Concert Producer Steals Filipina Blogger’s Photo
I’m a huge fan of people sharing information through fair use and attribution, but this clearly abides by neither. Philippine event organizer Dimitri Productions stole a photograph of Filipina gamer Alodia Gosiengfiao by Filipina photographer Tricia Gosingtian. They replaced Alodia’s head with a globe and used the photo in posters for their Earth Day Jam concert. No attribution, no notification, no compensation, nada.
Yes, it’s pretty damn hideous. The story’s gotten as far as CNet, yet Dimitri still ignores both Alodia and Tricia. Alodia is a rich girl, and Tricia seems familiar with modern intellectual property practices. Dimitri will probably get sued, and will probably lose. The PR damage will be more extensive than Dimitri realizes: both girls are bloggers with loyal followings in the company’s geographically tiny market. The cluetrain is stopping at Dimitri’s very doorstep, but no one’s taking delivery.
Longtime readers of my blogs know that there are few things I hate more than offline media scumbags treating online media publishers like shit, just because the former happen to be offline and the latter happen to be online. I can’t stand that sort of “oh-we’re-a-real-business-and-you’re-just-some-Internet-weirdo” hubris, especially from a penny-ante outfit like this Dimitri racket.
It figures, really. Dimitri Productions is run by washed-up old Filipino musicians Lou Bonnevie and Toto Gentica — you know, the kind of musicians who still blame the music industry’s woes on “piracy”. Hah! Look who’s talking.
Lou and Toto are about to learn the cost of old media arrogance. Take ‘em down, ladies.
(Horrible poster via Ed Arevalo.)
Tags: Alodia Gosiengfiao, Asian, Babes, Dimitri Productions, Earth Day, Earth Day Jam, Filipina, IP, Lou Bonnevie, Philippines, Photos, Toto Gentica, Tricia Gosingtian
April 23, 2008 | Filed Under Babes, IP, Philippines, PhotosComments
50 Responses to “Concert Producer Steals Filipina Blogger’s Photo”
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About the Author
Mike Abundo serves as Vice-President for Online Services of the Philippine Internet Commerce Society. He also writes for Inside Online Video and Tech Side Up. Email him at mike@mikeabundo.com.
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Aw man. That is evil!
Hi. Just like what I’ve told for a lot of times already, to clarify and avoid people from spamming and leaving harsh comments on my blog, I am in no way connected with the organizers of the event. Everything is good and clear between me and the photo owner.
Just to quote what Tricia have said:
“Thanks. Yes, I’m in the process of contacting them already. My friend’s been contacting them as well. I’m sorry if I brought a bit of attention to your blog. I knew that you weren’t a part of it, though I guess some people didn’t get it easily. :] ”
And this:
“I’m so sorry for the problems that this issue has caused you. I already put on my main website that you are not in any way affiliated with the company. I really apologize for the mess we’ve brought to your blog. I just hope people actually read mine before they react.”
Thanks..=)
what you are saying is down right mean. do you have any proof to support your claim that the company isn’t doing anything?
[...] Concert Producer Steals Filipina Blogger’s Photo | The Mike Abundo Effect [...]
Lionel: Evil and stupid.
Ed: I know.
Emily: To quote Alodia’s mom, “All they could offer are VIP tickets to the concert and an announcement of the proper credits to be done during the show. I couldn’t divulge any further as Tricia and her lawyer are taking over the driver’s seat on what legal action to come up with after their formal letter was also being ignored.”
“VIP tickets” to a free concert? A passing “announcement” after the fact? That’s less than nothing.
Whoa, and you really had to insult the owners of Dimitri Productions. You really had to. Ugh.
Did you ever think that those VIP tickets were a for-the-meantime peace offering? Do you actually believe that the organizers actually allowed their hired designer to rip a photo? For all you know, they unfortunately happened to have hired an amateur. It’s a nonprofit event so perhaps they don’t have much to spare on designers. Ever think of that?
