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How to protect instagram photos


5 Ways to Protect Your Instagram Pictures

When you were in elementary school or middle school, how many of you all used to cover your papers so no one would copy your answers? *raises hand*

Yes, I was that kid and it explains my Type A Personality at an early age. Was I a nerd or a geek? Don’t know, don’t care! I just know I studied way too hard to let somebody copy my work.

One thing I do know is how hard it is to run a business, and how hard it is to create all of this content for your readers. I know I struggle with blogging. It’s a lot of work.

And those who make their bread and butter off of blogging and creating content, I know it makes your blood boil to see someone stealing your work and taking the credit for it! Photographers, this goes for you too. I can only imagine someone using MY PHOTOS that I worked so hard to create and edit, and pass it off as theirs.

According to The Verge, Instagram has ONE BILLION followers on the site. ONE BILLION! That means there are 999,999,999 people who can steal your photos on Instagram and pass it off as yours. Although we can’t stop the thieves, we can deter them!

And in this blog post, I am going to give you 5 ways that you can protect your Instagram pictures and deter copycats from stealing from you.

1. Register photos with the Copyright Office

Registering your photos with the Copyright Office is the #1 way to protect your Instagram pictures. I have given you some of the benefits of registering your photos with the Copyright Office, like statutory damages and attorney’s fees.

Here are other benefits for copyrighting your photos:

• To file an infringement case in court, you MUST register your work. If a registration has not been filed, then you are SOL. Well, kinda. If the infringement happened within that three months, you can still register and then file suit. If the infringement happened and three months have passed, you have forfeited the big bucks (i.e. statutory damages and attorney’s fees).

•If you file an infringement suit, and you are already registered, the Copyright Office is going to assume you are the owner. That’s one hurdle that will get you closer to winning your case.

• Registering your photos with the copyright office will establish a record with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for protection against the importation of infringing copies. Has nothing to do with IG, but who doesn’t like learning more!?

2. Use the copyright symbol to protect your Instagram pictures

Put a copyright symbol on your photos. This puts the public on notice that you created this photo. Although you don’t have the same protections as when you register your copyright with the Copyright Office, the copyright symbol may deter people from using your photo.

Also, if you register your photo with the Copyright Office within 3 months of publishing your work, this includes publishing to Instagram, you can be eligible for costs, statutory damages, and attorneys fees if someone infringes on your photo. But make sure that you register the photo within 3 months. If you don’t, you may be giving up attorney’s fees and statutory damages, if you decide to sue someone for infringement.

Format for your copyright notice: © 2019 Company Name or Author Name. All Rights Reserved.

3. Watermarking your photos to protect them from poachers on Instagram

Another way to protect your Instagram pictures is to watermark your photos. Watermarking your photos also lets others know through your watermark, that you were the original creator of the photo. However, we all know how easy it is to download a picture and remove the watermark from the photo. There’s so much technology that is being used for evil, although intended to be used for the good. But if someone does takes off your watermark, they are determined to steal from you. That’s why copyright registration is important, because you can sue the infringer.

4. Report the infringement to Instagram

Instagram already has there own way to report if someone is infringing on your copyright. It is unclear if your copyright has to be registered, but you can probably reach out to them directly to get a little bit more information.

However, if someone is impersonating you on Instagram, you can reach out to Instagram and show them your ID and they will take down the account.

5. Send a cease and desist letter

There are literally companies that look for people who infringe on copyrights and trademarks. So if you notice that someone is using your Instagram pictures, you can send the company or user a letter directly. You should ask them to take down your work and demand compensation since they stole from you.

But word of advice, if you aren’t ready to go to court, don’t go threatening people with a lawsuit and asking for an exorbitant amount of money. And remember, if the photo isn’t registered with the Copyright Office, you may only be able to get actual damages (which are harder to prove), and not statutory damages and attorney’s fees.

Bonus: Did you know that you can protect your photos by putting the metadata in your photos?

If you edit your photos on Photoshop or Lightroom, you can add copyright information to the metadata of the picture. From my understanding, Instagram removes the metadata automatically from your photos. But you can still use this method on your website to protect your photos. Although, poachers can still remove the metadata, it’s another way to deter those from stealing from you. And if they don’t know about this method, your metadata will still be on the photo as proof that they have infringed on your copyright. To find out how to put metadata on your photos through Lightroom, click here. To find out how to put metadata on your photos through Photoshop, click here.

