Copyright Release forms

Dramatapix® · September 18, 2006

I tried searching for this in the archives, but was unsuccessful. Does anyone have examples of generic copyright release forms for when you wish to authorize a customer to reproduce your images?

Thanks
Brett

Andy · September 18, 2006

I'm not giving out legal advice, but you might look here:

http://www.reedservices.com/standard.htm

and here

http://www.amazon.com/Business-Legal-Forms-Photographers/dp/158115206X

Dramatapix® · September 18, 2006

Andy,

Thanks so much. I appreciate the information, however it does not appear that these address the specific form I'm looking for. I am looking for a generic release form that I can sign to give the model permission to have images that I've taken reproduced. In other words, I'm giving her some images on a disc and in order for her to have them printed, the photo store will require a signed copyright release from me. I'm having trouble locating that form. I have model release forms which is what the links you sent seem to address.

Brett

Shay Stephens · September 18, 2006

I don't think there is a generic release. You as the copyright holder can write whatever you want. Make your own release, put contact info on it so if a lab has questions about it, they can reach you and get it squared away. You are the authority. Easy breezy :-)

Dramatapix® · September 18, 2006

Shay Stephens wrote:

I don't think there is a generic release. You as the copyright holder can write whatever you want. Make your own release, put contact info on it so if a lab has questions about it, they can reach you and get it squared away. You are the authority. Easy breezy :-)

Thanks Shay!

Art Scott · September 18, 2006

With Shay....I usually just write a quick letter that I am giving use of image to person for wahtever reason for lenght of time for so many prints at such & such size, then I sign it with phone and email, date it and have it notorized just to give it that really "LEGAL" look.
so far all the processors have called to double check even with the notory stamp.....

3rdPlanetPhotography · September 18, 2006

Does this require knowledge of Latin? :ivar

gpphotos · September 24, 2006

or, you could just have your clients order through smugmug

Art Scott · September 27, 2006

Actually my last one was for a local spiritual counselor - Reiki Master.
It stated that I ( full name) was giving full and complete rights to use digital files (name and number of files) contained on CD for a period of 1 year, including the rights to change the layered tiff files to meet her future requirements, so long as my contact info (copyright with email addy) stayed intact on the finished product.

Signed____________________ this day of month of year.

Notary_________________________________________

took to a local grocery store and had it notorized....

This is not the exact language i used...but what I used was very plain american english....not law english.....

I am sure if there is a law school near you, that you could get a student to draft you a really legal ezed one for almost nothing, especially if they are into the contract writing section for the term.

Alkhemist · October 3, 2006

If I am giving a disc to someone I make sure a copyright notice is on the label and a reference to a read-me file on the disc (.txt & .doc and sometimes a pdf). Here's an example of the file:

Read Me

Copyright

All images are copyright ©2006 Allen W. Miller. All rights reserved.

Unrestricted publication rights are granted to ____________ as long as the following conditions are met:

Any publication or reproduction of these images must include the photographers name and a copyright symbol.
(Put contact info here.)

This file can be changed to "No Publication or Reproduction Allowed" or any conditions or permissions you as the photographer want to allow. This is legal and binding. Print a paper copy if needed. Another alternative is to include a scan of a paper document that has your signature on it.
While you own the copyright, if you register the image with the copyright office it is a lot easier to go after someone who might be using your image(s) illegally. (You can register many images for cost of one registration fee.)

But... this is not legal advice!
Hope this is helpful.

Dramatapix® · October 3, 2006

Alkhemist wrote:

If I am giving a disc to someone I make sure a copyright notice is on the label and a reference to a read-me file on the disc (.txt & .doc and sometimes a pdf). Here's an example of the file:

Read Me

Copyright

All images are copyright ©2006 Allen W. Miller. All rights reserved.

Unrestricted publication rights are granted to ____________ as long as the following conditions are met:

Any publication or reproduction of these images must include the photographers name and a copyright symbol.
(Put contact info here.)

This file can be changed to "No Publication or Reproduction Allowed" or any conditions or permissions you as the photographer want to allow. This is legal and binding. Print a paper copy if needed. Another alternative is to include a scan of a paper document that has your signature on it.
While you own the copyright, if you register the image with the copyright office it is a lot easier to go after someone who might be using your image(s) illegally. (You can register many images for cost of one registration fee.)

But... this is not legal advice!
Hope this is helpful.

What a great suggestion. Thank you.

StevenV · October 3, 2006

Be careful of the word "Unrestricted" or similar - that means you're giving them a license to do whatever they want... perhaps including selling the image to the people/companies who would have otherwise been your customers. When licensing (and that's the word you probably want to use) your image to someone you should be as specific as possible as to what you're granting them the rights to do with it.

non-related but illustrative story: Many years ago I worked for a defense contracting company with very tight security. Those of us who ran the computer systems had a need to move media and equipment ("computers, tapes, disks") between buildings, so we had a pass that said we could do so. Every year they had to be renewed, and I took care of that. One year I happened to add "etc." to the list of items we could move, so now it read "computers, tapes, disks, etc." The guys at the security desk looked at my pass, now with "etc." on it, and told me that effectively it meant I could move the VP's desk if I wanted - it literally meant anything. That's certainly not what management wanted, but that's what they signed off.

Be careful what you're signing away.

cdonovan · October 13, 2006

Read Me

Copyright

All images are copyright ©2006 Allen W. Miller. All rights reserved.

Unrestricted publication rights are granted to ____________ as long as the following conditions are met:

Any publication or reproduction of these images must include the photographers name and a copyright symbol.
(Put contact info here.)

This file can be changed to "No Publication or Reproduction Allowed" or any conditions or permissions you as the photographer want to allow. This is legal and binding. Print a paper copy if needed. Another alternative is to include a scan of a paper document that has your signature on it.
While you own the copyright, if you register the image with the copyright office it is a lot easier to go after someone who might be using your image(s) illegally. (You can register many images for cost of one registration fee.)

But... this is not legal advice!
Hope this is helpful.

Very helpful i edited it a little wee bit though!!

Permission is granted to ______for personal use and reproduction only.

### Will remain owner of all copyright and grants permission only for reproduction for personal use. Any sale of any image in connection with this agreement is strickly prohibited. Any publication or exhibition is also prohibited without mutual consent of the parties involved in this agreement.

Any publication or reproduction, as mutually agreed, of these images must include the photographers name and copyright symbol as shown below

©###

That covers me from them selling or displaying them on a website without giving me my props, grants them permission to print them for their personal use.

Scott_Quier · October 14, 2006

cdonovan wrote:

Very helpful i edited it a little wee bit though!!

Permission is granted to ______for personal use and reproduction only.

### Will remain owner of all copyright and grants permission only for reproduction for personal use. Any sale of any image in connection with this agreement is strickly prohibited. Any publication or exhibition is also prohibited without mutual consent of the parties involved in this agreement.

Any publication or reproduction, as mutually agreed, of these images must include the photographers name and copyright symbol as shown below

©###

That covers me from them selling or displaying them on a website without giving me my props, grants them permission to print them for their personal use.

It also prevents you from doing the same thing unless you have an agreement, in writing, somewhere else that allows you to publish the photograph(s).

cdonovan · October 17, 2006

Scott_Quier wrote:

It also prevents you from doing the same thing unless you have an agreement, in writing, somewhere else that allows you to publish the photograph(s).

oh dear

:bash

Copyright Release forms

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