You know why the true mainstream media think that blogs like yours are worthless? Because you insert your own biases and fucked up opinions. No direct and complete quotes (from both sides), no numbers, nothing. Just a couple of misleading links to back up misleading words. Totally zero credibility there. Not all blogs are as useless as yours though. But it’s spam like yours that makes things worse.
Alodia’s mom said that’s (and I quote) all they could offer.
That would make them even more stupid, wouldn’t it?
yes because they are threatened that the blog community is so dynamic!
Haha, its you who is stupid. I may not know much about this issue, but you are one stupid biased fool. HAHAHAHAHA. you actually expect us to believe what you wrote here because your what? whats ur name? MIKE ABUNDO? who the hell is that. AHAHAHAHAHHA! MIKE ABUNDO EFFECT? WHAT THE HELL??? HAHAHAHA!!!!! its you whos the washed up oaf whos trying to gain a “little bit of popularity” from ur “so called market” by using 2nd hand information on a juicy issue. If you ask me guys, this guy DOESNT KNOW CRAP and hes just feeding off from what other people said. and you have the nerve to create such statements? Well heres a statement right here: Why dont you do your own investigations before you say such SHITTY things. AHAHAHAHHA, you just DISGUST ME. dont even try to defend yourself.
I wish I could take credit for coining that phrase, but I can’t. That honor goes to Steve Rubel.
STUPID. MIKE ABUNDO. YOU ARE STUPID. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE NERVE TO DELETE WHAT I JUST SAID??? HAHAHA!!! STUPID! IF YOUR SUCH AN ADVOCATE FOR FREE EXPRESSION THEN ALLOW UR READERS TO SEE WHAT I HAVE SAID. IT JUST PROVES THAT YOU REALLY DONT KNOW ANYTHING! YOUR JUST FEEDING ON OTHER PEOPLE TO GAIN A LITTLE BIT OF POPULARITY IN YOUR VIRTUAL WORLD. NOBODY KNOWS YOU, NOBODY CARES WHAT YOU THINK. YOU ARE A NOBODY. YOU REALLY HAVE THE GUTS TO WRITE ALL THIS BULL SHIT? HAHAHAHA!!!! ID BET MY ENTIRE ESTATE THAT THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE DONT EVEN CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE JUST SAID. WANA KNOW WHY? COZ UR A NOBODY LOOKING FOR ATTENTION. YOUR A KNOW IT ALL WHO THINKS HES GOT ALL THE CARDS. NOW I ACTUALLY FEEL SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE YOU WRITE ABOUT IN YOUR STUPID BLOG. IM SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LOVE TO WIPE THAT SMILE OF UR GAY FACE. WORD OF ADVICE DUDE, GET A LIFE. HAHAHAHA!!!!!
It’s the same story even in the US, Anton: offline media holds an inherent, commercially-motivated bias against online media.
I don’t blame them. It’s just self-preservation. That does not, however, exonerate Lou and Toto from committing outright piracy.
Scroll up, n00b. I didn’t delete anything. I even quoted what you just said.
Well i hate them for replacing edjie’s head!
yikes.. i just have seen the poster now…
Mainstream News:
Walang kinikilingan, walang pinoportektahan, serbisyong totoo.
mikeabundo.com:
1. Look for issue
2. Blog about it
3. Bash people
4. Breed hatred
5. My opinion is teh rule
6. ?????????
7. PROFIT!
LOL! What do you expect. Cheaptard. You can’t be a believable blogger because you don’t seem to have any writing ethics whatsoever.
i just read your post at my multiply site and i ask that you please separate this issue from the event.
let me quote,from my site:
mikeabundo wrote today at 8:50 PM
Don’t go to Earth Day Jam. The organizers are thieves.
you’re calling for people not to attend the event.. but man, it’s for the environment. the artist’s (to be more specific) maybe at fault for not asking permission, but the concert’s not about them — it’s about calling people to take action and care for the environment.
sometimes, the heads don’t know what their people are doing.. but, as you posted, the organizers did try to rectify the ‘mistake’ by offering some deal to the other party.. just that, they didnt see eye to eye. the one who designed that poster for sure’s already a hard time, so let’s not add to the damage to gain some media mileage for ourselves. you’re probably not even privy to what’s really happening, so let them take care of the issue.
