mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

One of the things you can do to partially protect your images is to watermark any that you post here. While with enough effort many watermarks can probably be removed cleanly, I think It may make using your images without your permission less likely.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Despite any agreements or legalities or ownership, in the real world, NOTHING you post on the internet is under your control. If someone wants it bad enough, they will take it, and, most likely, you will never know it. For a professional it MIGHT be worth taking legal action. If you want to invest the necessary time and money. Probably a futile exercise though. Especially if the person lives outside the country where you reside.
Personally, if someone likes a photo of mine enough to steal it I take that as a compliment. I already waved "Bye-Bye" to it as I hit the Send button to post it. Despite any legal claims, the reality is that at that point it becomes public property floating in cyberspace.

srt101fan

Thanks all for your helpful comments. I'm trying to put this issue in perspective. You all helped with that.

Schoee Loc: Europe

Surely it is the person who used the photo who needs to ensure it is legal to use. Eg, model releases for commercial use etc. If I provided a photo intended for commercial use to an advertiser or magazine I would expect them to ask me if I had releases or even to provide them. If they don’t even ask me (and assume I make no claim about releases) and just go and use them, then it is their problem

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Says it all

wide2tele Loc: Australia

No, not that simple, a million situations it comes back to the photographer.