What is Copyright ?
This is a tough one to explain to most
people. When you employ a
professional photographer (anyone you pay to take the pictures)
You should always ask about copyright and if you will get a
"Copyright Release" if you intend to reproduce the
images for ANY
purpose. Copyright unless released to the client requires you to
ask
the photographer for permission to "copy". The
photographer can
grant a "blanket release" or a per. use release. A
per.use release
is generaly granted and a fee charged for one time permission to
to reproduce his work. If at a later date you want to reproduce
it
again you must again ask for and recieve another release. A
"blanket
release" allows you to reproduce the photographers work
without
having to ask again. This copyright law is difficult for most
people
to accept. The usual response is "I paid to have it taken
and paid for
the copies recieved therefor the picture is mine". No, under
copyright
law you own the media on which the image was supplied to you. The
photographer owns the "image". The next response
generaly go's
"But I only want a copy for my family and the photographer
charges
to much". Answer, when you had the work done you should know
up front what extra copies cost and you accept that before you
paid the bill. Heres the example I use to try and get it over to
people
If you had written a successful book which was selling for $20 a
copy
and you where making your living off it and you discovered some
guy
was selling photocopies of it for $5 what would you do? Answer,
you
would invoke your copyright!. So with a photograper he has the
same
rights as you to stop people "ripping off" his income.
IT'S THE LAW!