Have more questions about registering for a copyright or cease and desist letters? Reach out to Wilson Murphy Law and let’s talk.

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How to protect your privacy and stay secure on Instagram

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The Verge Guide to Instagram

Instagram is a great way to share photos with friends, family, and the rest of the world, but it could also open you up to privacy and security risks. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. It’s easy to protect yourself and still get the most out of what Instagram has to offer.

Here are five ways to keep your account safe. There are separate instructions for the web and for mobile apps and notations where the iOS and Android apps differ.

Make your account private

Take a simple privacy step by turning your public account into a private one. This will let you share your photos with a select group of people while keeping them hidden from everyone else. That way, only people you really care about will be aware of your activities.

On mobile

  • Go to your profile by tapping the “person” icon on the lower-right corner of the screen. Swipe to the left and tap the Settings gear icon that appears.
  • Select “Privacy and Security” then “Account Privacy.”
  • Toggle “Private Account” on.

On the web

  • Click on the “person” icon in the upper-right corner, and then look for the gear icon next to your name.
  • Select “Privacy and Security” then “Account Privacy.”
  • Click on the checkbox for Private Account.

From now on, only your existing followers will be able to see your posts. Anyone else will have to send a follow request to you first.

Block specific followers

If one of your followers becomes annoying (or worse), you can also block specific followers from seeing your posts. (Don’t worry: followers aren’t notified that you’ve blocked them.)

On mobile

  • Tap “Followers” at the top of the main mobile menu.
  • Search for the follower you want to block.
  • If you’re using iOS, tap the three horizontal dots next to their name. If you’re using Android, tap the three vertical dots. Select “Remove.”

On the web

  • Click on the person icon and then on “Followers.”
  • Search for the follower you want to block.
  • Click on that person’s icon, then look for the three horizontal dots to the right of their name. Select “Block this user.”

Turn on two-factor authentication

Worried that someone will log in to your Instagram account and pose as you? Turn on two-factor authentication, which will send you a text message with an authentication code every time you log in to Instagram on a new device. You’ll then have to type in the code to complete logging in.

On mobile

  • Go to “Settings” > “Privacy and Security” > “Two-Factor Authentication” > “Get Started.”
  • Toggle on “Text Message.”
  • If you’d prefer to instead use an authentication app like Google Authenticator, toggle on “Authentication App” instead. The app will see if you already have one installed. If you don’t, it will suggest one.

On the web

  • Go to the person icon, then click on the gear icon.
  • Click on “Privacy and Security” > “Edit Two-Factor Authentication Setting”
  • Check “Text Message.” If you have an authentication app available, you will also be able to check “Use Authentication App.” Otherwise, it will be grayed out.

Prevent third-party apps from getting your data

There are tons of third-party apps that ask you to get access to your Instagram data, like an app that schedules Instagram posts for you. So before agreeing to let one access your data, factor in that the more companies that have private information about you, the more likely it is that the information can be misused or stolen. Even more important: make sure that you only grant Instagram access to apps that truly have a need for it.

To revoke access to apps that already have it, you have to use the web interface; you can’t do this through the mobile app.

  • Log in to Instagram on a browser on a phone or computer, and click or tap the person icon on the upper-right corner of the screen.
  • Click or tap on the gear icon.
  • Click on “Authorized Apps.” (Look for it on the left-hand menu.) You’ll see a list of apps that have been authorized to access Instagram.
  • Click on the “Revoke Access” button for any app that you want to unauthorize, and then select “Yes.”

Check if someone has hacked your account

Worried that someone has hacked your Instagram account? You can check by viewing your past account activity, including logins, logouts, changing a password, and more.

  • Using the mobile app, go to “Settings” > “Privacy and Security” > “Access Data.” On the web, tap the “person” icon in the upper-right of the screen. Click the gear icon, and select “Privacy and Security” > “View Account Data.”
  • You’ll come to an info page that has a great deal of data on how your account has been used. You can click any category to get more information, such as “Account privacy changes,” “Logins,” “Logouts,” “Hashtags you follow,” and so on.
  • Pay special attention to “Account privacy changes,” “Password changes,” “Logins,” “Logouts,” and “Stories Activity.” If you see anything that’s unfamiliar, it may mean that someone else is using your account. Immediately change your password to lock them out.

