Copyright and image theft
13March 2025
All my images are copyrighted to me, Andrew Bartlett. I retain all copyright to my pictures.
Do not reproduce any of my images from this site or those found on any and all news outlets. This applies to any social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube. This isn't limited to these social media platforms. Reproduction online or in print is strictly prohibited. This also applies to watermarked images.
Please buy a license if you wish to use on any socials or websites. There are links to agencies on my website to license them. Licenses of my pictures are sold to use them for the selected time, and for the intended use. Checks are regularly done to make sure there are no license dodgers.
My work is licensed to news agencies to use. The news website that has published my work has paid for the license to use my pictures. That license doesn't extend to the general public or others who save them and want to reproduce, and upload them to socials or other websites. Even if there is a 'credit'. Credits do not protect those from a copyright claim should it arise.
This is well documented in terms and conditions of social websites not to use any material, unless it's the users own content or have permission. Or don't use it. Assume any picture seen online is copyrighted.
It's a fundamental mistake to think any picture can used at will and free of charge. It leaves anyone who does it open to legal action, and the damages incurred will be far higher than that the license fee would have cost. Copyright infringements are serious offences. Reproducing them without a license is image theft and copyright violation.
Over the last 3 days, I've made 10 DMCA complaints to You Tube for those using my pictures in their videos, without asking or payment.
People who have been caught out have now happily had copyright strikes on their account.
I've been scanning videos of Oakwood Theme Park, specifically Hydro/Drenched, and it's unbelievable the copyright infringements I've found going back the last 2 years, some in the US. One recently by a UK theme park channel with 400K followers.
I was waiting for this to happen given the amount of pictures I had published last week. With either my name on the publication, or through the stock agencies I use. But I didn't think it would be this bad, and is definitely the largest amount of copyright theft complaints I've had to write.
Thankfully most are removed, and I'm expecting the others to follow.
I will file a legal process with a copyright claim, and seek damages for unauthorised uses.