PJ's: Who owns the photos?

[vcutag]

I'm working as a reporter with the Capital News Service, a wire service my college's j-school runs to cover the Virginia General Assembly for weekly small-town papers, and I've been told I can shoot photos for CNS course credit (gets me out of writing some briefs, I'm game). I just won't have my press pass until Friday or Monday. :(

But my question is this: since the course is operated like a newswire, where our content goes out to about 30 or 40 different papers, who actually owns the photos?

Say I want to take a picture I shot from the Senate chamber and post it on a personal blog, is that kosher? I have slight ethical issues doing so, I personally feel it's almost like insider trading, but I have a reputation for being the class ethicist :). I'm just wondering about copyrights, I'm not too clear on whether it's more like freelance work or what. Would the photos belong to the school, or to me?

Also, if any of you guys (and gals) have any advice for trying to cover state government, it'd be most appreciated, I've never really done this kind of work before. I'm doing some photos for a profile on one of the legislative pages, and for a profile I'm working on of our local Delegate, but other than that, it's more of a "use your instinct" kind of thing from my prof. :-\

Anyway, thanks in advance, and if this is in the wrong forum, I apologize.

[IndyJeff]

Check with whomever is sending you out on the assignment about the copyrights.

[defordphoto]

Anyway, thanks in advance, and if this is in the wrong forum, I apologize.

This is the correct forum. I'd add more but Jeff's line says it all. Check with your employer as to rights status.

[vcutag]

This is the correct forum. I'd add more but Jeff's line says it all. Check with your employer as to rights status.

The commonsense approach. Should have thought of that. :-)

[IndyJeff]

I am not suggesting you just give up the rights, in fact I would lobby to keep the copyright but don't let it cost you the job.


If possible never, ever, ever give up the copyright to your work. You never know when that shot may be reprinted countless number of times.

For example, remember the shot of Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton when she was in that crowd wearing her little black beret'? How many times did that photo run over the course of a year or so in how many different places? Do you think that photographer knew he had a goldmine when he took that? I doubt it, how could he know that this woman was the one who would put Bill Clinton in the position of possible impeachment in the future.
I am not sure who shot that or if they retained the copyright but, I would venture to guess that if he did that one photo alone made him well over $50,000 over the course of a year, if he licensed it right, maybe double that. Just think of the sales to text books in the future. The earnings off that image is still not done yet.


Trivia question....Do you know the image that is credited with being the most reproduced image in the world?

[defordphoto]

http://artscenecal.com/ArticlesFile/Archive/Articles1998/Articles1198/1198JPGs/AKorda3.jpg

Hey! I have an idea!!!

[IndyJeff]

LOL Whats that link about Jim? He looks like a rebel in some central American country.

[KennyG]

It is Jim on a bad hair day :)

[iwatkins]

This one ?

http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/lester/writings/flag1.jpg

[Jon]

Nope, Jim's got it with Che. And IIRC, practically none of those billions of prints, tee shirts, etc. have netted the photographer any royalties.

[defordphoto]

LOL Whats that link about Jim? He looks like a rebel in some central American country.

Cuba, actually.

You asked. The most reproduced photograph in the world. The Iwo Jima photo also claims that, but most point to Alberto Korda's photo I posted above.

http://www.contemporary-magazine.com/reviews54&53_1.htm

[defordphoto]

It is Jim on a bad hair day :)

:lol: :lol: Not far from the truth!

[sdommin]

But my question is this: since the course is operated like a newswire, where our content goes out to about 30 or 40 different papers, who actually owns the photos?

Generally, if you are working as an employee and taking photos is your job, then your employer owns the copyright. This is known as "works for hire". Of course, you can retain your own copyright if you have worked this out in advance with your employer. Since you are in a school situation, your case might be different, but I would make sure ahead of time.

[defordphoto]

heheheheh.... :lol:

[IndyJeff]

Cuba, actually.

You asked. The most reproduced photograph in the world. The Iwo Jima photo also claims that, but most point to Alberto Korda's photo I posted above.

http://www.contemporary-magazine.com/reviews54&53_1.htm
The Associated Press claims that the Iwo Jima image is the most widley reproduced image in the world. That I have seen, now your Cuban rebel is a new one to me.

[defordphoto]

The Associated Press claims that the Iwo Jima image is the most widley reproduced image in the world. That I have seen, now your Cuban rebel is a new one to me.

Yeah...read all that. I kinda like this obscure, Cuban dude. I looked like that for awhile once I got out of the AF. :)

[IndyJeff]

You know I loused that question up in the wording....it should have read, the worlds most published image.

There, take that Cuban rebels everywhere!!! LOL

[defordphoto]

You know I loused that question up in the wording....it should have read, the worlds most published image.

There, take that Cuban rebels everywhere!!! LOL

LOL! Well....Actually, the world's most published image is Mickey Mouse. The world's most published photograph is (according to US stats) Iwo Jima or Che (according to obscure stats).

But, I knew what you meant. ;)

[IndyJeff]

LOL I didn't know you were going to get all lawyered up on me tho

Technicalities, technicalities, technicalities

[defordphoto]

:lol: :lol:

It's all good. I think we all learned something today. That makes it all worthwhile.

[vcutag]

Generally, if you are working as an employee and taking photos is your job, then your employer owns the copyright. This is known as "works for hire". Of course, you can retain your own copyright if you have worked this out in advance with your employer. Since you are in a school situation, your case might be different, but I would make sure ahead of time.

Right, it's a bit of a gray area. As the situation stands, taking photos isn't part of my work with the class, I'm doing it because I'm the only one in the class with the necessary skills/equipment/interest, and there's a demand for it.

However, I'm meeting with the prof tomorrow, he hinted that he might be willing to let me slide on some of the smaller writing assignments (we have to crank out two short briefs and one longer story a week) to do the photography.

[hitech]

I freelance I sell to who ever wants to buy my stuff, I own the copyright because Im not a staff photographer.

1 example is a few months ago, I took pics of a MVA, and the local paper used two, the Assoc Press wanted photos so they called the newspaper, and where told this....sorry the photographer who took the photos does not work for us, hes a freelancer so we do not own the photo/copyright.

AP called me bought 2 photos, so for a total of 4 pic and 1/2 of my time I made 300.00 bucks...not bad if I do say so myself.

Gary

[Maz]

hello everyone.
I say if you got it...Flog it!!

Maz
http://www.homesteadsforsale.com

[primoz]

I guess someone else would give you better advice since this is different from country to country and from one law to other. Here in Slovenia (Europe) compay you are working for (if you are not freelancer) keeps copyright (if not agreed otherwise) for I think 15 years (I'm not long enough in this business to bother if it's really 15 years or year up or down :) ). After that photographers gets his copyright back. But as I said. This things are different for different countries.