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Last updated on July 5th, 2024 at 10:57 am
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I came across a post today from a content creator I follow. She shared that one of her reels was being used for ads on Facebook by a company without her permission.
This seems to be more and more common now. Granted she had interacted with the brand and been gifted some items by them. But she never allowed them to share her reel or use it as an ad.
This got me thinking that there are so many content creators who don’t advocate for themselves.
It happens to all of us
No matter what your niche at one time or another you will come across your content being used with your permission.
I shared about this in a post a while ago. I found some of my photos being posted on some scammy-looking websites. They are still being posted on various sites at one time or another.
You can read that post below.
I didn’t even know my images were out there until I Googled it.
Some creators find out their content is being used thanks to followers or seeing their images, videos or photos on websites, ads, or other media posts.
Ways to advocate for yourself
I know it can be very frustrating and angering to see your content being used for profit. I also understand that then again you are left at a loss of where to start.
Reach out to the brand
You can reach out to the brand and try to keep a cool head. This means asking them to take down the ad or content featured without your permission. You can also ask for payment compensation.
Each brand reacts differently some may try to pay you off. While others may argue that the content is fair game.
Send a Cease and Desist letter
You can find many examples of Cease and Desist letters online. If you know someone who can draft one for you that’s even better. You can outline what you’d like stating please remove my content from X website, social media platform, or Y will happen.
As a side note, you can give the brand a set number of days to remove the content before taking legal action. This may be an open threat or could escalate depending on your resources. You can also take into account how your content was used. Such as whether was it an ad or was used on a website etc.
You can find so many examples of cease and desist letters online.
Legal Zoom, eforms, legalteplates all have examples of these forms.
If these requests don’t work you may have to take legal action.
You can hire a service to do this for you
If you have the means you can hire a service to check for copyright infringement and other violations for you.
Some of these services do take a bit of setting up such as adding social media links and content images but they are worth it.
I use two services currently. I’m on the free plan but I like the way they update you on where your content is being posted.
I get updates on my images still being listed on sites then disappearing after a few days.
Pixsy
Pixsy offers image takedown support. They have a free plan as well as paid plans. The free plan doesn’t offer takedown support but you can still keep track of where your images are being used.
If you’d like to sign up you can visit the link below.
Referral Code
B6302BFF
https://my.pixsy.com/register?referralcode=B6302BFF
DMCA
I currently use the free version of this site and I like it. They also send me updates on the images that are still being used on various websites.
They also have other features such as take-down notices and protection of website domains and content.
They have a free plan and two paid plans.
DMCA also has a badge you can add to your website as well.
At the end of the day
At the end of the day is that the content you’ve created is your own. You should be able to advocate for yourself and your content. I know it’s hard and baffling at first but once you speak up you won’t back down the next time.
