Claiming a copyright (UK law) and copyright law

[machineman9]

In the near year, following the gathering of my new DSLR, I am obviously going to be taking some photos.

Mostly airshows probably, but I also have a good friend who wants to do some model photography, and I feel like doing a bit of editing etc so add some effects.

I am just checking on what the actual law is with making a copyright on images. I have looked and some places are saying I need to have a copy sent away to somewhere and others say I just need a permanant copy. What is the exact thing behind it? If it is my image, can I slap a C date and name on it?


What about sharing a copyright. I want my friend to be able to use their photos for their use, but also I want to be able to put it on my (to be created) web portfolio. Can I just put both our names on it? Is it my copyright because I took it? I understand if it is a shared one, then the friend would have rights to do as they wish with the image... Which is fine by me.

And one last bit. What about taking photos of aircraft etc? Do I still get the copyright if it is of objects like that? Just asking because the aircraft flying wouldn't be mine, it would be theirs... But the photo is mine.


Any help?


So how do I copyright?
Can I share the copyright?
Can I photograph most things and copyright it?



Cheers

[BigTruck]

You kind of answered your own question there.  Yes the photo you take is YOUR photo, so yes you can claim it as yours and copyright it, no matter what photo you take, it is yours.  All that is saying is that no one else can use that photo without direct consent from you.

As far as the legal procedures go, I can't answer all that accurately, so maybe one of the pros here has an answer

[AMDDDA]

[quote]You kind of answered your own question there.

[BigTruck]

[quote][quote]You kind of answered your own question there.

[Wii]

Your photo is already under copyright BUT people might still use it because it is human nature idk. SOOO here are a couple of links that can help you edit in a water splash copyright word through your image and a license for you website.
License
http://creativecommons.org/license/
Watermark tutorial.
http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/copyright/

Hope this helps.

[Hagar]

Photography is no different from other forms of art. If you took the photo you own the copyright but the moment you post it on the Internet there's very little you can do about it. Realistically anyone interested in stealing your work will do so whatever precautions you take to prevent it. It's unlikely that you would ever find out & any suspicions would be very difficult to prove. The best answer is not to post hi-res images that would be of any use to anyone.

I have to agree with BigTruck; [quote]If someone found one of my pictures worthy of stealing I'd be honored

[machineman9]

Yeh that watermark thing seems fairly easy. I probably wouldn't go quite that far with it though... Probably just stick one in the corner or something.


And yeah, I would keep a high-res version (perhaps for sales, I don't know... ) and upload a smaller and watermarked version. I know that some pesky devils out there will have no problem in removing said copyright bit, or ignore it, but I suppose it would give me recognition if someone goes and puts the image out there (hopefully good recognition...)


And so what about sharing the copyright with someone else?

[expat]

If you want to make sure that the picture/s are yours then all you need to do it post them to yourself as registered post, sign for them but not open them. You then have a date sealed package that can be admitted as evidence at any subsequent argument over who owns the picture.

Matt

[machineman9]

So I post myself my pictures?

Hmm... That might start to get expensive. Can I not keep a sort of permanent, digital, copy with similar results? Surely that would log the dates of its creation etc. Would no doubt be cheaper as well.

Is that really even that neccisary?

[Hagar]

The original images should be enough. The EXIF data has all the information required to prove that they were taken with your camera. There's no need to register them or anything else.

As for sharing the copyright, presumably you can do anything you wish with your own property. Either give it away or sell it.

[Omag 2.0]

You always have the copyright of your photo's. Keep the originals around, so you can always proove it's your work.

If you post them on the net, slap a small text on them stating your name for example.

As far as the stealing bit goes, don't post your shots to big on the net. People can always take your photo's and remove the text, but if one wants to make some money, they will have to be in a higher resolution. You can't make posters out of a regular web-picture and I think stock-sites require a certain resolution.

Some people have allready asked my permission to use my shots on fansites, which is cool to me, as long as they ask and if they don't remove my name from them... So if you have an agreement with your friend that he may use your shots, there is no problem....

And don't forget one thing, certainly when you start taking pictures, it'll take quite some time and effort to produce shots that will be good enough to sell... Some people think that every shot taken with a dslr is worth lots of cash... well they aren't...

[machineman9]

Very true words. I have a little under 800mb of airshow photos, and I would be suprised if anyone bought any of them. Though the camera I was using probably let it down a bit too.

But ya know, maybe if I stick a little 'If you are interested in buying the full size version email me' type thing, then I might get a few replies. I'm not expecting the world to go and buy large copies of my stuff, but the occasional sale might help out... Every little does help.


And thanks Hagar, yeah both those points were what I was thinking.

[61_OTU]

An interesting point about image copyright comes up with certain buildings.

For example the Gherkin and London Eye both are under copyright, and theoretically you cannot sell an image containing the design of the structures without obtaining permission. How easy this is to enforce I don't know........

Essentially though any image you take with your camera from public place is your image. And when it comes to 'selling' images be very clear what you are selling, a print is one thing. As soon as someone talks about *using* an image for any purpose other than their own personal enjoyment then you are looking at licensing the use of that image. For that you need to discuss what medium the image will be used in, for what duration, and for what number of reproductions.

Have a look at the freelance website for some of the discussions around this issue:

http://www.londonfreelance.org/feesguide/photo.html

A final point is that any images taken on private property *at an aisrhow* usually are excluded from use commercially in the terms of the ticket sale. It's an exclusion on the ticket terms and conditions preventing professional photographers selling images from the airshow without permission. Again theoretically they could chase you down for breaching the terms of your access to private property to take and then sell the images....not very likely but something to bear in mind.

Steve

[Omag 2.0]

Steve makes a good point! In Belgium, the Atomium is a known landmark, but also copyrighted... And the owners actively go after people who display images of it without permission ( and a fee offcourse), even if it's a site with just holidaypictures for the family!  ::)

Several other buildings have similar rights. In Belgium it depends wether the building  is privately owned or public.

[machineman9]

Blast. Maybe a friendly 'donate' would be better suited - Donations towards equipment... Nothing more. Saves risking it.


And yeah, that is a good point, letting them know what they are buying. Just a single use print, or rights to use it where they want etc.