Abintra Aforitori Kennels/von Haus Neville - Page 1

It has come to my attention that  someone might have a problem with me and my kennel.  It was actually posted on the Leerburg site, but since it would appear that several member here also read/post there, I thought I would clarify some things. 

On a previous thread here, someone was complaining about buyers that call and waste breeders time.  I made a comment to that thread concerning an experience that I had recently had with some buyers out of GA.  I NEVER NAMED ANY NAMES!!!!  This person let the cat out of the bag when they started in on me with that thread.  I ignored it...was the bigger person.  Now they feel they have the right to slander me and my Kennel on a different board.  I've contacted Mr. Frawley on this matter, with my side of the story and my evidence concerning this matter, and I'm hoping he will take care of it.  

So...without going into great boring detail on here, let me just say this.  AA Kennels has been MY Kennel name for almost 20 years now.  A very dear german friend helped me come up with it when I received my first GSD in Germany.  It means, "from within, with stronger reason", which is what this breed means to me!!!  NOW, von Haus Neville is my daughters name she is using for her photographs.  Since she does all of the photo's for AA Kennels, the pictures actually, legally, belong to her!  This person out of GA was using one of MY DAUGHTERS PICTURES on her website, claiming this dog as her own, when in fact she never did purchase the animal!  She was told to remove the photo because it was the property of von Haus Neville.  Now she is out there claiming, among other things, that "I'm changing my kennel name"!!!  GET REAL!!!  This difference is names is in no way shape or form an attempt to be underhanded or sneaky in anyway.  I can see how it might appear that way to someone who does not know me, so let me clarify it.  My daughter is applying to OIP&T (Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology) next year for college, and is trying to build her portfolio.  She also has pics from SchH. Trails, clubs, and jo-blow off the street.  THEY ARE STILL HER PHOTOS, and she has the right to copyright them!!!  

I know this is long, and I'm sorry for that.  However, I felt the need to explain and defend myself against this BS.  It's crazy the crap these people think they can get away with.   I simply have one last thing to say on all this "Buyer/Breeder Beware" threads....form your own opinion people.  There is good and bad out there everywhere, but by all means, get both sides of a story and see all evidence before making a decision on a situations.  That will not only help you in here....it will help you in life!!!

Ouch.  Sounds harsh, darlin'.  I'm just an amateur photographer and I would hate to see someone claiming one of my pics as their own.  For the aspiring professional that really must hurt. 

Let me ask some dumb questions here...

1) How exactly does someone copyright a photograph, especially a digital one?  How can any one prove that he/she took the original picture?  Is there some certifying agency or process? 

2) Are kennel names copyrightable?  Suppose that someone wanted to call their own kennel Tiekerhook or Mittlewest?  What's to stop them?  Is it legally possible to "own" the kennel name as a business? 

I get the feeling that this monkey business of stealing people's pictures and posting a deliberate deception is way too common on the internet.  It gives me the willies to think how easy it is to do that, and how many people don't recognize they're being deceived.  I feel sorry for any newbie in the market for a dog nowadays - so many slick web sites, so many people who can spin a fine tale.

Yvette

I will ask this question again.

Jen

SchH -

Lets start with your first question.  Yes, pictures can be copyrighted, any kind.  When she takes pics, the date is stamped on the photo.  When we download them into the graphics program that I have, it creates a little file for each picture.  I'm not really sure of all the computer lingo, but it basically give me the date, time, picture number, and my computer information when the pic was downloaded.  THAT is how we can prove it is our pics.  Not to mention the fact that we are in there, or prove the background came from us.  My program then groups all the pics that were downloaded into one file, and automatically inserts my copyright phrase on it.   There are agencies that will do this for you, but the software is already available on the market. 

Q2:  According to my attorney, ANYTHING can be copyrighted, right down to an idea.  If you do a web search for Copyright laws, or copyright pictures, you will come up with TONS of information! :)

Ladywolf45169743297535,

Well said.

Q1 for Q1:  What computer program are you using to add the copyright stamp?  Suppose that someone photoshops the picture, makes alterations to the background to mask its authenticity, covers up the copyright phrase.  Can you still prove your case?

Q1 for Q2:  How does one go about getting a copyright for their kennel name?  Just some paperwork at the lawyer's office?  Once you have a copyright, how is it enforced?

Thanks for your patience with my questions! 

Yvette

Yvette,

I suppose that anyone can doctor a picture.  And not really sure what could be done to prove your case then, but I'm sure there is something! LOL  However, this person in question did not do that.. she used the exact same pic I sent her to show her the pup.  

If you go to www.copyright.gov , that is the site for the United States Copyright Office, they have TONS of very good information on what/how things work.  NOT that I don't want to answer your quetions, because they are very good ones, but it's detailed and to much to write on here! :-)