Image Value & Protecting your Copyright

[candleman]

In light of Jeffs thread here, and this thread here.. I thought this deserved a bit of attention.

both of these revolve around the fact that people don’t attribute value to an image created by a photographer.

I think Jim hit the nail on the head with this…

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Most folks either don't know or even care about copyright violations. It's up to the photographer to make clients sign a contract prior to the shoot.

very true.
….its also up to photographers to ACTUALLY ENFORCE their Contracts especially in terms of copyright and the use of the image.
you need to care.

Case and point.
Today, I noticed someone I had just done some work for, using a cropped version of one of my images.
IE, the watermark had been cropped out.
We, In writing and verbally, had agreed only watermarked stuff was to be used on social networking sites.

So… what now? Sure he uploaded BOTH cropped and uncropped..

Instead of letting it slide, because theres plenty more work coming from him in the future, I did something about it and sent this message.
Heres an excerpt

Just a friendly side note…
I see you put up an unwatermarked pic of mine, (cropped out)
Please only put up the watermarked ones on Facebook.
Their terms and conditions can allow them to take ownership of the image.
IE. you’re potentially giving the copyright that I own to facebook simply by uploading it and ticking the box.
Could you please delete that one and change it for the watermarked one, I’d appreciate it,.

As we discussed, if it’s going online (with exception of your own website) it needs to be the watermarked version for that reason.

he agreed to remove it and replace it with the original.

All this talk of watermarking and copyright is just a fat waste of time of its not actually enforced.
Its up to photographers to demonstrate they value their work by taking action.
If you don’t value your own work, nobody else will.

It then does not only ruin it for you, it de-values everyone elses copyrights too, because next time that person wont think twice about downloading songs, or copying other peoples photographs.


SO.
1.Get it in writing.
2.Make it clear verbally
3.Actually Enforce it

if its not enforced.... its just a waste of breath, ink and time.
you may as well just give all your pictures away for free forever, because the precedent has been set.

just a thought.

[AnneWynne]

good points. Thanks for sharing your message you sent to your client.
Anne