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What to do if photos are stolen on Instagram: copyright protection, filing a complaint

Theft of content on the Internet is, unfortunately, a common occurrence. It's a shame when someone puts up your photos and pretends to be you. And if you have a business, you post original product photos you created on the page, and then competitors or scammers steal your content, harming your business and reputation.

This article will tell you how to deal with content theft on Instagram, why you should not ignore the facts of theft and how to protect content using the Facebook Rights Manager service. nine0003

Advertising: 2VtzqwCpaPT

Read also: The best Instagram promotion courses

What is meant by content theft

Theft is the full or partial copying of content without attribution and permission of the author. In this article, we will analyze brazen theft, and not the adaptation of someone else's idea with our own vision (by adaptation we can mean covers of songs, paintings in a similar style, a similar composition in the photo, but with other people in the frame, and so on). nine0003

In simple terms, you posted a unique photo on Instagram and then found it on someone else's account.

Since the article is about Instagram, we are talking about the theft of photos and videos. On someone else's content, they can gain subscribers, earn money and even deceive people.

Interesting: How to recover your Instagram account

How stolen content can harm your business

Reasons to fight content theft:

Competitors can poach customers. Imagine you were working on a visual and hoped to attract more customers and subscribers through it. But competitors took and brazenly posted photos / videos at their place and as a result, your potential customers made a purchase not from you, but in another store.

The customer received a bad quality product from another seller, but you are being blamed. Brands often suffer, whose photos are exhibited by sellers of fakes. Imagine that you created a brand of quality items, paid photographers to take pictures of your product, and an unscrupulous competitor took your photo and sends low-quality consumer goods to sellers instead of the original. Not every client will understand that he bought a fake, you might think that your brand produces low-quality items, and this is a direct blow to your reputation. nine0003

The customer did not receive the goods at all. Your photos and videos may hide scammers who do not send goods to customers at all, and then the blow to the company's reputation will be even more serious.

Your photos are lost among copies. If users see the same photos on different accounts, they will think that there is nothing unique in your product, it is stamped at the same factory in China, which means it doesn’t matter from whom to buy. It is doubly disappointing if your product is actually unique (for example, it is handmade). nine0003

They might think you're the one stealing the photo. For example, first an Instagram user saw a photo in a competitor's account, and then in yours. He will not figure out where the source is and may even think that you don’t have a product at all, but only stolen photos.

How to deal with the theft of photos and content on Instagram

There are 4 options for what to do if you find content theft:

  1. Write to the author or administrator of the page where the content was found. Ask to remove controversial content from the page or tag your account as a source (or even mark the content as branded). Sometimes the extra traffic doesn't hurt. But violators do not always make contact, and sometimes they are openly rude to the content authors. nine0060
  2. File a complaint with Instagram. If there is no time for correspondence or the owner of the page does not make contact / does not fulfill the requirements. If the complaint is upheld, the social network itself will remove the content from the violator's page.
  3. Sue. But it’s worth saying right away that suing in the Russian Federation over copyright is a futile exercise. It only makes sense if you really suffered losses and the content was used by the infringer for commercial purposes.
  4. Use the Facebook Rights Manager tool - it allows you to protect content from specific Facebook and Instagram pages. The service itself calculates the copied content and informs the copyright holder about it. You can set up content monitoring, require the offender to indicate authorship through the service, or remove your content from your page. You can also specify partners in Facebook Rights Manager who legally distribute your photos and videos (for example, under the terms of advertising). nine0060

P.S. These recommendations will be useful not only for businesses, but for any Instagram users in general who are faced with content theft.

How to report copyright infringement on Instagram

Complaining on social media is the smartest and most effective option. You can immediately go to the form for filing a complaint about copyright infringement on Instagram, or open the publication where your content is posted, click on the 3 dots, then “Report”. nine0003

Select "This is inappropriate content".

Then "Infringement of intellectual property rights".

Click on the "Complain to the Help Center" button.

We are redirected to a help center where there are links to several forms:

  • copyright complaint;
  • trademark infringement complaint;
  • impostor account complaint;
  • per person under the minimum age limit; nine0060
  • for an account expressing hate;
  • on account hacking.

