Copyright

[ronosmena]

Now for the COPYRIGHTS - I have a few questions, do I have to copyright each picture I take? Or when you pay for copyright fee to a lawyer, does it give you the right to put the &copy (c) 2005 Logo on every picture you have?

How does it go? If you have copyright rights in the US, and someone in the UK or some other country steals it, is it covered?

More insights please. Thank you.:D

[RockSlut]

Check out the very helpful US Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/) website.

Quick answers though -

1. No you don't have to "copyright every picture that you take". Every photo you take has automatic protection, however registration with the copyright office will make enforcement of your copyright much easieer if required.

2. You do not have to register your images (you can register with the copyright office, not a lawyer) to put your copyright on your images however, see #1 above.

3. There is an international agreement (the Berne Convention (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berne_Convention_for_the_Protection_of_Literary_an d_Artistic_Works)) between most countries that makes your copyright internationally enforceable. However you would need to deal with breaches locally (for example by hiring a UK lawyer).

I hope this is of assistance.

edit. I am not a lawyer and therefore what I posted does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific issue you should seek professional (and local) legal advice.

[redbutt]

There was a large thread on this a while back...

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=74533

[Joe R]

Best copyright resources page is here:
http://www.editorialphoto.com/copyright/