Pictures in blogs are now automatically LINKS? This is not copyright safe

[Saniya]

I have a wedding planning site and I have noticed recently when I include a picture in a blog - it makes the picture a live external link to another window/tab with just the picture in it.

This is NOT copyright safe because people who are browsing can just left-click on the picture - right click on the window that pops up and literally save the picture file to their computer.

 

This leaves the photographer's work vulnerable to theft, unauthorized re-distribution & usage on other sites.

 

• It appears this is only effecting the blogs created with the new text editor (I had to manually fix and removed the image links today from blogs from Nov 2010 through today).

 

Can this be updated so that it does not automatically create a link for photos uploaded from a computer? Or give us the option to turn the automatic link off for our networks?

[James Hawkins]

HI Saniya,

Every picture I tried clicking on said it was protected by Copyscape. Maybe you are able to use that function because you're the NC. and licensee of Copyscape. Try as just a member or a signed out guest. You may be relieved.

James

[Saniya]

nope - it happens when I am logged out/viewing as a guest also. Do not right-click.

 

Just left-click on any picture within a blog. For example on this one: http://desibridemagazine.com/profiles/blogs/real-wedding-meenaz-and...

 

I clicked on a picture and the page went to this url, with the picture by itself:

http://api.ning.com/files/cNNKnPKHW6Ecrr3z7fp-u8tvtnsGLPNMJcrycuFtw*xYtqnO0NYuvJvmW5RvDZLZ0IOA1kNnvbpAjnEzSAeHTEpsLmg2W2vj/40069_454514430954_168857575954_6364343_5297426_n.jpg

[James Hawkins]

Sorry , you are right. Mis-read ...there must be some code that would disable this. Sorry I can't offer the solution.

James

[AnitaC]

The pictures have been wrapped with the <a href > code, that is why the are clickable. When you uploaded the pictures you must have left the box checked that says LINK TO IMAGE - if you go back and add them again uncheck the box or manually remove the <a href >.

[Saniya]

Thanks James and Anita,

 

It looks like there is not a box on the new text editor for "link to image" it is automatically defaulting to this value. I uploaded these pics from my computer - so it should not have assigned a URL to it at all.

 

I can understand it automatically assigning that if I chose the "From URL" option, but I did not in this case.

 

Ning Gurus, if you're listening - can you update this feature so that it does NOT automatically create a picture Link if you select the "From my Computer" option? Or at least give us the option to turn this OFF on a network-level?

 

The way it is now, this gives would-be picture thieves the ability to lift blog images right off of a site without the owner's permission, which is not only a security issue - it's a copyright issue as well.

 

I checked older blogs, and those images are not live picture links - so this appears to only be a problem for the blogs created with the new text editor.

 

 

[Being in the Now]

Hi Saniya,

I have the same issue on my site...anyone (members) that uploads an image (blog,forum,comments,etc) they are clickable by default...wonder why?...before it didnt happen this....so yes, i have to edit them manually...what a mission LOL...

Anyone knows why this is happening?...even i can see that is happening here on NC´s...

:o)

[Fitzroy Farquharson]

Why not remove the link address or default it to the blog's url?

[Eric Suesz]

Yes, I would submit this as a ticket if you want our team to respond to a specific request. We have a policies and abuse team that can answer any legal-related questions.

[Saniya]

okay consider it sent as a ticket - thank you very much!

[Will Lawless]

Saniya -  Was this ever resolved? I am seeing the same issue still with my site... - Will

[Tomas]

Copy this code into your custom code to protect pictures in blogs

 

<script type="text/javascript">
x$(document).bind("contextmenu",function(e){
    //you can enter your code here, e.g a menu list
    //cancel the default context menu
    return false;
});

if (typeof(x$) != 'undefined') {
   //looklinks on  network
   //if link has http
   x$("a[href^=http]").each(function(){
     //if default link present
      if(this.href.indexOf('/api.ning.com/') >0) {
        //removes the unwanted link
         x$(this).removeAttr("href");
      }
   }); //end of each function
}
else{
}
</script>

 

With help from the following great tips:

HOW TO MAKE ALL LINKS THAT LEADS OUT OF YOUR SITE OPEN IN A NEW TAB

and

DISABLE RIGHT CLICK USING JQUERY ON YOUR NING