Another Pakistani company using images without permission

[M. A. C. Newsome]

When will it ever end?

I have learned this weekend that an image of mine is being used without my permission by a Pakistani based Highland dress business called Scotlandproductsonline.com.

The offending image is shown here:
http://www.scotlandproductsonline.co...fmuir-doublets

The image is the top one that shows a sheriffmuir doublet worn with various styles of neckwear.


This is simply a scaled down version of my image, which is a collage I put together when I received my doublet, in an attempt to demonstrate the different possibilities of neck wear for those on this forum. In fact, you can still see the copyright watermark in the lower right corner of the image.


The doublet in these photos was made in Scotland from Harris tweed material. It was not made by, and does not represent the products of Scotlandproductsonlinel.com.

Unfortunately there is very little someone can do legally in this sort of situation. The amount of money, time and effort it would take to hire international lawyers to try to do anything at all about this would be staggering and ineffective.

For some reason, the highland dress manufacturers in Pakistan have gotten it into their heads that it is a good business model to utilize product photographs from other companies and other individuals -- always without their knowledge or permission -- in order to sell their own merchandise. It is common enough that when I see web sites and advertisements for Scottish dress items from Pakistan, my assumption is that the item in the photo is not the item being advertised.

I think this is disgraceful. The only way I know to combat it is to convince them that this is not a good business model. Convince them that they are losing customers. Convince them that this is bad for their reputation.

If anyone wants to help out with this, please take a moment and contact Scotlandproductsonline.com and let them know what you think of them using other people's photography as false advertising for their products.

Their contact page is here:
http://www.scotlandproductsonline.com/contact-us

The company owner is Iqra Haroon and her facebook page is:
https://www.facebook.com/iqra.haroon.94

Unfortunately I cannot find a direct email or phone number for this company -- there is none listed on their web site.

Please be watchful, and aware that the practice of using other's photos to advertise their wares is far too common in this business.

[MizzouScotsman]

Stinging message left on their contact page.

[madmacs]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, but have you thought about contacting Mr. Azmat Ali Ranjha

Mr. Azmat Ali Ranjha is the Minister (Trade) and deals with Pakistan-US trade issues.202-243-3266 azmatranjha@embassyofpakistanusa.org & commercialsection@embassyofpakistanusa.org

http://www.embassyofpakistanusa.org/keyofficers.php

[tulloch]

I would use their contact page to send a cease and desist letter. They do indicate prices in Pounds Sterling so they may have a presence in UK. You might contact one of our reputable British brethren and ask who there might have authority to give them an official warning. This is a warning to all of us NOT to think of doing business with them. They steal images, they don't have a contact location. Think you'd get good service there? Not for my money. Someone here might be in the band that is featured on their home page and it might turn out they've lifted that as well.

[Domehead]

"Stinging message left on their contact page" - MizzouScotsman

Aye, me too Matthew.

[Matty Ross]

I suggest a BIGGER water mark

[haxtonhouse]

If they have a facebook page, that would reach a lot of people...

[artificer]

Matt,
that is incredibly frustrating. I feel for you. Image theft or IP theft should be punishable by public flogging at the very least.

For those that produce images that they're worried about being stolen, Firefox has a handy plugin called "Who Stole My Pictures?" which allows you to search w/multiple engines for your images.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/fir...e-my-pictures/

The results are sometimes humourous, but it does work.

Composing nasty letter now.

ith:

Edit:
If it makes you feel any better, Matt. They've also stolen from Kinloch Anderson.

From KA


From the thieves
http://www.scotlandproductsonline.co...in-velvet.html


They've reversed the image, but it's definitely KA's.
I'm sure there are more, but I'm too busy to track them down. The black Barathea Montrose looks to be KA's as well.

Public flogging, says I.

[TurboKittie]

Another scathing message sent via the contact page

[ThistleDown]

Matt, it does lessen the quality of the image, but what Scotlandproductsonline did to the K-A pic you could do with New House Highland, too. They took that Montrose pic, flipped and cropped it, then watermarked it to make it their own. You could watermark everything like Rocky does to protect future theft (or at least to make it more difficult). To lighten this a bit for you: we would recognise that hint of your chin on any site