[thelist] Copyright law concerning images used on the internet.

[Martin Burns]

On 24 Jul 2008, at 16:49, info at designbychen.com wrote:

> Most images in books are copyrighted by the photographer or agency, I
> believe.

To clarify this misconception:

In nearly all jurisdictions (US and EU countries included), all  
creative works are *automatically* the copyright of their creators[1].  
No act of copyrighting required.

The Copyright owner may transfer the rights elsewhere (with or without  
a fee), or allow others to use the creation in various ways with, or  
without, a fee without transferring the rights.

Most stock agencies or collections (as cited here) have acquired the  
rights to the image, and are prepared to license it to you for some  
specific uses in return for fees. Before handing over your cash,  
*check* what usage rights they're granting - there may be restrictions  
on medium, size, commercial use, frequency or time period of use,  
credit given to the rights owner, and degree of manipulation concerned  
(Magnum for example do not allow any re-cropping).

Cheers
Martin

[1] Generally the individual who created them, although there's a big  
exception where the individual is doing the creating as an employee,  
in which case, the (c) generally rests with the employer

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