Since posting this my staff and I have received many emails from people on this list and others explaining that they had no idea and other reasons why they infringed on our copyright. With the exception of one that is another image and used for 100% commercial use, I have a proposition for you.

This post was made to educate about the issue. If you read the post you will see their is are a couple take aways that have nothing to do with us making money or getting paid for the infringement.

The messages we are getting about this keep asking what they can do to make it right.

Here is an option for you.

Make a donation to the link below in the amount of what you feel the infringement is worth.

Donate - Make-A-Wish

Is An Image Is Worth 1000 Words?

To provide an example of how bad image copyright theft is - based on some of my previous posts. I just did an image search for one of our (elitefts) images and selected only some of the URL's (there were over 100 pages).

Here is a short list of the People - URLs stealing this property.

Most people who get ripped off bitch and complain to no end and just won't let it go. I have seen people get super pissed about fragments they wrote (that I am sure have been written before) and ideas (an idea isn't worth shit). There are other cases that are more legit (full articles, images, TM, etc).

Most of the time the same ones who are complaining are also the same ones who are ripping off other people left and right.

I once wrote that elitefts should take all of these posts (the text) and create a new Blog using our images and then steal ALL their text and publish it under the name - elitefts. I wonder what they would think about that. It is the exact same thing they are doing.

Crazy isn't it

Here is a short list of what I found for one of our images. The names and URLs don't matter. These are being posted only to show how vastly this happens. Just skim the list.

Do You Exercise or Do You Train?

You Don’t Know “Squat”

http://bestevents.us/san-diego-fundamentals-of-powerlifting-with-daniel-ishii/749049

http://www.rhinosgymnc.com/

https://ironparadisefitness.co.uk/tag/gym/

http://www.team8athletics.com/blog/

Remember Why You Started

http://tourismregina.com/events/2016-canadian-powerlifting-bench-press-championships/

http://www.cochranefitness.com/

10 Reasons to Become Jacked & Strong

http://pbcbootcamp.com/about/

http://www.naspower.org/powerlifting/

http://www.coalitionnutrition.com/author/james8051/

http://moveoveraverage.com/powerbuilding-be-strong-and-look-strong/

https://ironparadisefitness.co.uk/tag/simple/

http://crossfitfifty.blogspot.com/2015_04_01_archive.html

http://www.harborfitnessconnect.com/strength-vs-hypertrophy-part-two-strength-training/

https://crossfitsuisuncity.com/2016/04/28/28-apr-16/powerlifting/

http://nexxtlevelup.com/tag/swole-life/

http://www.crossfitreact.com/index.php?content=jan2016.inc

http://www.coryenglebert.com/#!blank-3/qo8hi

https://willowsg88.wordpress.com/

http://www.filthypowergym.com/#!events/c21gn

http://www.the-strength-station.com/pricing/

http://www.strengthsensei.com/two-things-i-learnt-about-strength-training/

http://manueldoria.com/category/value-theory-and-ethics/

http://relaxedfocus.blogspot.com/2014/09/training-motivation-fades-cultivate.html

http://www.holdfastiron.com/new-blog-3/2015/9/28/hatch-squat-cycle

http://www.mattsmallacombept.co.uk/

http://moveoveraverage.com/tag/the-big-3/

http://www.milehighstrong.com/2016/04/08/your-squat-unleashed/

http://real-life.it/tag/allenamento-hardgainer/

THE TAKE AWAY:

If you are publishing, buy or take your own images and get used to people ripping you off. It's not going to stop and the expense (time and money) isn't worth tracking them all down to sue or ask to remove. Just keep creating better content so that way --- all they really have to steal is your old stuff.

NOTE: If you do steal images and get caught you will pay, trust me I know this for a fact. Somethings you learn the hard way even when you think you are doing it right.

---

Other people can't steal what you are working on now or even what you will publish tomorrow.

If they have to steal your stuff, it means you are ahead of them and the best they can do is follow the path.

Keep cutting the path....

*Outside of this post I was advised the "no comment rule" - but all pages have been screenshot for reference.

Additional info:

http://www.copyrightlaws.com/us/legally-using-images/

http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/How_using_Google_Images_can_cost_you_8000_14912.aspx

SOURCE GOOGLE SEARCH - Ask

What are the penalties for copyright infringement?

The legal penalties for copyright infringement are: Infringer pays the actual dollar amount of damages and profits. The law provides a range from $200 to $150,000 for each work infringed. Infringer pays for all attorneys fees and court costs.
Copyright Infringement Penalties - Purdue University Libraries
https://www.lib.purdue.edu/uco/CopyrightBasics/penalties.html

Here is another great resource posted as a Q and A on Facebook

More Blogs & Articles From Dave Tate Here