About copyright on a photo.Please read.?

Question

OK, so I got my graduate photos samples, but I realized that the company is charging almost $200 for 4 photos, so I decided to remove the watermark on the sample and print the photo myself. Now, my friend is asking me to do the same thing for them. I am now thinking about charging them and print the photo myself. Is it legal to remove the watermark on the sample? Isn’t my photo with my face on it?Now can it be copyright of the company?

P.S i live in Ontario

Answer 1

You are violating the photo company's copyright.

Their price was $200, and you should have paid for your copies, even if you didn't like the price. By doing what you did you stole the fruit of their labor. They could sue you, and they would be right to do so. You could wind up owing them thousands of dollars instead of just $200.

It is not legal for you to do what you did. It may be your face, but it is their work and their equipment and their art.

And if you did for others what you did for yourself, they could sue you for tens of thousands of dollars.

Don't think there is much sentiment out there for people who steal other people's work.

** Note: This is a general discussion of the subject matter of your question and not legal advice. Local laws or your particular situation may change the general rules. For a specific answer to your question you should consult legal counsel with whom you can discuss all the facts of your case. **

Answer 2

david is right.

Not only that, but modifying the picture, by removing the watermark for your own use is arguably not "Fair Use" either.

Canadian law might be slightly different, but not substantially in this regard. Copyright laws are pretty much the same everywhere in the world by treaty.

sww www.chillingeffects.org for definitive info...

Answer 3

The company created the picture using their equipment and their employee. They are the "author" of the piece for copyright laws. You can not reproduce the picture. Selling a copy is even worse.