This post is sticky for a few more days, regular posts continue below. I made it unsticky today (30/01/2008)
Remember that post–
Yesterday I took a flight from Delhi to Bangalore. I picked up the flight magazine (December Issue). I found that in their feature article they have taken a picture of mine with a credit to someone else. And of course there is no question of asking my permission as the credit is given to someone else. I am mad.
Well, I was promised a correction in the next issue and compensation too. Now I have not heard from then in a long while. This mishap happened in the December issue and I agree their January issue must have been in the press by the time we got talking. But now it must be time for the February issue and I have not heard from anyone. Should I wait or should I bother the editor again?
PS. This time the post remains sticky till the matter is settled.
Update (27/01/2008)- I wrote to the editor and asked what was the compensation amount.
He replied that they pay Rs. 500 per photograph normally. To me they would offer Rs. 1000. I am OK with that. I have been updating this at Indiamike too. I really liked this quote by Shakti (see message 85) when I posted the same there-
There is a much larger issue here in that corporations are becoming very casual about stealing imagery from unsuspecting photographers. If the penalty for getting caught is posting a clarification on the source and perhaps a token payment to the original photographer then there’s zero incentive for them to change their practices.
So I sent it across to the editor too. Oh, well after reading the quote (I had quoted the source to the editor), the editor went mad and basically tried telling me that I was too small for them to buy pictures from me (I have no issues with that but still they ended up using one of my pictures and I thought I was the wronged party).
By this time I too was running think on patience and I told him it is probably time that I name the magazine and the airline on my blog and at Indiamike.
You would not have believed the complete change of tone in the next email from the editor. Of course, they appreciated that I did not name the magazine. Of course, they would mail me a check in a day or two. Of course, they were interested in my postal address and of course they would send me a copy of the February issue.
All I can say is THANK GOD FOR THE INTERNET. That gives an option to mere mortals like me to write.
Update (29/01/2008) Got that check for 1000 rupees, as promised, on time. The magazine has been promised after 2nd February. Thanks a lot for all your support.
A reminder of the past correspondence and a “I hope the necessary corrections shall be made in the February issue…” mail is in order, I suppose.
Yes I too think that it is time to ping them…PS: Lovely picture!
Yup..it is time to ping away. Beautiful photo(s).I love dropping in to your site. My husband and I sponser 2 children from India through World Vision Canada. Our little girl lives in a “slum” in Bangalore and our little boy lives near Chennai. My life-long dream to visit India one day is now even stronger because I would like to visit these children. But how will I survive the heat?????
Yes..these are becoming way too common and unless we create an issue, there is no response..all the best !
Thanks a lot for all your comments. I have a major update on this one but I am way too tired today.
How obnoxious!Go get them!
As they have responded positively earlier we can hope for corrective action soon-may take some time and a reminder may speed it up…Anyway will comeback to read about the major update.
go on follow up until your grievance is solved. dont let them loose. btb in which flight mag this appeared is it on swagat of Air India?which flight u were mrudula on 18 the evening I too was back from delhi on 18th by Air Inda 7.50 pm flight.I dont whether we were aboard the same or u were on KF
so what finally happened?
Once again thanks a lot for all your comments and I am sorry it took me so much time to put an update. Looking at the posts of last week, I hardly wrote anything at all. It was a really busy week. I hope to do better this week.
I am perplexed that you haven’t disclosed the identity of the airline . Mohit
Which pic of yours was it?
well done ! now you can celebrate with your family by ordering some Domino’s Pizza with the Rs 1000/- :-))
Mohit, mistakes happen so I thought I would leave out the names.Ajeya, the link is in the post. It is a picture of Auli ropeway.Dev, the free coupons never came my way!! Thanks for the suggestion.
Move to the US. You can sue people and make a million dollars!
Solitaire, thanks for the suggestion. I will keep this in mind, though no plans to migrate.