by Sunvemetal [link]:

Ok, slowly but continuously I am getting really PISSED OFF! Listen, I know, some of you don't know by heart about COPYRIGHT restrictions.
Here, in Germany you don't even need your watermark on a picture to state that it's yours. It's self-evident that you have to ask for PERMISSION if you wanna use a pic you have found somewhere in the net. I know, most people aren't fully aware of that. Most (Ger) photographers know it either. That's why we put our watermark on the pics. If time goes by you recognize many people ignore your watermark, using the photos without permission, crop them, don't credit you etc etc.

You have to make a choice:
(1) you can put watermarks on your pictures as large as the whole picture. Ruins the pic. Out of question (for me).
(2) you turn a blind eye, write to the involved person about infringement. Really time intensive but diplomatic way. In most of the situations people weren't aware about the violation, 'cos they haven't seen the © on their small Iphones or whatever. Sometimes you get a "sorry". Sometimes you get outrageous answers.
(3) You don't give a fuck about diplomacy, call your layer and that's it. And yes, there are a lot of photographers making more money with infringements than with selling pictures. If you violate © Law, you are owned. Period.

For me point (3) was out of the question referring the net, I am a peaceful person and always want to go the diplomatic way first.

BUT: If you write beneath EVERY fucking photo a detailed (C)-info - again for all those, who don't know what a watermark means (even if it's NOT necessary) -. If you write beneath every album an even more detailed description and nevertheless people are going on stealing your pictures...

It's fucking hard to deal with it without getting really angry. It takes a minute to write an email and ask for using the pic.

Even more important: not asking is a damn punch in the photographer's face, simply disrespectful. If you like the work of someone, why doing that!?

I don't know and I am on the point of either rethink my attitude concerning (3) or end most of my internet activity. Above all, live photography is my passion (almost everyone coins the most of money with photography elsewhere). I work in coop with a lot of zines and bands, so I don't care about my actual FB presence if my work isn't respected. I already have enough clients.

Everybody hasn't thought about © Law before, do it. If your friend is artist and deals with photographers, tell him about it. And everybody who isn't able to READ (C)-texts beneath a picture: learn it!

Hope, some of you think about this message a 'lil. Would appreciate it if the awareness about Copyright increases, especially in the metal scene.