In a followup to yesterdays post Stolen Photograph: A New Look at an Old Problem, which saw a lot of traffic and great discussion, I thought it would be prudent to share a poignant panel discussion I was recently a part of in NYC that addresses this topic head-on. It’s a dichotomy we all likely are dealing with… Simply put, most of us creatives want it both ways. We want a system that maintains our rights to the work we create while at the same time allows us to spread our work as far and wide as the internet and new media will allow.
How can we have it both ways?
This worthwhile panel discussion called Copyright and the New Economy: Issues and Trends Facing Visual Artists, hosted recently in NYC by ASMP.org, explores precisely these challenging topics. A note on the panelists after the jump…
Appearing on this panel is yours truly, Lawrence Lessig, (Harvard Law School Professor & Founder of Creative Commons); Jeff Sedlik (Founder & CEO of the PLUS Coalition); David Carson (U. S. Copyright Office General Counsel); Liz Ordoñez (photographer); and Darrell Perry (former Director of Photography, Wall Street Journal). The panel is moderated by Jay Kinghorn.
Thanks to the ASMP for making this available.
A watermark isn’t legally needed, but sadly often required to stop theft. I wrote about this issue on my blog just last month here: http://blog.neillwatson.com/articles/watermarks-i-hate-em/
It doesn’t have to be huge and intrusive. I generally use a 10pt-12pt sized text on 720px-960px wide images, with © instead of “copyright” before my name, and place it all vertically on the bottom right of the image.
It’s there, it doesn’t take much space, it doesn’t impede on viewing and appreciating the image. It also reminds people that I’m the creator/owner of the piece, especially if it ever leaves my portfolio to be shared on someone else’s blog.
It really isn’t any different from painters or film photographers signing their (analog) work.
A copyright watermark is never necessary.
I have to watch this several times. Its a lot to take in.
Still confused about some thing regarding Copyrights. When I click a picture and post it online or on Facebook or any social media website, do I specifically need to put up a copyright watermark? Or is it just assumed that the person who posts the picture hold the copyright? What if someone passes it on further?
Best,
Abhi.
pickup a copy of asmp business practices for photographers. that book, plus some other biz books by john harrington will outline the complex topic that is copyright in rather complete and understandable terms.
I’m surprised to read that you would recommend anything by John Harrington, who is a doom and gloomist when it comes to discussing changes in this industry.
@anthony: i don’t subscribe to john’s doom and gloom industry outlook, but he’s written some good books about how to conduct yourself in business.
i recommend you employ the business stuff – it’s professional and appropriate – but avoid the negativity and doom and gloom. those can be mutually exclusive.
Thanks for replying Chase. I will check that out.-Abhi.
Its easy to forget the goal is to sell pictures. It’s easy to confuse this with just not giving work away for free.