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Steve Barry wrote: > Correct me if I'm wrong -- I thought I read recently that if a slide is stamped with > the photographer's name it is automatically covered by copyright laws under these new > "works of art" rules. Every photograph that you create is your copyright property from the moment that you create it, regardless if you label it or not. Reminding 'innocent infringers' that they shouldn't steal it and use it without your permission is one reason why we display copyright notices with our images. Proving that you shot it later (once it gets away from you) is another reason if you no longer posses the original at that point, and you didn't register your image. You do not have to file your images with the copyright office to be protected by the copyright laws, protection is automatic under the law, but unless you do, in the event of an infringement, you cannot collect statutory damages and attorney's fees, only actual damages, which of course you must prove (loss of income from that image). More often than not, actual damages calculates only to what you would have charged for usage of that image in that specific infringement. However, if your image was registered prior to the infringement or within three months of first publication, then you have some additional damages due to you by law, if you pursue it. > I know that when I have prints made from slides Kodak requires that > the photographer write on the processing bag that it's okay to duplicate the image and > sign his name They are correct. > (I don't know how often camera shops enforce this, the one I used in > southern New Jersey required this). They can be prosecuted if they don't. > I might be missing something here. Hope I cleared it up. Dave Cohen Photographer, Member ASMP Action Photographic Webmaster [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.anet-stl.com/acphotog/home/ ======================================================= -> SPORRS: 'Serious Photographers Of Railroad Related Subjects' -> Web Site: http://www.anet-stl.com/acphotog/sporrs/ -> Message © 1998 SPORRS® - All Rights Reserved =======================================================
