Under US law the photographer automatically owns the rights to a photograph, exceptions are when the photo is
made under contract expressed or implied to another.
I really need to read up on how this applies to me, as well. I think that in NZ, when you take a photo of a person that person actually owns the copyright unless they sign a model release or some kind of contract. There are also rules about taking photos of private property (I've been "spoken to" twice on behalf of the owners of historic buildings).
Legally I have absolutely no idea of what I'm talking about. I'm not a lawyer and I haven't spoken to one.
- Dave
http://www.digistar.com/~dmann/
