Potential problem with avatars; URGENT, please review

[ekrampitzjr]

The Bob Is the Oil Guy (BITOG) forum, which uses similar software to this forum, reports it is deleting members' avatars that are images, because of copyright threats from lawyers for two different parties. It seems that bots from a third party automatically searched the site looking for possible copyright and trademark "infringements" from avatars. Evidently that third party receives a commission from every "violation" found.

Members who used their own photo are exempt from the image deletion, but must vouch that they took the photo. Even AI images are suspect. BITOG admins are paranoid over this, even saying that your photo with a manufacturer's logo on a product might not pass muster.

The whole problem came from the site being open to the public to view without logging in. Maybe we should proactively consider making TRS a members-only forum. We could still accept new members, of course, but ending open access to the public might help us prevent what BITOG is going through.

I'm a member of other, non-automotive forums that closed to public access for other reasons several years ago, so threats have always been around. Now the threats are getting worse.

Take this seriously. Please.

 

[franklin2]

You will never get new members if you close the board to public view. Everyone wants to come in a "kick the tires" before they go to the trouble and join any forum.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

NOTICE Thread 'Avatars'

Nov 19, 2025

NOTICE: I saw this post today and want to address it:


I'm not really sure what to think about it, but I did some quick searching and see that it's something that's being discussed around the net.

It looks like most of our members have a picture of their truck in their avatar, so I'm not sure if this affects us at all, but I'm going to make a forum rule that if you upload an avatar or link to a Gravatar it has to be from a photo you took or image you...

• Jim Oaks
• Replies: 46
• Forum: General Discussions

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[Rodango]

This is bizarre (skeezy), and first I’ve heard it, but I can believe it. I’ll point out that unfettered capit…blah blah blah. I usually use pics of the jungle carpet pythons that I’ve bred. Looks like I need to get one for TRS!

 

[Jim Oaks]

This is bizarre (skeezy), and first I’ve heard it, but I can believe it. I’ll point out that unfettered capit…blah blah blah. I usually use pics of the jungle carpet pythons that I’ve bred. Looks like I need to get one for TRS!

I don't see how anyone could claim your current snake avatar is copyright violation.