AOL and Smart Money Advocate Copyright Infringement

[vwpilot]

Thought some of you that do some school photography might be interested in this and possibly sending AOL a little feedback on how you feel about it.

http://money.aol.com/top5/general/most-obnoxious-school-costs-2

If you notice in the last part of the article, as a "money saving tip" it states:

"At the Clark School in Swampscott, Mass., parents can spend as little as $24 for a few wallet-size photos and one of the class. The bill rises to more than $50 if parents splurge for a package that includes a couple of 5-by-7s. Worried you won't have a spare to send to Grandma? Consider scanning your copy or email a cute digital shot you took yourself. "

With the last sentence being the real kicker.

I've emailed them through the link under the story and suggest anyone else that cares might want to do the same. Let them know how you feel.

[cgratti]

emailed them too...

[IndyJeff]

My email has also been sent. We'll see what, if any retraction is written.

[Curtis N]

<shrugs>
People who have scanners will use them if they want to email a file to Grandma. It's wrong to suggest people violate copyright, but I don't think we can stop this sort of thing.We found one photo studio based in California that advertises on its web site that it's willing to pay schools a 10% commission on all orders.I think that's on the low side. One studio owner I talked to who does lots of school pictures says he pays 15%.

[vwpilot]

<shrugs>
People who have scanners will use them if they want to email a file to Grandma. It's wrong to suggest people violate copyright, but I don't think we can stop this sort of thing.

So its ok then? So we should just sit back and let it happen and run with out tails between our legs? So we should just let them keep suggesting this so that instead of 5 in 10 parents doing this, now 8 in 10 are doing it cause AOL says its ok to do it?

I dont think its a matter of whether or not its already done or not, the point is it shouldnt be being done and the idea thats it ok shouldnt be being passed around by such "responsible" reporting.

[coreypolis]

I saw this earlier else where. Unbelievable for a company like AOL to blatenly suggest breaking IP law.

[fdpiech]

http://money.aol.com/top5/general/most-obnoxious-school-costs-2

An customer have to ask why we as photographers have to charge so much for our services.

I'm off to write a REAL nastygram to the person who wrote this article...

I'd like to suggest everyone else out here do the same...

[coreypolis]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=240171&highlight=aol

[cgratti]

Everyone knows its going to happen, but a major company like AOL should NOT be telling people to do it!

[CyberDyneSystems]

At the risk of sounding daft, could someone copy and paste the link to the email function mentioned? I can't see anything on that page, but that's most likely because I'm blind... or simply can't stand such a cluttered page.
Thanks.

[vwpilot]

It looks like the page may have been pulled.