Gallery leeching = copyright violation?
 

You maybe know how it is:
You have several sponsors that gives you permission to use content from the membersite, so you have the opportunity to make more money for yourself and the sponsor. Then you find a website, and like 50% of his galleries are systematic leeched from you - quite obvious because no chance he would have picked the same photos.
"Oh shit - better email the guy and tell him to stop and explain him that I put alot of time and work into this, and that photos are actually not part of the affiliate areas or FHGs, but "licensed" for exclusive promotion. Polite email that is.

So.... I got this reply:
So what can you do in situations like this, except whining like I do now?
Obviously it is pointless to argue with someone like that, and normally I won't bother, but this one pisses me off :1orglaugh

I'm missing some stuff here, is he ripping custom gals you made or just fhg's from your site(s)?

You're pretty much shit out of luck. If you contact the sponsor you end up being tagged as a jealous affiliate trying to crush your competition or cause havock on the guy and make yourself a target for more intellectual thefts.

Just forget it and move along. You have a powerful network and it has it's own solid traffic base. You'll be fine, his actions have NO impact on you at all.

If he has to scour your galleries (TeenH****B****** I asume?) to find suitable content to use he is either A: lazy and won't make it past a few months anyways or B: not very well versed in how to do this job of porn web mastering to begin with. He won't last.

I have dealt with all kinds of intellectual property thefts over the past 3 years. It's not one bit fun, eventually I just learned to forget and move along for most cases. however.. in cases where entire pages were copied I just sent a note off to their host and they got shut down overnight. In your case, pretty hard to prove anything.

If you really want to give him hell here's an idea. Add embedded info in the image file. This is pretty easy. Right-click the image, click properties, go to "Summary" and click "Comments" Add something like "Provided to Dirty Dane By XXXXXX.com". Now there's proof of his using the photos from your gallery. Your page has a copyright statement right? Include a part that says "Images copyright provider'sname.com and liscenced with permission to yourdomain.com. No duplication of images permitted unless with direct permission from provider'sname.com"

You now have something you can show hosts. The comments 'tag' on the image and a copyright notice supporting your wishes for use of content appearing on your page.

Does it work? Yes, I have used that method many times.. Is it worth the trouble though? Nope, not really, he'll just open up under another host and steal form your again.