A bit of advice please - company in Dubai using my images

[kman]

Thought a few of the pro's here might be able to help. Its come to my attention a photograph of mine (a Huracan and a GT3) is being used by a Dubai tuning company to advertise their product/service without permission. They've taken an image, removed my watermark and doctored it but its clearly mine. The images are on their facebook and instagram page. First time I've come across a company using my images commercially without permission.

Not sure what the best course of action is - I'd want the images removed or at the very least paid for, for a usage license and credit. Can anyone advise?

[GetCarter]

First up, I'd 'screen grab' the page. I would contact them, tell them they are illegally using your copyrighted photo (you alone own the rights to the image), attaching the screen grab. I'd then let them know how much they owe you for using the photo. Inform them that you have the high res original. I would then inform them that the e mail is being 'cc'd to your lawyer. Do so. (If you haven't got one there are loads on PH that won't mind being cc'd).

Well that's what I did and it worked.

FYI I charge more if they don't credit me, less if they link to my website. How much you charge is entirely up to you.

[e21jason]

Typical Dubai back street tuning company, you can express your displeasure but i doubt you can do anything legally except report the copyright infringement to facebook to take the image down.

[kman]

Just to update, after contacting the company, they came back to me, apologised and took the images down citing a "web design team" lifting the images (which they werent aware of) *rolleyes*

[Rogue86]

Probably worth pointing out that theyve already broken the laws that protect your work and to still expect an invoice. Apologising because you were caught isnt an acceptable excuse in any legal system.