Just a heads up, various copyright registration filing fees are going up today, May 1st. The one that will affect most photographers is the standard filing fee for collections of unpublished work, which is rising from $35 to $55. If you have one photo, by one photographer, then it stays at $35, but if you […]
Archive for category In The News
The Math of Infringement
Apr 28
I never did very well in math – I could never seem to persuade the teacher that I hadn’t meant my answers literally. ~Calvin Trillin We are often asked (by “we” we mean Ed) what is the formula the Federal Courts use to determine the amount of statutory damages a copyright holder can be awarded […]
Two ladies, both “of the media” who at first blush appear to have little in common, now share the title, “litigant”. Though they live some 1,500 miles apart from each other, have dissimilar backgrounds and neither would be confused for the other, they are now sisters in litigation. First up – daytime TV star, real […]
The Copyright Office has announced new fee structures, effective May 1st. You can read the entire PDF list here. Basically, registration of collections is rising from $35 to $55 on May 1st. That’s quite a jump, so we highly recommend to register all those images you were putting off registering, during the month of April. […]
For those readers who cling to the absurd notion spread by your comrades that written, signed model releases aren’t really that important, be warned that this article will upset you. We hope it scares the heck out of you. Here are the relevant facts and portions of the March 6th decision of Justice A. Singh […]
“Haven’t I taught you anything? What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can’t see where it keeps its brain?” The preceding quote is by J.K. Rowling from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Interesting concept. For over three decades we have unfortunately regularly referenced cases […]
The public’s demand for certain types of imagery is seemingly insatiable. Celebrity driven Star magazine for example, receives over 750,000 images per month from a variety of sources including stock agencies, photo syndicators and individual photographers both professional and amateur. They don’t discriminate, you got the shot, they want it. Web sites concentrating on gossip and […]
No topic we discuss attracts more attention than that of the need to obtain written, signed model releases. Broadly speaking, the need is motivated by the desire or need to employ the photographs in connection with the sale or promotion of any product, service, company or organization (whether a for profit enterprise or otherwise). In […]
Location Booby Prize
Jan 19
Here’s another high profile example of why we preach that obtaining property and location agreements is a wise practice. Photographer Allen Henson has been working on a photo project featuring topless women in public places. The New York Daily News and countless other media outlets have covered his exploits for obvious reasons – puns intended. On […]
A Federal Court has just upheld warrantless border searches conducted at or near our nation’s borders. These searches may include an examination of the contents including photographs contained in your camera, smart phone or digital device. If you are a photojournalist returning from a stint in say the Middle East, be prepared to be detained […]
