Another stolen image thread

Well it was bound to happen sooner or later to me.

I shoot a lot of clubs, and a promoter has made a flyer using what I'm about 95% certain are my images without prior consent or compensation. Hell if they asked me I would have probably let them use it over a few beers, I don't make squat doing clubs anyway, all my money is in the portrait business and weddings.

My watermarks are removed and they are super-low res, really ****ty quality, which tells me they likely came from the club's Facebook page, which I admin and upload photos to. No credit is given at all to me.

Should the photos be mine, who do I go after for $$$? The company who made the flyer or the promoter who made it? I know all of the people involved and who did what. Do I need to lawyer up and hand them a cease and desist letter?

No they did not sign any contracts for images, because I did not solicit them for services.

You didn't tell us what country you are in. The answer depends on that rather vital piece of information.

If you're in the US, and the images were not published (posted online) past the window of having your photos that were used registered for copyright, then that is your first move IF you feel that 1-It's worth the time and effort pursuing and 2-Doing so won't hurt your business and cost you more via a nasty reputation. Having your images registered allows you to go after damages far beyond what they would have paid in usage fees.

If you are able to copyright them, do so, and choose to pursue this - make ONE contact with the promoter. Inform him that he's using your images, send an invoice, then all contact past that point should be done through your lawyer.

A lot of times, people will contact the offenders first and then they'll have a lawyer involved before they can/do get their images registered. Most lawyers won't touch this unless your images are registered so that should be your first course of action if you're still able to do so.

Enforcing your rights & When you shouldn’t sue for copyright infringement

i am in the united states.

Thanks guys I will look into this.