Help me with a release!

I have read in here of people giving discs to people and them not being able to print them without a release. Can anyone assist me with what their release looks like? If so send it to jberlotti at hotmail... you know the rest. I appreciate any assistance. Guess I should take a law class or something. Nah............

Its very simple. On your letterhead, just write up quick "I hereby give permission to (client) to make any reproductions, prints, etc.... blah blah.... If there are any questions, please contact the studio directly at blah blah...."

Sign it with your name, studio/company name, phone number, etc.

Then print it off and include it with your CD.

You can set it up as a form letter, and just hand write the clients name.

Hi,

It's not a "release" per se. It's a limited assignment of copyright usage privileges using an "image usage licensing agreement".

Possibly more important than the permissions you do give, the agreement should also state the restrictions you impose and the permissions you don't give.

You do this by stating first that limited rights are being given.

Then you detail what is given, for example, that the client (by name) is permit the making of prints for personal use (either themselves or through printing services), the copying of files in low resolution and small size for personal use online such as for email attachments. These permissions might be given in unlimited number and for an indefinite period of time, or limited in either respect.

But, you should limit this to personal use and not allow sale of or allow any transfer of copyright to third parties, for commercial or any other purposes, in print or in digital form, worldwide and indefinitely.

I think many would also limit derivative works and manipulation or alteration of the original images, too.

Finally, make it clear that you retain your copyright and full control of all rights, along with your contact information.

In addition to something printed on your letterhead as Stephen suggests, I would also put a .txt file on the CD or DVD, with the same info, or a .doc copy of the letter, or a pdf. Anyway, just some common file format most computers would be able to open. That way if the printed letter becomes separated from the CD/DVD, there is info to contact you, and possibly enough for them to just go ahead and make prints.

I am under the impression that the OP only wants to allow a private party to make prints of the images for private use. Ie, it's not commercial, doesn't involve usage rights, third party assigns, etc. Just mom wanting to print the images taken of their son at a local lab.

God bless them, but local labs are the only ones that seem to ask the customer for permission from the photographer. I've never had a commercial lab ask one of my clients for anything releated to a release, even on print jobs in the tens of thousands of dollars. Go figure! If they did, our life would be a lot easier with regard to usage rights

In the local lab scenario, there is no need for anything elaborate or filled with legalese. It's just a lab tech that needs to see something stating that the photographer is giving permission for the lab to print it for them.

Here is what I would write on my letterhead, and give to the customer. Anything else of importance can be given to the customer, but doesn't need to go to the lab. Alan's idea of putting it on the disk is a good one as well. The last two sentences are the most important as they spell out what is allowed, and what isn't. No need to go overboard with that either.

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To whom it may concern,


(customer) is hereby granted permission to reproduce the digital image files we provided to them as part of the (project) project taken on (date). The images can be identified by the metadata containing our copyright, contact, and date information. Premission is only granted for reproduction by (client), and for their own private use. All other rights are reserved.

(signature)

(phone, contact info)

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