Second Photographer?

[MMD]

I was putting together a property and model release document and a scenario occured to me.

Who owns copyright with employees, hired second shooters or other, working for you or your company? Is it common practice to have hired help or employees sign a document?

...and finally, if a release is signed for a company or photographers use, what happens if the company is dissolved, bought out, etc. Does it stay active through the original owner or is it void? Is this something that needs to be mentioned in a release?

[droberts]

Photos are property of the photographer who takes them, unless it is specified by contract (or employee handbook)that all photos by employees of the business are the property of the business. This is to prevent a former employee from bringing a suit against the business for rights to the photo(s) and reimbursment of any profits or future royalties of the photo.

If you hire a second photographer, get it in writing that what he/she shoots on one of your jobs, is yours.

[tim]

I used a contract generator made by the department of labour in New Zealand. The contract it made, which is standard, says copyright of any work produced while on assignment for the company belongs to the company. I added a clause giving the photographer permission to use the images in a printed portfolio, but not online or anywhere else without permission.

[mspringfield]

If I understand the US copyright laws correctly the photographer who took the photo owns the photo however if they are paid as a second photographer then the employer has "purchased" the rights to the photo.

That being said. You would be much better served by talking to a attorney who specializes in copyrights rather than taking any advise you may get here.

Michael