More Scammy Online Vendors Using Other Companies' Photographs.

[artificer]

A public service message to newer XMarks members:

There are a startling number of these websites that keep popping up which not only steal photos from Kinloch Anderson and other well known Highland wear makers, but they actually
steal the copy to go with, in some cases complete with the name if the ORIGINAL maker left in.

From Robertson & Co.


Description from the above site-
"The Kinloch Anderson Montrose Doublet is a double breasted short cut evening jacket with high collar. There are ten symmetrically positioned thistle buttons on front, three thistle buttons on each cuff and epaulettes with thistle buttons on each shoulderPlease note that due to the need for very precise measurement, we can supply this garment only after measurements.

which is clearly poached from KA-


Given that Robertson is selling these WITH the waistplate and sporran at less than half of KA's price and says that their stuff is Made in Pakistan,
I think it's probably safe to say that their product ISN'T from KA

Here we go with them pinching pix and copy from Highland Clans-

HC's "Achara"


and Robertson's-


HC's "Achara in Navy Barathea"


and Robertson's-


finally HC's "Achnacree Doublet"


and Robertson's same-


Here's another thieving site with a format which is remarkably similar to Robertsons called "Great Highland Wear" which we've dealt with before-

Stealing HC's Kenmore and Regulation Doublet pix-

HC's regulation


GHW's lifted image


And Kenmore from HC


GHW's pic



If you can't trust a site to show you what the stuff THEY ARE ACTUALLY SELLING looks like-
If their product has to be represented by STOLEN PHOTOGRAPHS of other companies' products-
Should you really trust them with YOUR MONEY?


ith:

[kiltedrennie]

I would use steganographically encoded images and use the information to shame them. There's freely available software to do this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steganography

[creagdhubh]

Scott,

Thank you for bringing this to the rabble's attention. What a complete joke! As a loyal patron of Kinloch Anderson and Highland Clans, I am simply appalled, yet not surprised that this skullduggery has occurred once again. I have notified the appropriate people at Kinloch Anderson and Highland Clans of the photographic/item description theft.

Kindest regards,

[artificer]

Scott,

Thank you for bringing this to the rabble's attention. What a complete joke! As a loyal patron of Kinloch Anderson and Highland Clans, I am simply appalled, yet not surprised that this skullduggery has occurred once again. I have notified the appropriate people at Kinloch Anderson and Highland Clans of the photographic/item description theft.

Kindest regards,

I'd done the same last time I ran across this situation.

Good info, Artificer....now we wait for the usual first time post from the "wounded party" who purloined the images asking "why are you saying bad things about me? I'm just a poor merchant trying to make a living!"....or somesuch nonsense.

I really think that it's a cultural thing...in some places they seem to see nothing wrong with this kind of conduct....so you can buy DVD's of the latest Hollywood releases for sale in stalls on the street. I'm urging my son to go into intellectual property law just because it seems like a growing field....one older fella I know has been an intellectual property attorney all his career but points out that business has risen by an almost exponential factor in the past ten years....thank you, internet!

Best

AA

Good call, auld argonian. We should probably prep our hankies, I do love a self-pity party, especially when thrown by thieves.
I'm not surprised that your IP Lawyer friend is loads busier than he used to be. The internet makes it so easy for those with no sense of ethics to swipe stuff.


ith:

[auld argonian]

I'd done the same last time I ran across this situation.



Good call, auld argonian. We should probably prep our hankies, I do love a self-pity party, especially when thrown by thieves.
I'm not surprised that your IP Lawyer friend is loads busier than he used to be. The internet makes it so easy for those with no sense of ethics to swipe stuff.


ith:

I think Marvel Comics said it best years ago...."Hand me my cryin' towel."

Best

AA

[RockyR]

It still boggles my mind that even with knowing how many 'less reputable' (to put it mildly) companies steal images, companies still don't watermark their pics. I had a few images stolen when we first started online and after that, we began watermarking all of our photos on our website.

If you (as a thief of images) google "Montrose Doublet" and come back with 30 images, 4 of which are watermarked, you'll just choose one of the NON watermarked ones rather than trying to clean up the watermarked image. Play to the laziness of the thief and you won't get ripped off.

[creagdhubh]

It still boggles my mind that even with knowing how many 'less reputable' (to put it mildly) companies steal images, companies still don't watermark their pics. I had a few images stolen when we first started online and after that, we began watermarking all of our photos on our website.

If you (as a thief of images) google "Montrose Doublet" and come back with 30 images, 4 of which are watermarked, you'll just choose one of the NON watermarked ones rather than trying to clean up the watermarked image. Play to the laziness of the thief and you won't get ripped off.

Excellent point, Rocky. This was something I raised when I spoke with Cheryl Mainland at Kinloch Anderson and Niall Livingstone of Bachuil at Highland Clans. Rest assure their legal counsel has been immediately notified. We shall see what happens!

Cheers,

[auld argonian]

Good info, Artificer....now we wait for the usual first time post from the "wounded party" who purloined the images asking "why are you saying bad things about me? I'm just a poor merchant trying to make a living!"....or somesuch nonsense.

I really think that it's a cultural thing...in some places they seem to see nothing wrong with this kind of conduct....so you can buy DVD's of the latest Hollywood releases for sale in stalls on the street. I'm urging my son to go into intellectual property law just because it seems like a growing field....one older fella I know has been an intellectual property attorney all his career but points out that business has risen by an almost exponential factor in the past ten years....thank you, internet!

Best

AA

[GMan]

Glad that you brought this to our attention.

[kiltedrennie]

An easy way to search for improper use of your images is Google image search. You can upload an image and Google will return sites with "similar" images. All it takes from there is a quick inspection of the sites listed.

https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=ii

Click on the camera icon to upload.