My photo's being used in an advert - unbeknown to me!

[Autumn Faerie]

I've just had the shock of my life - no kidding. I use Live Journal to blog and just went onto the site, to the homepage as I always log out when I've finished and saw a (headless) picture of me in an advert!

It's for a product I've never heard of called Judy's weightloss, and it's two pictures - my before and after shots from when I did the Cambridge Diet two years ago. The photos are on the internet on Cambridge's page as I'm a Cambridge Counsellor and also on a weightloss forum, but I didn't expect them to be copied and used elsewhere - is that naive? I'm totally shocked, and horrified that my pics have been pinched to promote this weightloss product.

When you click on the advert you're taken to another page about the product, and there's very little info on there, no contact details or anything, just a way to order the product, so I can't complain to anyone, it all looks a bit dodgy to me, I'm just dumbfounded to be honest.

What are the chances of that though? I thought at first it was somehow linked to my LiveJournal diary, but it can't be, as it's showing on the home page before I log in, there's nothing in my profile or diary about me even being a Cambridge Counsellor, so it has to be the most incredible coincidence!!!

I keep going back to have a look at it as I can't quite believe my eyes!

[robin wood]

That's not very nice but not easy to chase up either. I think I would report it to trading standards maybe they would chase it up for you.

[beadsbydesign]

definatly a case for trading standards!

[NorthernChancer]

OMG that is well weird!

[goldy1]

I would contact the admin of live journal.
If it is the berry one there are contact details under terms right at the bottom. But it is an address in the USA.


Oh well done by the way.

[Autumn Faerie]

Thanks for the suggestions - I've just spoken to Cambridge Head Office who are going to look into for me, but they've said it's unlikely anything can be done and it's not an uncommon occurrence!

Will keep you posted!

[Autumn Faerie]

I would contact the admin of live journal.
If it is the berry one there are contact details under terms right at the bottom. But it is an address in the USA.


Oh well done by the way.

Thanks Goldy - I've found the address, well tucked away! But there's no email, I don't think they really want to be contacted somehow!

[Fluffy Squirrel]

That's shocking that these companies think they can get away with things like this, but I really am not surprised... in this day and age people and companies alike, think they can get away with whatever they want.

I suppose in one way it's a compliment that your weight loss was so well thought of that they chose to use your photographs for their advertising but at the same time it's false advertising as you've never heard of their product, let alone used it, and it's disgraceful to think they can get away with using them without your permission.

[ElaineJ]

It's difficult to stop people who do not respect intellectual copyright obtaining your photos - even if you disable right clicks on your web page if they really want that pic they'll do a screendump, and unfortunately watermarking can spoil the pic (if you put it in a corner it can be clipped off).

In some respects it's a compliment.

[Bea]

That's defo copyright infringment. A short email to those people should do the trick but if there are no contact details, what's going on?

That's a problem with the internet, people think they can pinch pictures from anyone anywhere....

[Selina]

This happened to us with photos of our villa, they appeared on another web site advertising a different villa. I was able to contact the advertsing site and the owner took them straight off for me, also e-mailed the so called villa owner but never heard anything from them. Selina

[BeadsbyLili]

How bizarre ! I guess it depends on how much it bothers you as to how far you'll chase to get it removed?

[goldy1]

I have had a very good friend look into this and she found a little info. I will pm you.


My friend has just informed me that it is a pay per click add. SSSOOOOOOO guys click away the more you click the add the more they will have to pay out. MMAWWHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! pass the link around. http://www.livejournal.com/ when you see 2 headless shots (before and after) click away . Make them pay for what they've done.

[Autumn Faerie]

This happened to us with photos of our villa, they appeared on another web site advertising a different villa. I was able to contact the advertsing site and the owner took them straight off for me, also e-mailed the so called villa owner but never heard anything from them. Selina

What a cheek!!

[Autumn Faerie]

I have had a very good friend look into this and she found a little info. I will pm you.


My friend has just informed me that it is a pay per click add. SSSOOOOOOO guys click away the more you click the add the more they will have to pay out. MMAWWHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! pass the link around. http://www.livejournal.com/ when you see 2 headless shots (before and after) click away . Make them pay for what they've done.

LOL - I've clicked dozens of times already today, so glad to know that it's costing them!

Carry on clicking guys