The internet has been a valuable place where photos where uploaded and shared. It is excellent in terms of sharing it, but there are some instances that photos are used and manipulated by people even without any permission from the owner of the photos. It is like stealing one’s property, so much more getting one’s identity. This can be seen in social networking sites where people sometimes use photos of other people and claim it as theirs. It is like having a perfect clone on the other side of the globe.

One of the misunderstandings of photography is that when one captures a photo, it is his. In reality, that is not the case. Claims and suits should be backed up with proof and papers that provide one with its official and exclusive ownership and right to publish, use and sell such intellectual properties. One photographer should know his rights and understand how to protect his rights and properties. Remember that only tangible things can be copyrighted. Ideas and spoken words cannot be registered unless it is made tangible in outputs such as written papers or recorded speeches. As photos appear to be tangible, it is prone to many copyright problems.

Though this generation is considered as digital world, there are limited ways to protect one’s rights. These may help every photographer be safe and protected. Copyright laws do not only protect photographers, but all individual citizens who capture and reproduce photos. Here are some things to remember when dealing with copyright protection.

Copyright registry

It is important to have official proof that you own the photos. Application for copyright is quite costly, roughly around $45 for US Copyright Office registry, but rest assured that your works are protected. In one registry, you may include as many digital photos as you want as long as it fits in a single CD or DVD. An image with a resolution of 250 to 300 pixels is enough as long as it can be clearly identified and compared. Registration may take quite some time, but hence, it is worth the wait. You can register works up to three months after its first publication. But with the way the net worms work, it is better to register it before publishing to prevent problems on claims.

Another organization is PLUS coalition. It is a non-profit initiative that envisions to protect and manage image rights. It is composed of well-respected companies and experts covering more than thirty countries worldwide. If you want to get ultimate protection, get it from the best.

Online protection

Internet is a hub where people love to copy and paste things. For sure, you also had this experience. Getting some images for your blog or site? Internet has it all. How can a person protect his photos when people can have an access on it? Here are some ways.

First is having a digital watermark on your photos. Most professional photographers have this. Digital watermark, as defined, is any information or symbol that is embedded on the photo which cannot be removed easily. If anyone attempted to copy and paste or even save the images, the digital watermark remains. This identifies the owner and the origin of the photos. It is sensible to put the digital watermark at the center of the images so that it cannot be cut straightforwardly. If you have already registered the photos, it is advisable to include the copyright symbol, ©, to let people know that law suit is at hand if infringement happens.

Second is using copyright description or notice at the bottom of the picture. This is more serious than the first. This means business. This notice can be attached to photo caption or in its metadata. You can also use tags if the first two is not applicable. Metadata are the embedded information about the photo. Such information are the date, time, and place the photo is taken, copyright, and contact information of the owner (websites, office or company name). Metadata tool kit are available online for downloads. This provides easy management of photos. One disadvantage of this is that it can be removed when editing softwares such as Photoshop is used.

Photography ownership rights

When we talk about rights, we do not just talk about the photographers themselves, but buyers as well. Nowadays, photos are bought and have been a developing business venture among art enthusiasts. An example for this is wedding coverage. Who gets the credit? Is it the photographer or the couple? Such conflicts can be address with a well-defined contract.

Exclusive rights are given to the one who get services from a photographer or simply called as the buyer. The photographer cannot publish any of the work unless it is permitted by the buyer. However, agreements can be made between both parties. Such agreements may include selling, marketing, and publishing rights.

Lease rights are agreements that include duration of time wherein the photo’s exclusive right is given to a single party. After the said duration, the rights of the photos are brought back to the original owner.
Transfer rights are the agreements between two parties wherein all rights are transferred from the first party to the second wherein the first can no longer reproduce, publish and sell the photos in any way starting on the date of transfer.
Work for hire clause is written within a contractual agreement that gives the employer the sole right to the photo. Once the employee is paid, all of his rights to the photo will be terminated.

Photography rights are important areas of photography especially that we are dealing with intellectual properties. Because of the unlimited access of the internet, some may say that people can get away with it anyway, but we need to be vigilant and critical in making ways to prevent these things to happen. The power to stop such stealing is in our hands. Let us practice proper and legal conduct in preserving and uplifting photography in art industry.

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