Copyright Info

[Realist]

I was wondering about photo copyrights. I don't really know anything about them. Here are some basic questions I have.

Does one copyright cover all of your photos, or do you need a copyright for each picture?

Where do you get one, and how much do they cost?

Do you need a copyright if you're selling you photo's?

[tegan]

Copyright is automatic in Canada. If you create a work..as in take a photo, then you automatically own the copyright to that photo. There is no cost involved.

When a photographer's copyright is violated, it is often due to what I would call compound ignorance. A photographer does a favour for a friend, relative, acquaintance and takes some photos at minimal or no cost at a game, for example. The friend shows the photos around and gets offered money for their use in a local sports magazine. He figures they are his photos since you gave them to him so he goes ahead. You then discover your photos in a local sports magazine without receiving either money or credit for having taken them and they may appear on a web site as well.

Legally, it could be said that with no evidence to the contrary the photographer gave up his rights to the photos when he gave the photos away. The friend would just plead ignorance of copyright law and photography and that would probably be accurate.

To avoid this, photographers use contracts that specify what rights are being given away in return for remuneration and what rights are retained by the photographer.

Tegan

[Realist]

Thanks for the explaination. Is it the same in the US, that copyrights are automatic? And when would you put the copyright information on the pictures? Like how photographers put a copyright in the corner of the picture, when they sell it?

[tegan]

Thanks for the explaination. Is it the same in the US, that copyrights are automatic? And when would you put the copyright information on the pictures? Like how photographers put a copyright in the corner of the picture, when they sell it?

It is the same in the US, except that there you can register your copyright for a small fee with some required paperwork. Registering however is not required and offers only minimal advantage in showing that the original work is yours. It is usually however easy to prove that a work is yours through other shots taken at the same location in the same style, possession of the original shot with date, time etc., people that saw your shot, etc.

Copyright is often put on photos using a watermark. The process can be done in Photoshop or PaintShop Pro, however all that does is tell someone that is copyrighted. It can easily be taken off or cloned out using any photo editor so don't think of it as any sort of protection.

I think too many photographers get really a paranoia about having their photos stolen and their copyright violated. It does happen in some very competitive areas like sports photography but only with shots that border on the spectacular.

Realistically you need to look at your photo and say to yourself "Is someone really going to make a whole lot of money by stealing this photo?" If they are then your photography is good enough for you to be making so much money that you can easily afford legal action. If not, then there are less expensive approaches to deal with the issue such as invoices, collection agencies, and small claims court.

Tegan

[Realist]

Thanks for the help tegan! Before your explaination I knew nothing.