keral
On September 9th, 2008, I had posted about an un authorized usage of a photograph taken by me in a Malayalam daily called Kerala Kamudi here: കേരളകൌമുദിയുടെ ഓണക്കളവ്
I was notified about the usage by Sajiv Vijay who was in Kerala. He grabbed a copy, quickly scanned it and sent it to me. Sanad K was quick to come with a pdf link of the daily. (Beware photo editors, you think that you won’t be caught if you take content from internet. But that is not the case. This is is a perfect example. I have never met Sanad and haven’t met Sajiv in last 1 year or so. But they were ready to help me. So was numerous others around the globe.)
I E-mailed the editor and waited for a reply. Fellow photographers, bloggers, friends, especially Adv. Hari Raj M R had helped in the communication with Kerala Kaumdi.
Few days later, to my surprise, I received a call from B C Jojo, executive Editor of Kerala Kaumudi. He was open with me and admitted that “editorial staff used your (my) photo as they were unaware that this a photograph which had copyright“.
He also said “Soon we will be republishing your image with due acknowledgment. We would like to send a remuneration.Please inform your full name and other necessary details for that.”
In the next mail, he asked for my bio-data and a photo. I had sent him a small bio data but decided against sending the photo.
Today I had a chat with B C Jojo and he said the remuneration cheque is ready.
I will be donating the amount, after deducting Rs 1000 towards my phone charges and time spend on this to a noble cause.
blogs posts describing / linking the incident:
1. Image theft again Posted by Jo
2. Against plagiarism by the thieves of media by sudipta
3. Wake up, bloggers by Sudipta Chatterjee
4. Mentioning what happens to the water mark in TOI does it again… and again
5. Congrags freebird by SANAND K | സനന്ദ്’s
6. ചിത്രചോരണം – മാധ്യമം (പരിണാമം ഒന്ന്)
I sincerly thank Sajiv Vijay for notifying me of the event, മലയാളിക്കൂട്ടം | Malayalikkoottam members, fellow photographers and numerous bloggers who wrote about the incident & supported me.
I sincerely thank B C Jojo & Kerala Kaumudi for their openness and showing the true spirit of a media house. To be frank after dealing with numerous plagirism events, I had lost hope and I never expected such a brave and positive response from Kaumudi.
More than republishing the photograph or giving the remuneration, I would like to thank Kaumdi for the promise :
“Definitely we will also be joining the crusade against this illegal usage of photos. We will soon publishing an article on this and will continue to do so.”
Also this may be first case in which a Creative Commons licensed creative work is respected by Indian Media.
I hope, This is the begining of a new Era and Haree & Jo also will get justice.
To know Haree’s story :ചിത്രചോരണം – മാധ്യമം (പരിണാമം ഒന്ന്)
To Know Jo’s story : Pranatha Books Kochi – Open Copyright Infringement
Lets Hope that this is the beginning of the end of plagiarism in India.