Depending on what rights are violated, we choose the type of complaint - copyright infringement or trademark infringement.

Important: only the content owner or their legal representative can file a complaint. Complaints from third parties usually lead nowhere.

Consider the copyright form. Select the item "I have found content that violates my copyrights." nine0003

Opens help about what is considered copyrighted content. Click "Continue creating a copyright complaint".

We are warned about the legal consequences and the consequences of knowingly making false statements (so only file a complaint if your rights have actually been violated).

Below you need to specify your contact details for communication and who owns the copyright - you or your client. Depending on your choice, a different contact form will open. nine0003

If you select "Someone else", the contact form will hide and you will be asked to inform the copyright holder about the violation, so that he himself filed a complaint.

Suppose you are the copyright holder. In the contact form, you need to fill in the first and last name, job duties (for example, director or lawyer), postal address, telephone number, email address, copyright holder's name and country. If you are a representative of a business, then in the form you will also need to additionally indicate how you are related to the copyright holder. nine0003

Next is the item "Materials you want to report". Select the type of content (Photo or Video), send links.

Specify why we are submitting a content complaint. Select "This content is copying my work".

Next, you need to provide evidence that this is your content. Under "Which of the following best describes your original, copyrighted work?" select the type of content, for example, "Photo taken by me." nine0003

Then you need to send links to the original. For example, a link to a photo in your profile, if you posted a photo on yourself first, this will be sufficient reason for Instagram to recognize your work as original. You can also provide links to other resources where your work appears - a page on your site, other social networks, backstage videos. Additionally, you can attach documents (if any), for example, an agreement with a photographer - this will only strengthen your position in the dispute.

We confirm the application and click "Send". An automatic letter from Instagram will be sent to the mail stating that the complaint has been accepted for processing.

Instagram gives offenders 24 hours to dispute the complaint and then removes the content. If they were able to prove their innocence, and Instagram did not satisfy the complaint, it remains to go to court (if it's worth it, of course). But, usually the dispute is resolved in favor of the copyright holder.

Important: a one-time complaint does not always solve the problem - especially stubborn violators continue to post other people's content. Then it makes sense to try to block their account - for this you need to send several complaints about different photos / videos at once with a separate link to the publication in each complaint. nine0010

How to protect content with Facebook Rights Manager

To start using the service, you need to request access to it. And you also need to have an advertising page on FB. On the official page, click on the "Request Access" button.

Specify the type of content to be protected - photo or video.

Specify which page to protect (you can select only Facebook pages, Instagram will be linked below). We write the name of the copyright holder - the name of the person or the name of the company / brand. Specify the email address for communication. nine0003

Select the type of owner of the rights, for example, independent author.

Select a category that relates to the content, for example, you are a photographer, an art agency or a news portal.

Specify how often we publish content.

We note whether we use the services of a third-party agency and whether we have filed complaints before on Facebook.

We note where else we publish content. Here you can specify the profile name on Instagram, a link to a YouTube channel, to a personal website and other resources on the Internet. You can also attach a link with an example of the content you want to protect (for example, you can provide a link to your portfolio). nine0003

After filling in the data, click on the blue button "Request access", and the application is sent for moderation. If approved, the Rights Manager section will appear in Creator Studio.

If the system notices a content match, the copyright holder can simply track it or open a dispute (Dispute) directly in Creator Studio with a request to remove the publication or indicate authorship. You can also manually upload images to the service that are not published on Facebook and Instagram. nine0003

P.S. Not all pages are accessing the Rights Manager section. If you're unlucky, Facebook will send this email:

Cases when you can turn a blind eye to content theft

Or when it's easier not to bother and waste time:

When you were mentioned in a post under a photo/video, as the author of the content with a mark on your account. That is, in fact, they made you free advertising. But here you need to look at the account itself - what quality is it, what other publications does it post. So that such placement does not affect your reputation. nine0003

When there are few followers on the account. Infrequently visited accounts do not cause much harm. But it is better to keep them in a separate list and check periodically, as they can grow. But with large accounts, you need to resolve the issue immediately.

