Update May 27 4.02PM : Steven Gan has replied my email.

Hafiz,

Thanks for your email and for alerting us to your photo. Our graphic artist has inadvertently taken the image from the Internet through a Yahoo search without realising that the source of the particular image, which was posted in Flicker. We apologise for using it without your permission. As such, I have asked our graphic artist to take down the image even as I write.

Thanks for visiting Malaysiakini.

Regards,
Steven Gan
Editor-in-chief
Malaysiakini

Update May 27 4.06PM - the image has been taken down. Thanks to Malaysiakini for the prompt action.

——

Malaysiakini (www.malaysiakini.com) has been one of my source of Independent News. I browse through the website almost everyday to read independent news and I have been doing this for more than 3 years.

Today, I’m shocked to find my photo has been used without permission by Malaysiakini.

Have a look at the screenshot below; taken May 27th 2008 at 2.37pm. Click on the photo for a larger view.

Let me zoom in to a particular photo that I am talking about. Click on the photo for a larger view.

It has been enhanced and edited to make it “nice”.

Now, please pay attention to my claim. The following is the original photo which I am talking about.

My original photo -

The original photo can also be viewed at
1. http://www.flickr.com/photos/freakdiver/367671895/
2. The EXIF and Metadata - http://www.flickr.com/photos/freakdiver/367671895/meta

As far as I know or remember, I did not submit this particular photo to any agency, or stock photo database so that it can be sold all over the world. Or maybe I’m forgetful and I did submit this photo to a stock photo agency and Malaysiakini had legally purchase it from there. If it is the case then it is my fault in not remembering.

In order to confirm this, i need a clarification from Malaysiakini.

I’m truly shocked.

I’m writing to Malaysiakini’s editor as this post goes online; asking for clarification. Will update on this matter as time goes by.

Note - “All Malaysians Have Special Rights”. So do I.

Regards,
Hafiz Ismail