11
Feb
Protecting Your Online Gallery From Theft
Comments
The reason most people are afraid of setting up an online gallery for their photos is they worry the photos will be stolen. It is a valid worry, considering there is a lot of theft that goes on in the cyberspace. This should not be a deterrent for you. You need to embrace the innovative ways to protect your online gallery from theft.
What to Do
- Watermark the photos: All the photos that you put on your online gallery should have a distinct watermark. A watermark also prevents copyright theft if your items are used by someone else. Someone who wants to steal photos and take credit will definitely avoid the ones that have a watermark or endure the tedious process of trying to edit out the watermark.
- Do not share high-resolution files: You should learn about image resolution and how it works. If you share high-resolution photos, it will be hard to prove that you are the original owner because once it lands in the wrong hands, they basically have control. They can edit it and add their own watermarks without it losing quality. Make sure you compress the photos before you post them in the gallery.
- Have Copyright in your meta-data: People who are checking out your online gallery should see your copyright information. This helps when you want to launch a complaint that someone has taken your images without consent.
- Understand terms and conditions for sites: If you are sending your photos to an online gallery that is not your website, you should read and understand their terms and conditions. You do not want to work with a gallery that claims the rights to all your photos. Take time to go through the fine print. Ask questions regarding ownership of the images, if their terms and conditions are not very clear.