[cc-community] CC: Fun for the whole family

drew Roberts zotz at 100jamz.com
Mon Jan 21 08:44:09 EST 2008


On Sunday 20 January 2008 23:19:27 Matthew J. Agnello wrote:
> One of the problems I run into a lot at work is parents who want to
> make copies of professional pictures of their son or daughter. Because
> it was done by a professional photographer, we're not allowed to make
> copies, and people have a hard time understanding that: after all,
> they paid for the print, they physically own the picture, shouldn't
> they be able to do whatever they want with it? I have to tell them,
> no, they can't, and usually they get quite upset.

The last pro photographer I worked with, and I was very pleased with his work, 
does not assert his copyrights to prevent clients in family photoshoots from 
making their own copies. We discussed this up front and it was my 
understanding that this is how he treats everyone and it was not a special 
arrangement for me because I asked.

He even makes high quality digital versions available on his web site for 
download.

So, one solution is to seek out photographers who will even go as far as 
assigning copyrights to the individuals in the photots.
>
> I wrote a short post on my blog explaining why this doesn't need to
> happen. My take is more from a video perspective since I'm a
> videographer (we run into that problem at work, too), but it's
> relevant for both still and motion photography. If it's something like
> a family photo or a wedding video, people have very strong emotional
> attachments to these things, and they expect a certain amount of
> control over them. I think wherever possible, photographers creating
> works for these types of client should give a CC license to the client
> so third parties can act on the family's behalf to edit and copy
> whatever you've created for them.

Would the family want the photots under a CC license, or would they prefer the 
copyrights be assigned to them? A CC license would give rights to third 
parties which the family might not wish to do.

When you get to images of people and especially their children, I think strong 
emotions come into play.

I was thinking about getting school yearbooks under a Free CC license somehow 
and what all would have to be put in line to get that to happen. For the 
students photos, (if they were under age) that would require the 
photographer's agreement as well as model releases by the parents. For 
student artwork, it would require the parent's agreement. Yes? No? Does this 
differ by country? would it even be possible in all countries?
>
> The blog post is here:
> http://hungryfilmmaker.blogspot.com/2008/01/mom-and-dad-video-pirates.html
>
> I'm curious what others think about this, especially if they think
> it's something photographers and videographers other than me would
> jump on board with.

One question that interests me is that the photographer generally gets the 
copyright on the photograph he shoots, but does the cameraman get the 
copyright on the footage he shoots?
>
> Best,
> // Matt
>
> ----------
> Matt Agnello
> http://www.hungryfilmmaker.com
> < matt.agnello at gmail.com >

all the best,

drew





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