copyright infringement
What it sounds like is trying to be illustrated in the Eiger photo thread is that for many here on the forum, a few point and shoot pics floating around the internet may not be a big deal. But for others, those images put food on their table. When those pictures, taken with expensive cameras (which have a limited shelf life that breakdown and need to be replaced eventually), are used illegally, it is a big deal.
Does the magazine staff work for free? Doubtful. And should the content in that magazine be stolen with a "Oh don't worry, we'll give you photo credit"? Of course not.
Just because a picture can be ripped from anywhere on the internet does not make it free.
While both sides of this thread may have overreacted, the point is still valid. The business side of photography is a serious pain in the ass. Would Baz give you a shot to run in your mag for free? No way. I have a friend whose image was recently stolen by a major outdoor-sport mag. They used her picture without her permission for a poster and now a lawsuit is near because the company is avoiding paying the invoiced $500, even though an image of that size and reproduction should be $2000. Magazines should know better than to assume they can use content for free.
Even just a few days ago I was contacted by a jumper in Finland via another jumper in Germany to use a photo I took of a friend in Switzerland who is sadly no longer with us. God rest his soul. Not to use the shot for a money making venture but just for my permission, which I gladly gave.
But when someone is making money off your work, it's not cool to do so on the down-low. I realize that we here on the thread do not know the full story and the original poster was making an effort with his post to at least identify the photographer. I am just trying to better articulate what our inebriated friend was trying to convey before being censored by the moderators.
And it's true, unless the person that actually pressed the shutter gives express consent for whatever licensing procedures are negotiated, it's stealing. Unfortunately we live in an age where every song, movie, picture, software or whatever is available to any nimble finger and it makes it extremely difficult for those that create the content to survive. Especially if they are not Microsoft of Virgin, and Microsoft just said they would lay off 5000 workers.
At this rate it will all be reduced to twittering and camera phones. So please, respect the work that these guys are doing, and they will respect the work that you do.