When the account is not a competitor. For example, you sell men's underwear and, accordingly, post photos with male models. You find that your photos are hanging on an account where they just post beautiful guys, but do not sell anything. Since you do not poach customers, you can not pay attention. nine0003

What to do if someone complains about you

You can also become a violator, including by accident. For example, you trusted a full-time administrator or freelancer to fill in the content on your account and do not verify the authorship of images.

If you are reported, you will have 24 hours to remove the post yourself, so as not to expose your account to the risk of blocking from Instagram. If there is more than one such publication, it also makes sense to contact the copyright holder and discuss further actions - for example, agree with him on a mark with a link to his account under the rest of the posts and videos, or on the voluntary removal of controversial content. nine0003

Conclusion

Content theft is worth fighting at least not to incur financial costs and not ruin the brand's reputation. The most effective option is to file a complaint on Instagram or use the Facebook Rights Manager service. Also, keep track of what content you post on your account so that you yourself do not turn out to be a violator.

Useful links:

  • Why Instagram can block an account
    • nine0059 How to properly delete followers on Instagram
  • 10 Instagram messaging services
  • How to hide user posts and stories on Instagram

how to hide your photos on instagram?

By Milena Anderson Reading 4 min. Posted

Short answer

  1. There are several ways to hide your photos on Instagram.
  2. One way is to make your account private, which means that only people you approve can see your images.
  3. Another way is to use a third party application to hide your images.
  4. Several of these applications are available, and they all work slightly differently. nine0060
  5. Some of them simply make your photos invisible to other users, while others allow you to password protect them.

How to hide photos on Instagram without deleting (2022)

how to hide my instagram posts from someone without blocking them very easily

How to hide all my photos on Instagram?

To hide all your Instagram photos, you can either delete them or make them private. To delete them, go to your profile and click on the three dots in the upper right corner of any photo. Then select "Delete". To make them private, go to your profile and tap on the three bars in the top left corner. Then select "Settings". In the "Privacy" section, set the "Photos" option to "Private". nine0003

Is it possible to hide Instagram photos from followers?

You can't hide Instagram photos from followers, but you can make them private. To do this, go to the photo you want to make private and click on the three dots in the top right corner. Then select "Make Private".

How can I hide my Instagram posts without blocking them?

You cannot hide your messages from others without blocking them. If you want your messages to remain private, you need to make your account private. nine0003

How do you secretly post on Instagram?

There are several ways to secretly post on Instagram. One way is to use a personal account. Another way is to use a third-party app that allows you to post without exposing your username or account details.

How do I hide messages from certain subscribers?

Unable to hide posts from certain Instagram followers. If you don't want anyone to see your posts, you can either unsubscribe or make your account private. nine0003

Can I post photos on Instagram without posting them?

Yes! You can post photos to Instagram without posting them to your profile. Just save the photo to your phone and then select "Share" -> "Instagram" from the menu. You will be able to add a signature and then publish it.

Is there a secret Instagram?

There is no secret Instagram. However, there are ways to view messages that are not public. To view these messages, you must have a link to the message. nine0003

Can you see who is following your Instagram?

Yes, you can see who is following your Instagram. The app lets you know who has viewed your profile and recent posts.

Can you tell who is viewing your Instagram?

It's impossible to tell exactly who is viewing your Instagram, but there are some things you can do to get a better idea. For example, if you have an iPhone and use the built-in Activity app, you can see which of your followers have viewed your profile in the past week. You can also view your account statistics to see how many people have viewed each of your posts. nine0003

What is Finstagram?

Finstagram is a fake Instagram account. People use them to post embarrassing or funny photos that they wouldn't want to post on their regular Instagram account.

What does a ghost mean on Instagram?

Ghost browsing on Instagram is when you remove someone from your follower list but they can still view your account.

Who is viewing my profile? nine0003

Only people you have given access to can view your profile. This includes your friends, family, and other people you know.

Can you see how many times someone has viewed your Instagram story?

Yes! If you go to your story and swipe up, you'll see a list of people who have viewed each individual snap.

Can you see if someone takes a screenshot of your Instagram story?

Yes, you can see if someone is taking a screenshot of your Instagram story. When you view your story, you'll see a small camera shutter icon in the top left corner of every photo and video. If someone took a screenshot of your story, this icon will have a small number in the middle indicating how many screenshots were taken.

Learn more