legal advice in reference to copyright

Geoman

All,

I am curious, as to how you can copyright some photos that you are placing on the web. Is it enough to just use PhotoShop and right your name, along with the word "copyright" and the symbol? What legal right do you have if someone just copies your pictures, and crops out your name and copyright? If you recognize your picture later, but the copyright/name has been removed, can you do anything?

dwood

I think you only have to have a copyright statement on your site (perhaps on the page where a photo is displayed). I don't do much web design though, so I'm not positive about that. There are programs that will allow you to place a "watermark" on the photo, so that if someone tries to steal it, it shows up differently. I don't think they do anything to prevent linking directly to your picture though.

Russ

I believe that once a photo is publicly posted, it is automatically protected.

Russ, NCNE

FrattLaw

SO I don't get killed again, here's 17 U.S.C Sec. 102

Section 102. Subject matter of copyright: In general

(a) Copyright protection subsists, in accordance with this title,
in original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of
expression, now known or later developed, from which they can be
perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated, either directly
or with the aid of a machine or device. Works of authorship
include the following categories:
(1) literary works;
(2) musical works, including any accompanying words;
(3) dramatic works, including any accompanying music;
(4) pantomimes and choreographic works;
(5) pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works;
(6) motion pictures and other audiovisual works;
(7) sound recordings; and
(8) architectural works.
(b) In no case does copyright protection for an original work of
authorship extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, method
of operation, concept, principle, or discovery, regardless of the
form in which it is described, explained, illustrated, or embodied
in such work.

No copyright symbol is necessary

Michael

nwcs

Another interesting thing is that fonts cannot be copyrighted. Although when used as part of a trade/servicemark they have some value. In the early days software was not considered copyrightable as it was perceived as being merely a mathematical formula. It wasn't until a case arose in the early 80s that went to the supreme court that software was allowed to be copyrighted. I remember that from my business law class case study.

Neil

ANACONDA

I can understand why someone would want to copyright their images. I've had images used by unscrupulous people to try and sell coins that they don't own. Also, if someone works hard at making an image, they want credit.

But, i wouldn't want to copyright my images. I'd rather just let people use them for free (and give me credit or a link to my eBay store) and think "that anaconda guy, he's (almost?) alright."

adrian