One of the things that make this copyright blog of ours unique is that we pull stuff from our actual experiences. They are not assumptions, not impossible scenarios or “what ifs”, but rather experiences and events from the field, from real life. Most of the time the names and the exact facts are changed to protect […]
Working Blue
Jun 19
We are “blue in the face” in large measure because we keep cajoling, pleading, begging and even yelling (we are both New Yorkers ya’ know) that everyone ought register their copyrights with the US Copyright Office all of the time, always, no exceptions. As with all rules, along comes the apparent real life exception to our rule. It […]
OUTRAGE! Or The Lack Thereof
May 29
You are smart and business savvy. You have made copyright registration of all of your works part of your normal, everyday business routine. You have employed the best possible paperwork the content of which you have had officially blessed by a knowledgeable attorney familiar with the laws of your state. Everything you create is watermarked […]
Comment on Large Judgement
May 16
Hi all, I just posted a comment on Petapixel on their thread regarding the recent $900,000 award won by a company named “Stepables”. I thought my comment might be of interest to you folks reading our blog. You can read about the case here on Petapixels and here on PDN. Below are my comments that […]
So how’s this for irony? April is Copyright Awareness Month according to the April issue of PPA’s Professional Photographer Magazine. Terrific, photographers and artists need all the awareness and information about copyright they can get. Anything that spreads awareness of the truth is always positive. But something struck us as, well, a bit odd. The […]
Not A Comic Con Case
Mar 29
Many of you (meaning those of you that attend Comic-Con) may have seen an article about regarding a copyright case brought against Marvel today regarding its design of the Ironman costume. See links to articles in the New York Post here and Deadline Hollywood here. Ed’s office served as New York counsel to the plaintiffs […]
“Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” That’s a quote by the late child writer and poet, Mattie Stepanek. Jack was fortunate to photograph the author years ago at Mattie’s home. It’s a great quote because it rings true. Partnerships and collaborations, especially in the arts, can produce wonderful […]
Follow The Money
Mar 2
“When you know the truth it will drive you insane …” so said Aldous Huxley and who are we to argue with Huxley. Ask anyone involved in the creation, appropriation, infringement, adjudication, sales or licensing of intellectual property this simple question: “To what do you attribute the increased amount of stealing or infringing on the works […]
The photo website, Petapixel, recently ran an article on a photo that was allegedly copied by a pharmaceutical company in Germany. The usual cesspool of bad information and tribal wisdom was sprinkled in the comments section. Petapixel to their credit ran a follow up piece, written by a lawyer. A lawyer in Memphis, whose trial […]
In our books and in this blog we have oft written about how to interview and hire an attorney, something we find photographers are clueless and scared to death about. Photographers are universally scared to talk to a lawyer, even when it’s one they need to represent them. We posted articles entitled “Lawyers Need Money […]
