How do you go about copyrighting your own pictures? I took some into wal-mart, I needed them in a hurry, and they almost didnt let me have them due to the copyright law, but they were my pics.
2007-02-15 15:01:09 · 7 answers · asked by chasandjayg 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
You can do this at the US Copyright Office – see the last 2 links in the source box. The application is fairly simple & the cost is $45 per application.
Despite what others state, a "poor man's" copyright is NOT the same as registering it. Here's what the US Copyright Office has to say:
"The practice of sending a copy of your own work to yourself is sometimes called a 'poor man’s copyright.' There is no provision in the copyright law regarding any such type of protection, and it is not a substitute for registration."
Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
2007-02-16 02:34:41 · answer #1 · answered by TM Express™ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Congratulations! You must be pretty good if WallyWorld questioned the copyright!
You can just have a letter printed stating the images are yours and sign it. Are you digital or film? Bring the negatives with you ( You get a better print directly from the negative, anyway.) If digital, bring a CD of the RAW files.
You can have many images copyrighted at once, and you can send small files so many many will fit on one CD. Contact the copyright offices of the US gov for info on how to do that.
BTW: A photo does not have to have a copyright mark on it to be protected under the law. Many obviously professional photos do not have one, in fact. The policy in my lab is, if the picture appears to be professional, then we will not copy it without a release, whether there is a watermark or not. I think about 99% of the time, we can tell if it is a pro job or not, just by looking at the clues from the picture itself. But when in doubt, we won't copy. That is not being a jerk, it is our job.
2007-02-16 03:37:31 · answer #2 · answered by Ara57 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Recently the government has come to the conclusion that if you have the original negative, the image is yours. Brilliant right?
You can also do the poorman's copyright. Send the images to yourself, registered mail, with a letter stating that the images are yours. You should make sure they're stamped across the back with copyright dates, all rights reserved, etc. When it arrives, don't open it. This way you'll have dated proof that the images are yours.
2007-02-15 19:04:04 · answer #3 · answered by Hawkster 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Have a rubber stamp or press-on stickers made at a print shop to copyright your photos. Most of the newer digital print labs can print your copyright info on the back of your prints at the time of processing for a small setup fee.
2007-02-15 15:42:00 · answer #4 · answered by john_e_29212 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I work in the photography business and it is very difficult to keep people from copying professional photographs. The store was just trying to do their job, but if the photograph does not have specific labeling or marking of copyright then you should not have a problem. However, if it is a consistent issue, just bring your negatives or original camera card with you if you can.
2007-02-15 15:34:52 · answer #5 · answered by jilando 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The easiest way around that is to bring in a note from yourself stating that the images are yours.
Due to current laws photo-reproduction centers such as CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, etc. are not allowed to produce images taken by another photographer without a signed release. (which is why I watermark my proofs).
2007-02-15 22:23:35 · answer #6 · answered by Ipshwitz 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If there was no copyright printing on the back of the photo, they should not of taken or even thought of taken them. I would complain to the store about that.
2007-02-15 15:11:14 · answer #7 · answered by wingedladyk 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