No images or Q&A today, but just a discussion that touches briefly on a few topics that were on my mind this week. This is a GREAT post for Photographers & CLIENTS.
COPYRIGHT
First, please get yourself educated about Copyright laws. As a Photographer, ALL work you create is copyrighted under your name. To further protect yourself and works of art, register individual pieces with the [US Copyright] office.
While we do our best to protect our images with watermarks, and copyright notifications, images do and will get be stolen at some point or another. If you have found someone using your images without your knowledge or consent, here is a simple run-down of what you can do to address the situation
What to do when someone has stolen your images,
*First, take a deep breath, then document everything. Take a screen shot of the website, write down the URL, save copies of the violation, etc.
*Research the website, person, and assess the situation. Is this person just sharing your images on a blog post about their favorite inspiration? Are they aware where the images are from? How are they using them? Are their selling *their* product with YOUR images? Etc.
*Contact the owner of the website with a BRIEF and CONCISE email stating where the images are being used, and asking them to be removed. Give a deadline – before you pursue legal action. If you don’t have an attorney, join [PPA] for the best photography related legal advice. Leave the emotion at the door.
*DO NOT start posting their website on twitter, facebook, and bashing them publicly. *Unless (like in my case yesterday) you strongly believe that other images are stolen on the same website and you need to inform the masses.
*Breathe, and go for a walk. Let it go. You’ve done what you can, and you’ll just need to wait for a response, or for the perpetrator to remove the images.
Most importantly, Choose your battles wisely.
WHAT DOES COPYRIGHT MEAN?
In laymans terms, any photograph created by a Photographer is copyrighted under that Photographer’s name. If you as a client, HIRE that photographer for your shoot, the photographer still owns the copyright – unless explicitly stated otherwise. When you share your images from your shoot on facebook PLEASE use the watermarked images provided by me (or your photographer), and if you use un-watermarked images, please state in the description (c) 2010 Michelle Moore, etc.
The biggest reason for protecting images on sites, especially like facebook, is because images get passed around and if there is no watermark or copyright notice, people don’t KNOW who owns the image anymore. Plus facebook can use those images in any way it chooses – so please be careful with what you share online. Here is a really important and interesting article about facebook and the digital age. [The Good & Bad of Facebook's Photography Service].
To Photographers: In addition to images, PLEASE be very careful about TEXT. ANY text on a website (be it a news article, photography blog, etc.) is COPYRIGHTED. DO NOT copy and paste policies, bios, etc. from another photographer and pass it off on your own – no matter how many words you switch around. Many people have put a lot of work and experience into those things, and copying them is STEALING.
When in doubt, ASK first. ALWAYS credit, or link back – when sharing your favorite images or text on your website.
This is just a friendly reminder to PROTECT works of art, and to look out for your fellow peers. Keep an eye out for these things, and do what you can to protect your images. There’s being careful and being crazed about copyright. I believe we are so fortunate to live in an age when information can so easily be shared, and help get our names out there. Just be smart about calm about it, and if anything, remember to choose your battles wisely. Let’s support each other and spread positivity!!
by Michelle Moore
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