Everyone should check this...

[Nerida]

I was browsing Alibaba the other day looking for something specific, and found this company:

http://iceberg.en.alibaba.com/productlist-6.html

All good, but to my surprise, found a few of my own pictures posted on their site, without any reference to me, and without my permission. I emailed them quickly, received a VERY sarcastic and patronizing reply, and have not heard back from them since I responded politely confirming the original ownership of the photos.

Anyway - my thought is - many of the photos on the site look as if they have come from elsewhere. For those of us who have websites which include our own photography, it might be worth looking through this site to see if any of your own photos have been lifted.

I will still be chasing them up to ensure that my photographs are removed.

[jshepherd]

The first step might be to get the site removed from Google's SERPS. Then send a notice of removal and takedown to Alibaba.

http://www.chillingeffects.org/notice.cgi?NoticeID=1668

That will change their tune pretty quickly.

[Nerida]

Thanks Jeremy. I have subsequently sent a request asking for a response, but none has been forthcoming.

A few of the photos looked like they had come from TPO or TPS, but not sure. Many others look like my photos - just decent photos of individual strands. Others just look like those that any major pearl house would have on their websites.
I might just post their response... it was pretty condescending, to say the least!! Also, I certainly haven't seen them at the HK fairs - not sure if anyone else has? You would think a pearl/findings house with offices in HK, Zhuji, Belgium(doesn't state which city) and NY would exhibit at the HKTDCC fairs...

[Mikeyy]

I have actually recently had contact with this company. I found them to be very very shadowy and I couldn't make out what they were. So I'm not shocked by your revelation.

[pattye]

Nerida,

So sorry this happened to you. Hope you get some satisfaction.

[GemGeek]

I think Jack Lynch would be surprised to see his souffle' pearl photo!

[Nerida]

Thank you Pattye - it is more annoying than anything. Mike - yes, I had a friend in HK at the time and they couldn't find them at the listed address.
GemGeek - mm, I really think lots of people's photos are piled into that website. I can't imagine they are a manufacturer of findings at all - more likely they source them from the big findings houses (whose photos they use) if they get an order. I could be mistaken, but that would be my bet!
They haven't responded to the last three emails I have sent. Jeremy's tactics are next!!

[GemGeek]

Good for you -- go get 'em!

[CortezPearls]

What were we expecting??? After all, Ali-Baba was the famous thief, leader of 400 thieves, in the tale of Aladdin...they are living up to their reputation.

[Caitlin]

It is really annoying, and takes time and trouble to deal with, but congratulations-it is a milestone when people start stealing your pictures!

[Nerida]

Douglas - too funny, and the irony had already struck me! thought you were at the farm??

Caitlin - haha, thank you. It is annoying, yes, but it was the response that they sent me which was so much more annoying!

[jshepherd]

Are you going to post it?

[GemGeek]

I hope someone is going to take these guys down. Beyond annoying!

[Nerida]

Jeremy - yes, I will have to... haven't got it on this computer so will have to do it at the office in the morning.
GemGeek - wish it wasn't so busy still at work so I had more time to devote to it! Still getting both wholesale and retail orders just a week out from Christmas Eve .. I thought I was the only one who left my shopping till the last minute!

[JBazar]

If you want to see something ridiculous... I found this last week, click on the link and enter the Imperiale collection they used our exact company logo just added an "e" to the end! No creativity at all!!

http://www.chopard.com/imperiale/


our logo

[IMG][/IMG]