Earth day jam is for a cause. It’s an advocacy on the part of lou, toto, and the many artists who would be in that event.
Why can’t people just give and forgive? Is it that difficult?
Im not part of the Earth Day Jam thing but having worked with its organizers last year for our own concert event, and for our Earth day event at SM North EDSA (where lou performed for free), I cant help but feel sad for them. Why? Because some people are starting to label them as thieves, when, they don’t really know them at all.
For the record, I’m a photographer myself so I know how it feels when my photos sometimes get used without my permission. But sometimes, for a larger cause, like the environment, why not try to make amends and just let the organizers borrow the photo since it’s already there. Sometimes, let’s try to be selfless and look at things on a positive angle.
Afterall, the photographer and the model concerned already gained more than had lou and toto paid them. They’ve become more popular because of this mishap so just think of it as a blessing in disguise. Why not just include the poster in their portfolios and show them around, brag about them, and tell everybody that they took pity on the artist and “understood” na lang for the sake of advocacy.
It’s damn hard to organize an event, and to get popular guys to perform for free, or for even a fraction of their talent fee is no joke so for people out there calling to boycott the event just because of this one infamous photo, please… separate this issue from the event.
Earth day jam is for a cause. It’s an advocacy. It’s not for Dmitri, not for the bands who would be performing, not for the artist who allegedly stole the photo, not for the model, not for the photographer, and definitely not for the haters. It’s for the environment — it’s for us.
So please stop demoralizing the Earth Day Jam people by calling them thieves… learn to give and forgive.
LOLZOR: I’d be pissed too if somebody smacked a fucking planet on my head.
Robert: Creepy, isn’t it?
Iva: Regardless of their “cause”, Lou and Toto have committed copyright infringement. That makes them intellectual property thieves.
Don’t go to Earth Day Jam. Thieves don’t deserve an audience.
Because bloggers like us rock so hard that the media is slowly losing face. Hindi ba’t ganyan naman ang media? They just show people what they wanted to. When the higher ups get on it, they immediately replace the news with another news covering up the old one entirely as if it never even existed. ^^;
This is not just about the environment, we’re talking about here. So you’re saying that for the sake of this oh-so-grand environmental cause we would just close our eyes and pretend nobody committed anything? Parang mo nang sinabing, it’s okay to kill people for the sake of environment. Anyway, their blood and flesh could be fertilizers din, someday. It’s all for the good of the environment. Hmm?
That’s a stupid thought. It’s COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT. It not just because you didn’t know anything doesn’t necessarily mean you’re excused for a crime. Dude, A crime is still a crime, balibaliktarin mo man ang mundo. Copyright infringement is still copyright infringement.
Besides, both of them (Alodia and Tricia), they don’t need popularity. They are even more popular than those people you see on TV.
I agree with euri, Fuck these Earth loving hippies, trying to act all so good as if they are freaking gods while forgetting ethics and the law of man. Bloggers Rule! Media overhypes everything.
Fuck earth day Hail Alodia! Hail Abundo!
Euri, I never said about them not committing copyright infringement, whatsoever. i said “as you posted, the organizers did try to rectify the ‘mistake’ by offering some deal to the other party.. just that, they didnt see eye to eye.” i even acknowledged the error on their part. I have photos myself, so I know how it feels, but Im saying — suggesting that people learn to give and forgive.
By the way, I really appreciate Abundo Supporter’s colorful language. Thank you very much.
It’s scary how these people think.
Abundo Supporter,
LOL! Hinay-hinay lang. Wag mong masyadong dibdibin ang mga bagay-bagay. ^^;
iva,
I do understand you side though. But as of this moment, while the wound is still fresh with people, it wont really get through. At least, ihmo. But that would be a good thought. Only if things cools down a bit. ^^;
“Afterall, the photographer and the model concerned already gained more than had lou and toto paid them.”
