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So about a week ago The Blue Crown used one of my images on their RARE sale without, at the very least, asking if they could. This is a constant issue with my images and I'm getting a little tired of it.


So I sent Alex Pandrea an email with an invoice for one time use of my image. It read as follows:

"Hello Mr. Pandrea,
On 06/07/2015 your company The Blue Crown launched a sales promotion which included an image of the Branded Obsidian Playing cards. The image was used without permission or compensation.
The original image was photographed by myself and is located on my website at http://www.sparkzcollector.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; as well as my Social Media outlets such as Facebook.
This image is protected under the US Code: Title 17 – COPYRIGHT LAW Link: http://copyright.gov/title17/circ92.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Attached is a statement for the one time use of this image to be paid in full upon receipt.
Thank you,"
The email included a capture off my site with the image in question along with the photo in this post. Mr. Pandrea's views on copyrights were quite interesting to say the least.

This was the reply I received from Mr. Pandrea:



I responded to him in this manner and haven't heard back yet..........


Those of you who know me well enough, even if we don't agree with each other on every little thing, know I'm pretty easy going. I've been paid, bartered with and even taken just a written photo credit to help new designers and 1st time KSers. This was kind of the straw that broke the camels back and now it's time to take some kind of action.

Saw this on facebook. Appalling how some people just take and use the work of others like this. Would especially expect more from someone running a company/business.

This is absolutely outraging. I am very amateur and average photographer, but happened to me once with Elle magazine (online version). The only thing we got back was linking the blog where the pictures were taken from and crediting me and my wife.
This matter is serious and is getting too common online. It's ridiculous how people get away with this so easily.
What if you took one of their designs and launched a KS campaign claiming it was available online?
My advice, send your case to big photog sites like PetaPixel, they often feature this stories, and make some noise.

Another copy of your invoice along with a statement on letterhead from an attorney sent via registered mail (meaning they have to sign for it so you know it was received) will help your case out should you wish to pursue this further. Absolutely appalling that they ripped off your photo and then had the gall to basically cast you aside like an unwashed peasant.

Free advertising for the photog, what a crock. If my eyes could roll any further back in my head I'd be as blind as a bat.

I don't think it was The Blue Crown, but I caught someone using one of Kai:'s pix about six months ago.

It was the bloody Requiem shot, or one of them. As of 2000, the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) protects your IP regardless of use. Tony's is so obvious because of the watermark, which makes it agregious. Alex's response is basically thumbing his nose at Tony.

In regards to this situation, Alex and I have come to an agreement over the issue at hand

Glad to hear that Tony.