Update: User re-posted my photos, often as part of fake reviews

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On 6/5/22 I’d posted a thread (link) about how another user was re-posting my photos, often as part of fake reviews. The thread was merged into an Announcements thread that I can’t reply to. I’d been asked to provide updates, and so here they are, followed by a question. Tagging some users who had replied: @MortenCopenhagen @InaS

UPDATES

  • I used “Flag > Other” for photos originally taken by others and reposted by this user. For some but not all, the cover default was restored to the original photo, although for all, the re-post is still visible.

  • I individually used the copyright infringement form (link) for several photos taken by me that got reposted by this user. For most, the Removals team replied within 2 days that they were removing the photo, and I verified myself it was removed. For one, Removals replied asking if I had a court order – they didn’t specify which request it was about (I asked and they never replied), but no, I never pursued a court order for any of these.

  • For one of the re-posts removed, the user re-posted it a 2nd time. And I got it removed a 2nd time. And then the user reposted it a 3rd time! Each time it became the cover photo. It still currently is, as I reported it for the 3rd time just today.

  • For several of the re-posts removed, while I can see my original photo when I view my own photos and sort by Most Viewed, I no longer see my photo in the location’s “Photos > By you” section. I asked Removals twice if they accidentally removed my photo and to restore it if yes, but they never replied.

  • The account was changed to “Restricted” so I can’t easily identify the re-posted photos anymore. But I’ve seen the user continues to re-post photos from other accounts, and I DM’ed two of those “robbed” users here.

  • I saw this thread (link) about an even-more-prolific infringer from 2018, and that user continues to post often today. That user was stripper of their “Local Guides” status, whereas the user I’m referring to still shows as a “Level 8 Local Guide”

QUESTION

The copyright infringement form (link) has a section that says you can follow instructions to report a user as a “repeat infringer”. I want to try that, given this user has had many of their photos removed but is still actively infringing and still has Local Guide status. But I’ve reviewed the form several times and I’m not seeing, what are those instructions, how do I report someone as a repeat infringer?

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Hi @Efinkels

I’m sorry to hear about your issue. Regarding your specific question, use this link to report the repeated copyright infringement of your photos and select the third option namely, Google Maps and related products.

To help Google with it’s investigation and verify that this person is a repeat infringer., you must make sure that you (a) provide complete information and (b) do not misrepresent that the activity is infringing your copyrights!!

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Thanks @AdamGT , that link you sent had been my starting point. By filling it out, it took me to the form I’d referenced that says you can report a “repeat infringer.” So maybe that means the same form where you report a single copyright infringement is how you report a repeat infringer? But if that’s the case, it’s hasn’t worked since every time I’ve submitted it, I’ve referenced the repeat nature, and the user continues to re-post the photos of others, eg I just saw another example from today.

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Hi @Efinkels

Yes you use the form I referred you to, to report the repeated copyright infringement of your photos and once you’ve reported an incidence you’ve done your job and it’s up to the investigation team to investigate. I would use this approach to report new issues that infringe your copyright making sure to supply all necessary documentation and suggest that you make sure not to report the same issue again!

Note here that I have highlighted the terms your photo/your copyright. To report other policy-violating photos on mobile, select the photo and tap the Flag at the top right, then select or write the reason for your report. On desktop, select the photo and then the ellipsis menu (3 vertical dots) and end by selecting or writing the reason for your report. To report entire profiles for abuse on Google Maps I refer you to the article here.