I have a client who is in a panic because Google Images is taking his photos and people can snatch them and use them. Web site is FloridaRedtail.com. I've tried a robots.txt file on the 29th of May and his photos are still showing up in Google Images?

User-agent: Googlebot-Image
Disallow: /images/

it has only been like two weeks. That is the proper code to use so you probably just have to wait a little longer for them to get un-indexed. Besides why does the client really care, the images can still be taken off his site for free?

Originally Posted by seocd

it has only been like two weeks. That is the proper code to use so you probably just have to wait a little longer for them to get un-indexed.

Thank you. That's what I thought but just wanted to confirm.

Originally Posted by seocd

Besides why does the client really care, the images can still be taken off his site for free?

Because he doesn't want people to be able to use his photos as is his right. The images can only be currently taken off if a browser has Javascript turned off or they take a screen shot. The general person does not bother (or know of) this.

I use this one in my robots.txt file:

User-agent: Googlebot-Image
Disallow: /
I don't want ANY of my site's images included in Google Images.

Ahhhh, I see! Thanks!
Do you have any idea the usual time frame for that sort of stuff to be removed?

anywhere between a few weeks to never.

yup. google dont make any guarantees with regards to how soon or how late they will take your site images off. Check out Googles webmaster tools for more.

cheers

You know, he could take advantage of Google and put his name / url in each image.. That way when it is used without his permission he will still get some advertising value for it.. Also, in some markets letting people "steal" your images leads to sales..

Aren't your photos showing up on Google Images a good thing? It means more traffic!

It's only a good thing if one doesn't mind the photos being "stolen."
This client has a BIG problem with it.

Unless one puts a repeating web address over the entire image (which he doesn't want), it can be easily cut out of the picture. In his market, theft of images will not lead to sales.

Using Google images one can only download thumbnails. Just change names of images through site or folder the images are in, if it is possible, or redirect people when they try to get the image from Google. But don't forget robots.txt to be correct...Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by djura

Using Google images one can only download thumbnails.

That is incorrect. If you click see full size image it takes you to a direct link to the image, and then you can save it.

Originally Posted by djura

Just change names of images through site or folder the images are in, if it is possible, or redirect people when they try to get the image from Google. But don't forget robots.txt to be correct...Hope this helps.

The robots.txt file was already created, it just hasn't taken effect yet I guess.

How exactly would I setup a redirect if it's Google doing it?

Nevermind! Found it! Awesome!

 <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
if (top.location != self.location) top.location.replace(self.location);
</script>

Adding the above to pages forces a redirect when the picture is clicked. I think this will be a better alternative rather then completely blocking Google Images.

Even though Google image index it, since it is protected from getting copied, it will not be copied by other even it was found through SE.

Originally Posted by francis84

Even though Google image index it, since it is protected from getting copied, it will not be copied by other even it was found through SE.

You are incorrect.
See post #12 which explains how you can "steal" the images by clicking see full size image.

if they're on the site people can still get them. ping the site and just wait for googlebot to crawl the latest version

<sigh> Please read post #3.

Originally Posted by Post #3

The images can only be currently taken off if a browser has Javascript turned off or they take a screen shot. The general person does not bother (or know of) this.

A lot of people replying and not reading the thread...

A lot of people replying and not reading the thread...

Nothing new there then!!

Originally Posted by chrishirst

Nothing new there then!!

Well, a good thing is the client agreed to do the redirect rather then blocking the Google Images. I had to demonstrate how it worked and explain to him that allowing Google Images to cache thumbnail images will in turn provide him with more traffic if we do the redirect. He's not very web savvy, but he when he wants something, he wants something!

How about using print screen on the keyboard can you disallow that?