What To Do About CC License Violations?

An anonymous reader writes "In the past, I've seen my pictures used by big commercial companies despite the Creative Commons license that clearly limits them to non-commercial use. I just let it slide because a friend who's a lawyer says that all I can do is sue. They've ignored emails and comments. Today, I saw two other examples that show this is pretty rampant. These big commercial corporations are some of the most tech savvy publications around, but they just grabbed the image. One, BoingBoing, even reprinted the 'non-commercial' clause, warning others to stay away. But they've got their ads from Cheerios, HP and Mazda running alongside. Does anyone care that we've gone to all this trouble to create new, more flexible licenses? Does it even matter when very smart people just flip the bird to the license? Is the only alternative to sue? I wouldn't mind asking for $150k and settling for $1 for each copy made, but that seems a bit crazy. I hate to type out DMCA notices but their attitude is that only uncool people complain about this and I should be happy about the publicity. Then they can be happy about not sharing their ad revenue with artists or photographers. What can I do?" Update: 08/30 18:39 GMT by T : (Very belated; mea culpa.) Cory Doctorow writes: "The anonymous submitter is not the creator of the photo. The creator of that photo is Jennifer Trant, a friend and colleague of mine who has no trouble with my use of her photo. I have just gotten off the phone with her and confirmed that she did not submit the story and also that she is happy to have this photo on Boing Boing." The photo has since been added back to BoingBoing.

Use...

[ringmaster1982]

...hired goons. Nothing says loving like a hired goon visit.

Wrong place for this...

[CohibaVancouver]

This is slashdot. All digital content "wants" to be free. Just as /.ers should haven't to pay for music, movies or audiobooks, neither should corporations.

Re:Why ask?

[Brootal]

Saying, "Information wants to be free" is no different than saying, "Your laptop wants me to hit you over the head and take it from you."

Re:Reprint It

[dyingtolive]

Wow, okay, I'm an idiot. Ever do that thing where you genuinely forget you're running adblock?

Re:RIAA

[weirdcrashingnoises]

Except that they skip right to the second part.

Re:Send them a bill

[EvilBudMan]

Since when was BoingBoing tech savy?

Re:Reprint It

[ArbitraryDescriptor]

So... the caption that the artist placed on the photo that Cory posted on BoingBoing reads:

Restoring a hammock to Moonwatcher's Point, courtesy of Cory Doctorow. All is now right with the world. Feel free to drop by when you need a moment's peace. And thank the kindness of strangers.

I don't even know what's happening now. Is this what a stroke feels like?

Re:Send them a bill

[Anonymous Coward]

If Ford or Chevy take an image, go for a test drive and don't return the car.
If you get busted, then sue. Create a tangled pain in the ass legal web that will make them think twice about screwing with CC.
Pray that an escort service steals your images.

Re:Why ask?

[Anomalyst]

lechers that contribute little to nothing to society

I oogle women (18 and over, natch), and still manage to contribute, you insensitive clod.
Why not bash the leechers for failing to reciprocate for what they egregiously appropriate?

Re:Send them a bill

[Anonymous Coward]

[citation to the contrary needed]

is this a bad joke or are you extremely poor at reading comprehension?

OP: This weird thing exists
Re: Where?
You: PROVE IT DOESN'T EXIST FIRST!

Re:Why ask?

[Anomalyst]

Not when you do it 10**100 times.