ass but I'm not backing down.

Not sure I'm allowed to post web addresses on here, but for anyone else worried about stolen photos, drop me a dm. Looks like most of the site has pics lifted from other sources.

xxx

ana30

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Re: Bait & Switch agency using my photos without consent
« Reply #5 on: 14 July 2020, 10:55:01 pm »
This is tricky because you don't own the copyright of your picture (the photographer owns it) so there's no breach of copyright on your side, however... a "crime" has been committed because they are using your image to sell their products and you never agreeded to this.

Copy+paste from a lawyers site:

Another reason to stop the use of your image is known as the right of publicity. This occurs if your image is used for commercial purposes such as to sell products or to imply that you endorse a product. If the photo is used in a commercial website—that is, one sponsored by a business or that sells products or services—the unauthorized use of your image would probably violate your right of publicity. The public must be able to identify you in the photograph.

The above sounds like your case. If you've emailed the webmaster or hosting of the site explaining the situation and got no response the only route is get a solicitor. I did it once, the solicitor wrote a letter/email to the webmaster/host/business with his name, link to his law office website etc.. threatening to take legal action. My picture was removed asap and I was charged 500 pounds by the lawyer for the letter. The lawyer did warn me that if the website decided not to take the picture down we would have needed to "fight them", file a proper lawsuit, take them to court and that would have costed me $$$$. Fortunately they shat on their pants when they got the letter and pulled down the picture.
« Last Edit: 15 July 2020, 12:58:38 pm by ana30 »
Mornings were made for sleeping, wild sex and bacon.

mcr-minx

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Re: Bait & Switch agency using my photos without consent
« Reply #6 on: 14 July 2020, 10:59:18 pm »
Thank you Ana :) Looks like I'll be going down that route then. xxx

Pretty Pink

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Re: Bait & Switch agency using my photos without consent
« Reply #7 on: 15 July 2020, 12:34:37 am »
£500???  :o I’d have collapsed at that just to send a letter.

I would try calling them and telling them over the phone that you intend to take legal action and that might prompt them, a phone call isn’t as easy to ignore as an email. Failing that you could follow it up in a few weeks with a call from the national anti explicit content theft investigation team  ;D (jokes before I cause an impersonation row)

On a serious note, when you see clients you are familiar enough with, you could get them to call them and say that they are a regular client of yours and they know you don’t work there. Between you threatening legal action and phone calls from clients knowing they are lying they might just think your pics are causing too much hassle.

Failing that, you might have to cough the money for a letter up  :-\



mcr-minx

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Re: Bait & Switch agency using my photos without consent
« Reply #8 on: 15 July 2020, 12:42:16 am »
Hey, I texted the 'boss' and asked them to remove the pics, and they asked for a copy of my I.D. to prove who I was!! Honestly, the cheek. A male friend of mine also rang and enquired about my availability one evening (whilst I was sat next to him!) and they said I was available. They clearly don't care, so looks like I'll be £500 down!! xxx

ana30

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Re: Bait & Switch agency using my photos without consent
« Reply #9 on: 15 July 2020, 01:09:26 pm »
Hey, I texted the 'boss' and asked them to remove the pics, and they asked for a copy of my I.D. to prove who I was!! Honestly, the cheek. A male friend of mine also rang and enquired about my availability one evening (whilst I was sat next to him!) and they said I was available. They clearly don't care, so looks like I'll be £500 down!! xxx

Do NOT under any circumstances send these pimps your personal ID, they have proven to have no qualms when it comes to engage in criminal behaviour (pimping, stealing pictures, impersonating other sex workers etc..) you could be subjected to blackmail or god-knows-what. You can also post a public warning about this agency in sex industry forums. If you decide to go the lawyer route make sure to find a professional lawyer specializing in internet fraud or copyright issues who is familiar with these sorts of things.
Mornings were made for sleeping, wild sex and bacon.

saltysweet

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Re: Bait & Switch agency using my photos without consent
« Reply #10 on: 15 July 2020, 07:20:19 pm »
BB did you send an official 'DMCA Takedown Notice'- to his host? or just a general email complaint?
The DMCA seems to be quite a powerful weapon and is usually effective within 24-48 hrs from what others have said.

If that doesn't work I'd fill in the Google copyright theft form as google can remove the page with the stolen pics from general search. This means it will be invisible to all except those who know the exact page address- it's called de-listing. An 'invisible page' is not much use to a webmaster pimpmaster.
support.google.com/   legal/    troubleshooter/    1114905?hl=en-GB

I'd also think about reporting them on SAAFE and any escort forums you come across...nameshame.
« Last Edit: 15 July 2020, 08:10:58 pm by saltysweet »

mcr-minx

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Re: Bait & Switch agency using my photos without consent
« Reply #11 on: 15 July 2020, 08:07:52 pm »
I most definitely won't be sending I.D. over - it's laughable that they actually had the cheek to ask!! I'll have a look in to filling in the DMCA notice and see if that makes any difference!