Protecting my images - best links to read?

Hi,

I am looking for info/advice/links to start reading up on the aspect of protecting my images. Copyrighting, what to do if they are used without permission, etc....

I have read that you can register images online for copyright protection for like $35 or so. (is this per image or per CD which can be hundreds of images?)

Reason I am asking is that I did a lot of work for a local magazine here in South Florida that went out of business May 08 of last year. I would go and photo events, clubs, restaurants, etc...

I have found that one club has promoted it's annual Spring Break party bash using one of my old images that was printed in the now defunct magazine. The club using it is not even the same club where the image was taken. (Same location, but that club closed and a new one opened there but you can not see anything with the old club name or it or what).

I approached the new club and they were very apologetic about it, offered to comp me in VIP stats every night of the week for that time period. Said they didn't know it was a protected image that they just paid a graphic designer to create a design for flyers and ads. Which it isn't a surprise that the graphic designer they used was also the exact same one that was employed by the old magazine who is now freelancing on his own. So I am pretty sure that he has a whole hard drive of my photos and such.

So while there isn't really much I can do about it now, I would like to read up and start taking necessary actions/precautions with my future work.

Many thanks to all.

No suggestions?

Per CD. They're © the instant you take them. Or, you can put them all on a CD & ©/register them all at once for just the one $45 fee.

That only depends on what rights you sold with the images.

Copyrights for dummies

Copyright Violation from a former friend

Jury awards a photographer $1,315,800

How do I resize to make photos unprintable from the web?

ClickClick wrote in post #7361033
So while there isn't really much I can do about it now,

Says who. You have a valid complaint against not only the person using your images (assuming you have it in WRITING) that your images weren't to be used, but also the club owners, which at minimum should get a cease and decist order.

Maybe you should contact the graphic designer and let them know that you are aware that he/she used your image. Maybe you can gain a potential client in the graphic designer, if not than advise them not to use your images.