Comments on: flickR works against photographers by stripping EXIF data

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 19:38:12 +0000

Flickr stores exif data in the original size image, which you can download if you have a pro account. In most programs, when you resave an image, exif data is not preserved. This is also true of flickr’s resizing program. The smaller images don’t have exif. Flickr is not making it easier for anyone to “steal” photos. Anyone who wants to remove exif data can do it easily by resaving an image. Exif is not a realistic deterrent to copying an image. In addition, flickr offers a creative commons of photographs that can be used without copyright, which is quite extensive and good. This should work to reduce the demand for images that are copyrighted. Anyways, it will always be possible to copy images, digital or otherwise.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:34:38 +0000

Your concern is understandable, but we all know that without visible (and intrusive) watermarks, it is all too easy for photos to be captured and reused anyway – without EXIF and the help of the print screen button – and many photographers on Flickr don’t want to make the EXIF available to begin with because they wish to protect their technique or not disclose personal information that they program into the comment field for other reasons (such as proving theft of equipment).

By: Jeff Johnston

Jeff Johnston — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:05:17 +0000

Keep up the good work. They should have no basis to strip the data.

By: Anthony Citrano

Anthony Citrano — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:56:09 +0000

Ha I didn't know it was you. Yeah, basically, they keep it, but they strip it out of the resized images. So if someone downloads one of the resized versions, the metadata is gone.

By: jason2008

jason2008 — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:53:11 +0000

Oh I misunderstood, I thought you said FlickR removed that data. I see so it's only removed when users download the photo.

Your brother Jay

By: Anthony Citrano

Anthony Citrano — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:56:09 +0000

Haha I didn't know it was you. Yeah, basically, they keep it, but they strip it out when they make the resized images. So if someone downloads the image the metadata is gone. I do think they're going to do something about it.

By: jason2008

jason2008 — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:53:11 +0000

Oh I misunderstood, I thought you said FlickR removed that data. I see so it's only removed when users download the photo.

Your brother Jay

By: Unsure about renewing Flickr Pro membership - All Narfed Up

Unsure about renewing Flickr Pro membership - All Narfed Up — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:04:38 +0000

[...] Flickr works against photographers by stripping EXIF data (The Cosmic Tap) [...]

By: Anthony Citrano

Anthony Citrano — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:29:03 +0000

Jason – the data for the images is there if it was uploaded – it's on the “meta” page of every single one of my uploaded images.

By: jason2008

jason2008 — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:32:36 +0000

This will be a serious undertaking for FlickR to embed the original data from all of the the uploads. The data is most likely not filed conveniently, if at all. I have the feeling that FlickR will close before taking this on, but it is something that they must do to protect the works and allow the photo data to remain behind the image.

Another option would be to begin this undertaking with all the Pro account first. The Pro accounts are usually the most serious of photographers but I have seen many serious and excellent photographers with free accounts also.