They haven’t responded to our demand letter yet. No credit. No compensation for the damage that has been done.
That is so wrong. Tsk tsk.
oh hi Alodia! You are so enjoying all this attention aren’t you? You are such a sick attentionwhore.
DMITRI Productions lol. Kahit ano pang sabihin niyo, ANG PEYK AY FAKE PARIN. LOL. Mangatwiran kayo habang buhay at ipilit niyo na walang masama sa pagkopya ng may Creative Commons na license.
Btw, STFU Vader.
[...] nothing in that law could possibly justify what you did to Alodia and Tricia. [...]
GTFO iknowsomethingyoudont!
ya’ll dont know shit. mike abundo, i bet ur just some jealous bitch who has a fucking crush on Alodia. and yeah, me and all my friends all attended earthday, and yeah we all had fun. and yeah, were gona save the environment. and oh by the way, i didnt see a single piece of Alodia there. and again Mike Abundo, you have some nerve to put ur photo here huh? let me tell you this straight, and im telling all the other fucking NERDS to shut the fuck up when i say this. I WOULD START WATCHING MY BACK FROM NOW ON IF I WERE YOU. I HOPE YOU FUCKING DIE, YOU HYPOCRITICAL SON OF A BITCH.
I’m shaking in my boots.
Hayup. Mabubulok patuloy ang daigdig kung ang mga supporters nito ay mga supporters din ng plagiarism. stfu “bobo kayo”. Save the earth for all we care. Stealing is stealing. Plagiarism is still plagiarism. Kahit na para sa earth pa yan mga bobo.
tama ka Clarence tul wag ka magalit kanya kanya paniniwala yan. wake up wake up
mga tul ano mangyayari sa earth kung mawawala ang. ozone layer ng earth firts super init second makakapasok na ang maliit na bulalakaw third the end mga tao hindi diyus sisira sa mundo natin. kung hindi tayu rin.sobra carboon nakakasira sa ozone layer ang ozone layer isang shild kung mawawala ang shild alam ninyu na mangyayari.
tul ano name ng babae yan ;2 ;3
Miss Alodia, hoping that they would, too. It’s but proper for you guys to get compensated for your works din naman talaga. Hope you and Dmitri could work everything out so things would get back to normal.
… and Euri, yeah, i hope everything goes well with both parties.
para iba iba mukha ni alodia sa cosplay hindi pareho rider kick.sino kaya maganda si alodia or Tricia maybe si marian rivera rider kick
ako rin sana gusto ko siya makita baka patay na ako maybe sa langit kami makikita baka 70 years or 80 0r 90 years makikita ko siya sa langit asa ako makita siya sa personal baka sa langit lalang kami makita ipagdadasal ko balang araw kita sa heaven.ni alodia
hahaha lahat dito may gusto kay alodia madami pa babae diyan.
si sir Mike Abundo may gusto kay alodia pati kayu lahat.saan kayu masaya doon kayu.henshin ako si kamen rider.
This s hilarious. I’m not talking about the issue here, I’m talking about the comments.
And yes, I believe that Alodia deserve credit for what happened, but what exactly are your demands then? Maybe after one negotiation, you immediately slapped them with a lawyer.
Baka naman hindi ka nire-replyan kasi ang taray mo and hindi kayo marunong makipagusap nang mahinahon.
But still, this is just my opinion.
I’m loving the anonymous. If the blog didn’t mean shit, then why respond since nobody obviously reads it. Keep it up Mike.
earth loving HOMO’s
[...] at least she didn’t smash a planet on his [...]
Pasensya na Kuya Mike…
Ipinost ko pa naman,.,
Ninakaw lang pala yung pic…
It’s not your fault, Lionheart. It’s Dimitri’s.
go for save the earth. go kamen rider save
Okay honestly, fuck you eco people who think you can get away from using intellectual properties for the ‘good sake of mankind and mother earth’. I mean seriously its not like the person who holds the source may charge an arm and a leg for her pictures for a good cause. No need to be a cheapo-ass.