Copyright

Copyright is something I take seriously. Photography is how I make my living and it is important to my family that I protect my way of life. Copyright notices and watermarks may seem harsh, but they are only ways to protect my livelihood and photos you have hired me to take from being used by any person or corporation. I’ve linked to some sites/articles below that may give you some helpful insight to copyright law and the artist’s copyright dilemma in the modern digital era. My intention is not to preach, but to share in hope that an educated community of artists and art patrons will return to a culture that values and appreciates art and the privileges provided by the Federal Copyright Act.

Copyright Reading & Education

U.S. Copyright Office

Copyright is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works.

No Copyright = The Borg | by Doug Menuez

This is not only about tradition, principles or money, it’s about saving a culture and a beautiful way of life through photography. It has truly been a gift to have had the ability to do the work I loved and feed my family. I fear for those coming up.

Gap Pulls A Shepard Fairey | A Photo Editor

Gap appears to have found what I’m sure they consider an unremarkable image of a Jaguar on Flickr (here) and converted it to a graphic for kids onesie’s here and here.

Removal Of Printed Photo Credit…DMCA Violation | by David Walker – PDN

Most significantly, the appeals court said that a photo credit printed in the gutter of a magazine qualifies as copyright management information (CMI) under the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA). The DMCA prohibits the unauthorized removal of encryption technology or copyright management information from copyrighted works.