Photo Release

I don't generally give full rights to my images to my clients, but in one particular case I did and need to write up a release so that they can print where ever they like.

I searched the good ol world wide web, and found plenty of model release forms, but very few image release forms. I'm guessing this would be similar to a form for intellectual property? I'm unsure though, and could use some help.

Thanks!

www.legalzoom.com is great for any type of agreement/contract but you could simply type one out which grants a specific usage and states the limitations of what they can and can't do. Releases are pretty straight forward!


Just title it, "Print Release, Copyright Release (Full Rights or Limited Rights)..etc."

Make sure it's directed between you and your client and it's non transferrable. State your company's location and necessary identifiable information then you can either list or describe the extent of usage you are granting your client.

I would also add in that you control the final output of the photos and require the client to provide written consent and it to be approved if they want to use the photos for publication.

You can also list the usage to be personal or commercial. Just make sure you write out if they can or cannot use the photos for sale.

If it's a print release, make sure to write down your permission which allows them to print the photos at any lab for non commercial use.

Have them and you sign the agreement and you're good to go!

Also, add in your extent of usage. Sometimes, granting clients copyrights may make them feel entitled to control the output and may cause complications when you use the photos commercially to promote yourself.

Please do NOT say "copyright release."

There is no such legal thing as a "copyright release." Usage is "licensed," and a "license" is what you usually want to use. When you license usage, you retain copyright. "License" does not touch your copyright in any way.

Copyrights are "transferred," and that is usually not what you want to do, unless you're getting substantial payment for it. Sometimes copyright is "shared" but that's about like sharing ownership of any other property--it can get legally messy in all the same ways when you and the joint owner don't see eye-to-eye.

RDKirk wrote in post #13275509
Please do NOT say "copyright release."

There is no such legal thing as a "copyright release." Usage is "licensed," and a "license" is what you usually want to use. When you license usage, you retain copyright. "License" does not touch your copyright in any way.

Copyrights are "transferred," and that is usually not what you want to do, unless you're getting substantial payment for it. Sometimes copyright is "shared" but that's about like sharing ownership of any other property--it can get legally messy in all the same ways when you and the joint owner don't see eye-to-eye.

Thanks for pointing that out and now that I'm looking at my releases, none of them have copyright in it. It's either print release or License.

EOSBoy wrote in post #13274474
www.legalzoom.com .....Sometimes, granting clients copyrights may make them feel entitled to control the output and may cause complications when you use the photos commercially to promote yourself.

And they would be entirely correct to feel so entitled. If you grant copyright to someone else you have just given away ownership of your images! A slip up like that can be very expensive in the long run which is why you should not write your own copyright licenses unless you are an experience intellectual property lawyer.

As RDKirk points you want a license that grants limited usage rights.