Copyright and licensing advice

[Vrinda]

I did a portrait shoot earlier this week for a friend. The photos are for him to put on his website, book cover and other publicity material. In this case I'm happy to give him the photos to use in whatever way he wants, but he emailed me yesterday asking if I'll sign over copyright for the images so that he can publish his book with a top-end publisher.

Giving up copyright makes me wince, and I don't see that it's necessary. Am I right in thinking all I need to do is give him license to use it? This is a question I haven't had to consider before and I'd like to get it cleared up so I know what to do in the future also.

Any thoughts on this would be welcome!

[OsmosisStudios]

He doesn't need full copyright. He needs an unlimited rights usage license, at most. Those come at a price.

[Jim Bryant]

Not only no, but hell no. Tell him you'll sell him limited rights to what he needs for a certain period of time. If you do, you're giving away our copyright and will receive no more money for future sales. Such as posters for book reviews, bill boards, TV, newspaper and magazine ads, stories or publicity photos. Besides, if you do sell him your rights, he could very well tell you that you can't use it in your own website or other promo pieces.

[sybren]

I've signed over copyright for commissioned photos. We agreed on unlimited and exclusive usage, so it's fine by me, and from what I've heard this is quite common.

I'm still the owner and creator of the photo, so that gives me the right to use them on my website and portfolio, regardless of who owns the copyright.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by sybren

I've signed over copyright for commissioned photos. We agreed on unlimited and exclusive usage, so it's fine by me, and from what I've heard this is quite common.

I'm still the owner and creator of the photo, so that gives me the right to use them on my website and portfolio, regardless of who owns the copyright.

Not in most countries. If you "sign over copyright", you can't use it unless there's a provision in the contract granting YOU limited rights usage. It SHOULD be the other way around.

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by sybren

I've signed over copyright for commissioned photos. We agreed on unlimited and exclusive usage, so it's fine by me, and from what I've heard this is quite common.

I'm still the owner and creator of the photo, so that gives me the right to use them on my website and portfolio, regardless of who owns the copyright.

Sounds more like a license agreement than a copyright transfer.