Copyright Release Form

[avaloncm]

I have shot a lot of high school sports lately - One local high school has asked for permission to use my photos in the yearbook. Plus they just won State and want to put a Billboard up in town using one of my photos.

They have asked for a copyright release form from the sense that I need to give them permission to use my photos.

does anyone have sample forms for this purpose that they would share? I have model release forms, but have not developed anything to grant permission to another party to use my work.

Thanks!

[shutterbugcrazy]

Yes I also was asked for a release form so a land development company can use my images for promotion. Any links???

[bieber]

Write a letter and sign your name to it, maybe get it notarized. That should be sufficient. Or, if you want a real form, get a lawyer to make one up for you. No offense to POTN members at large, but random people on the internet are best not trusted with legal matters...

[Knightshade]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/158115206X/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-7132864-1046437#reader-link

[canonphotog]

I believe what you really want to do here is provide a document for non-exlusive license to the school to use your copyrighted photos in the manner requested for a specific period of time, not release your copyright.

This way if you have the opportunity to sell your images for money during the time frame the school is using them, you can, as long as the licensing agreement is also non-exclusive.

[TeeJay]

Bear in mind you are NOT releasing copyright, you are granting them a limited use license, to use your pics in a very specific way, i.e. a leaflet with a print run of X number, a half-page image in a brochure with a readership of X thousand, an enlargement on a billboard of X x Y dimensions for a period of X days from Y date.....

.... ANY deviation from the quoted figures requires a new license (for a new fee!)

I'm sure you get the hang of it.

TJ

[PhotoAttorney]

Tad Crawford's book is very good and thorough!

Remember - you are licensing, not selling, copyright!

I recently published an article on Naturescapes.net that also may be of help: http://www.naturescapes.net/032007/cw0307.htm

Best,
Carolyn

[IndyJeff]

Ask the AD or SID of the school about the liability of using athletes images in this manner. I am pretty sure it would be covered but, there are use issues which can cause an athlete to lose elgibility both at the hs and NCAA levels.