If your website is on an Apache web server, you can prevent people from "hotlinking" the photos directly from your site. See http:// altlab.com/htaccess_tutorial.html. Following the watermark theme, once you get your auction started, replace the photos with watermarked pics which include the auction number (and maybe your ID, if room).
Of course, there is no sure fire way to keep someone from stealing your photos and using them if they are determined to do it. But throwing up a few obstacles may deter these scumbags from using your photos. Loran On Jul 29, 2006, at 9:06 AM, Walt Sommers wrote: > Yepper. It's the one. > > I think if sellers (especially those who sell top notch quality and > otherwise highly desirable and valuable machines) would somehow > elegantly > watermark their pictures with their eBay user ID (i.e. "Auction of: > Your ID > Here") it would deter the scam artists, but perhaps more > importantly by > doing so, would keep some of the burden off of the "eBay police" > who really > don't have the resources to keep after all of the infractions. > > I say that because I think it [watermarking] is probably a good idea, > generally....BUT, a few years ago, I watermarked images in an > auction using > my real name (not phonograph related) and not only did someone use the > images with my name but they linked to my website. Maybe their > English was > so bad that they did not realize the significance of the > watermarked name > (which I doubt, because after all they knew enough to jump through > the hoops > to list an item and steal a US eBay account to perpetrate the scam) > but even > so, fundamental morality like thou shalt not steal is not a matter > of what > country someone is from or the language(s) they speak. Those sorts > of folks > are probably very intelligent and might do very well in business if > they > would apply themselves to honest labor - but some kids like to play > with > fire and never seem to get burned (well, not yet). > > Again, I am thankful for this group to make these issues know and > responsibly warn each other. > > Walt >
