Understanding Copyright Laws

I wanted to share some information that I came across because I feel like a lot of people just don't know. To be honest, before becoming a photographer, I knew you couldn't copy pictures, but I didn't really know the full extent of the law when it came to having a professional photographer take your family pictures. Here are a few laws of copyright and reasons why they are so important.

“Copyright” describes the rights given to creators for their literary and artistic works.

We often don’t consider copyright when we look at our family photos, or go to get them copied. Even though it is so easy to copy an image—with scanners, photo-quality printers, and copy stations—it is still illegal.

•Copyright is a property right.
•Just because you buy a print does not mean you have purchased the copyright.
•Professional photographers are the smallest of small copyright holders.
•Under the Federal Copyright Act of 1976, photographs are protected by copyright from the moment of creation.
•Photographers have the exclusive right to reproduce their photographs (right to control the making of copies).
•Unless you have permission from the photographer, you can’t copy, distribute (no scanning and sending them to others), publicly display (no putting them online), or create derivative works from photographs.
•A photographer can easily create over 20,000 separate pieces of intellectual property annually.
•Professional photographers are dependent on their ability to control the reproduction of the photographs they create.
◦It affects their income and the livelihood of their families.
•Even small levels of infringement—copying a photo without permission—can have a devastating impact on a photographer’s ability to make a living.
•Copyright infringements—reproducing photos without permission—can result in civil and criminal penalties.

As of January 2010, I made some changes because I had many people asking me about being able to buy the digital negatives. I have to admit that it was a very difficult decision. I thought a lot about it, and I realize this is a digital age. People want to be able to email their pictures and print them for scrapbooking and other things, so I wanted to make that possible. That is why I chose to sell Cd's this year. The Cd's come with a photographers release that gives you permission to do those things. I would like to add, that I have an amazing printing company who's quality cannot be beat! I will always suggest having prints made through me, especially the larger prints. The way a picture is printed really does make a difference. If you are interested in purchasing the rights to a photograph session I did for you, contact me at tabi_reuman@yahoo.com.