It is with a heavy heart that I actually have to write a post like this. Today I want to talk about copyright and your images. Copyright by definition is as follows: “Copyright is the set of exclusive rights granted to the author or creator of an original work, including the right to copy, distribute and adapt the work. These rights can be licensed, transferred and/or assigned. Copyright lasts for a certain time period after which the work is said to enter the public domain. Copyright applies to a wide range of works that are substantive and fixed in a medium. Some jurisdictions also recognize “moral rights” of the creator of a work, such as the right to be credited for the work. Copyright is described under the umbrella term intellectual propertypatents and trademarks.” If you would like to read up more on copyright feel free to check out Wikipedia.
Now, you may be wondering where this random post is coming from. I happen to be browsing on Facebook and happen to stumble upon this:
As you can see, the image that that baby is holding has my watermark on it. Unfortunately, this image was copied from this clients viewing gallery and printed out. This is a HUGE no no! This violates copyright and is stealing. I understand that the economy sucks right now and times are tough but when something like this happens it is taking money out of my pocket and off of my dinner table. Doing this would be like going into Dillard’s and walking out with a shirt without paying for it.
This is, also, a big no no:
I take pride in my work. I do not give anyone the right to edit my work as they please.
Other HUGE no no’s include: scanning your prints and printing more, scanning your prints and posting them on the internet, trying to print the images I post on facebook and here on my blog, using your images for other purposes than personal purposes, trying to sell your images for profit, taking pictures of your prints with you phone and posting/printing them, etc. If it has any of my watermarks on it, then it’s not meant to be printed.
I do my very best to provide you, as the client, the very best product and service I possibly can. When things like this happen, it is very discouraging. If you are booking me as for an OpLove session or a Think Pink session, then please be grateful for the FREE gift you are getting. I volunteer my time for these two organizations and provide free products to you. They are free to you but not to me. I have to pay for your products out of my own pocket. You, also, get an additional discount on products you do order. I never expect a sale off of these two types of session. What I do expect is that you are grateful and appreciative of my gift to you. I don’t really know what else to say on this topic. I try to give back to deserving people and a few bad apples who have screwed me over, are possibly ruining it for everyone. This is not the first time something like this has happen, but I do have to say it will hopefully be the last time.
The images on Facebook are there for you to use on the social networking sites you belong to. I have no problem with that. The only thing that I ask for in return is that you do not crop out the watermark. To me, that is a pretty fair trade.
I hate having to do a post like this, but I feel like it is necessary. I don’t blame anyone who does this. I guess I look at it with a naive eye and hope that people who are doing this are just uneducated about the subject and aren’t trying to screw me over.
14 comments
Luke - Exactly why I don’t do OpLove. Paying clients usually don’t do this crap. You’re too good for this to keep happening, but educating your clients with this post is a good step. Good luck Kim!
Hannah - Thank you for this post!
Emma - I am sorry that you should write about this but it’s great post and hopely many people will realize it’s not only illegal but also it’s stealing of time, energy and talent you put into your work to create a great photograph. and what a big heart you have working for 2 organizations, LOVE your work!!
Laura Rauch - Very well said!!! Great work btw!
toki - I’m sorry this happened to you and I commend you for bringing this to the public’s attention. I hope this sort of thing ceases to happen once people realize that it is in fact, stealing. Bravo!
Shannon Flores - It sucks that this happens so often but I’m glad you are addressing it and educating people!
Mary - Very well said!
Dawn Alderman - Very well said…
Heather - Thank you for writing this as well, I think people just need to be educated, they don’t always realize..
Kelly Klatt - Thanks for posting this…it is STEALING, and people need to realize that….way to educate the public!
Brea Bursch - Education is a mighty tool and you are doing it justice with this post. Congrats to being ballsy, truthful and standing up for what is right.
Deborah Israeli - BRAVO!!!! I applaud you for writing this because I often experience many of these problems, especially the one with FB and the cropping off the WM. It’s so upsetting but I commend you for putting it “out there” in people’s faces.
Jen - Let me first start off by saying that it is such a wonderful thing you are doing for the families that you donate your time and money to.
Thank you for taking the time to right this. I to as a photographer see this all the time, when I have a session with my clients, I give them a CD with the watermarked web sized images that they can use on their social sites, and it appalls me that they try and remove the watermarks. I work hard capturing there memories for them, so I thank you for writing this.
Courtney - Great post! I know it really stinks to have to write it, but hopefully it will help educate more people that stealing (in any form) is wrong.