Copyright question - rapid reply much appreciated!!!

[JoevL]

Excuse my ignorance, :oops: I've read a few threads on the forum but can't find any questions/answers regarding how to 'copyright' an image. Does imbedding a watermark mean I then have copyright protection on the image?

Any help is much appreciated, need to get the sample pictures e-mailed as soon as possible.

[ssim]

Copyright varies from country to country. In Canada you are protected once you take the image but that doesn't deter thieves from taking your image and trying to use it for their own benefit. We do not have to register our images for further protection like you can in the US. Here are a couple of links that I found that are particular to the United Kingdom. Google is a great thing.

http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p01_uk_copyright_law

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/copy.htm

Adding a watermark to your images can certainly help deter the thieves. The other things such as lowering the resolution of an image will help also. You have to realize that once you put it out on the net you are taking a certain amount of risk.

While the copyright normally stays with the photographer, if you are working under "work for hire" rules this could change things. It is best to have a contract for any work that you do that clearly identifies all the details of the shoot. It is a matter of protecting yourself.

[JoevL]

Perfect and thank you very much, the images are from a music festival I was shooting last weekend and are being e-mailed to one of the band's managers for consideration (was asked for low-res samples anyway).

Thanks again for your help. :)

[asysin2leads]

Photography is considered "Intellectual Property" and are covered under the US copyright code. I've just talked to a contractual attorney about this the other day. They are copyrighted back to the original owner unless a release was granted.