Copyright violations by photofinishers

Quote:
Originally Posted by RDKirk

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Issues with some major photofinishing retailers--specifically Walmart and Wallgreen--have been dealt with by settlements out of court spearheaded by the PPA. Other retailers have paid attention. Those that haven't are on a hitlist, and their turn is coming.

>>When the PPA gets that settlement... why is not distributed amoung it's members...

The settlements were agreements from Walmart and Walgreen to take "due diligence" to inhibit copyright violations. That's why they started asking customers for some kind of evidence of permission to copy. It's certainly not foolproof, just a "due diligence" extra step.

The PPA has "Recon Teams"--designated members around the country--that set up sting operations to catch retailers who don't make any such effort.

Rofl

That would explain why when I took some images into the local Walmart to get some printouts for a quick and dirty project, it took me 15 minutes to convince them that it was okay to print. The guy said "Sir, this looks like a professionally done photo and we cannot print that". I said why thank you, I'm a professional and I took the photo." I had to show him the photo online with my copyright viewable before they would print it to a poster.

I have had problems with people taking some of my photos to WalMart to get prints made. I appreciate someone looking out for my best interests, but how is anyone to prove who created the image without the metadata?

I had somebody try and scan my prints for enlargements at Costco and then when they couldn't do that, they had a graphics place scan them in and make enlargements that way.

I've been battling with these people for close to a year now, and they keep insisting they bought a 4x6 and they own the rights to do whatever they want with it.

I'm not understanding the Walgreens part of it. About two years ago I did a personal printing quality test comparing walgreens, costco, mpix, whcc and others. Walgreens made me fill out a form and sign it to keep on file. Perhaps it was a few store units that were not adhering to (overall) corporate policy. BTW, Walgreens was the only one. Costco and Wolf (Ritz) commented on the quality of the images but printed them without question.

It is nice in theory that they might have safeguards in place to protect the image creator. The rare times I do not print at home (when I am out of ink), I usually get positive comments, the images are printed with no questions asked. For major retail chains, I do know Kinko's probably has the strictest practices for copyright protection, but it is entirely up to the person assisting you.

I personally would not rely on a cashier making close to minimum wage to safeguard my shots. I recognize that once someone has the disk they are going to print them. Either charge accordingly for the disk, watermark the shots, or only put low res on the disk/site.

ImCBParker wrote in post #11434173
It is nice in theory that they might have safeguards in place to protect the image creator.

It is nice in theory but in the real world they manage to screw it up anyway. I don't normally use Walgreen's for printing but I needed 1 8x10 in a hurry and sent it online to print at my local store.

When I went to pick it up there was something written on the envelope that I saw as soon as the clerk pulled it out of the bin. I'll skip the gory details but suffice it to say I had to deal with 3 different employees, answer the same questions 3 times while my print was held up in front of several other customers, be spoken to in tones that were completely unacceptable, and, finally, get to sign a form swearing that the work was mine and that I accepted responsibility for any penalties incurred by the store. Badly (and very rudely) handled by poorly trained employees and a manager who couldn't even be bothered to deal with me face to face. Never again.

radloser wrote in post #11431966
I have had problems with people taking some of my photos to WalMart to get prints made. I appreciate someone looking out for my best interests, but how is anyone to prove who created the image without the metadata?

Backprinting. Have your lab put your © on the back. Then hope that the 1hr place looks on the back. The studios around my area put their name on the front.

Mike R wrote in post #11435812
Backprinting. Have your lab put your © on the back. Then hope that the 1hr place looks on the back. The studios around my area put their name on the front.

Not a good plan to depend on the minimum wage teenager at the 1hr place to
A) know what that funny circled C means.
B) give a hoot about anything other than when he can leave

aphphoto wrote in post #11436509
Not a good plan to depend on the minimum wage teenager at the 1hr place to
A) know what that funny circled C means.
B) give a hoot about anything other than when he can leave

You may be right but, We need to do all we can and hope that something will work. The workers you talk about are not going away

aphphoto wrote in post #11436509
Not a good plan to depend on the minimum wage teenager at the 1hr place to
A) know what that funny circled C means.
B) give a hoot about anything other than when he can leave

It's pretty easy for a manager to get that minimum wage teenager to "give a hoot" about something as simple and obvious as "that funny circled C."

Let him watch you fire the one who didn't.

Bosscat wrote in post #11433006
I had somebody try and scan my prints for enlargements at Costco and then when they couldn't do that, they had a graphics place scan them in and make enlargements that way.

I've been battling with these people for close to a year now, and they keep insisting they bought a 4x6 and they own the rights to do whatever they want with it.

Did they buy a pre-existing print, or did you do a shoot specifically for them?

If they hired you to produce the picture, and you do not have a contract giving you copyright, then in Canada they are correct can do whatever they want, as they own the copyright.

Picture North Carolina wrote in post #11433046
I'm not understanding the Walgreens part of it. About two years ago I did a personal printing quality test comparing walgreens, costco, mpix, whcc and others. Walgreens made me fill out a form and sign it to keep on file. Perhaps it was a few store units that were not adhering to (overall) corporate policy. BTW, Walgreens was the only one. Costco and Wolf (Ritz) commented on the quality of the images but printed them without question.

Obviously they make a judgment call on the part of the employee or perhaps a manager. But it may be that they sized you up as someone capable to making the images and let it pass. I dont get too many prints made anymore but when I do I've found its helpful to act like you know what you are doing and that impresses some of the employees. Also offering to bring in the gear to show them that you have what it takes to make the images is also nice leverage.