You Don’t Need to Be a Professional to Make Money from a Photo Copyright
Marks Gray Apr 2, 2020 in Copyrights
Nowhere in copyright law does it say you have to hold a degree to create original work. It does not say you need a resume or professional equipment to make money from a copyright of a photo either. What you do need is to capture a valuable image. That means being in the right place at the right time and snapping that photo from just the right angle. The other step? Register the image — […]
Continue ReadingSpecial Announcement: US Copyright Registration Fee Changes
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Mar 25, 2020 in Copyrights
The United States Copyright Office (USCO) has announced a new fee schedule that went into effect on Friday, March 20, 2020. This follows a comprehensive cost study, an evaluation of budget requirements, and a review of previous proposals and public commentary. The changes are an attempt by the USCO to balance its expenses. Not all fees increased. Some decreased. And some, like group applications for photos, have remained the same. The most widely-affected cross-section of […]
Continue ReadingJennifer Lopez recently shared a photo of herself and soon-to-be husband Alex Rodriguez holding hands in front of a New York restaurant. The problem? The photo did not belong to her. Although we usually see celebrities suing the paparazzi, in an odd twist, the photographer who took the picture is the party filing suit this time. In fact, this isn’t the first time the “paps” have sued a celeb, and it certainly won’t be the […]
Continue ReadingInformation You Need To Know Before You File A Copyright Application
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Jan 31, 2020 in Copyrights
Filing a copyright application can seem like an easy process until you get stumped. So here are a few issues to think about before you complete the application: What type of work are you trying to register? Literary Work – books, poetry, directories, catalogs, computer programs Work of the Visual Arts – photos, fine, graphic and applied art; maps, technical drawings Sound Recording – audio recordings fixed in a phonorecord, CD, cassette, vinyl, audio tape […]
Continue ReadingPhotographers and Owners of Copyright Registrations, Beware of State Sovereign Immunity Issues!
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Jan 23, 2020 in Copyrights
Photographers frequently encounter businesses and individuals who want to use their work without giving credit or paying for the right to use the photos. A pending copyright infringement case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court may make it easier for states to get away with this. Allen v. Cooper Allen v. Cooper, 139 S.Ct. 2664 (petition for certiorari granted June 3 2019) addresses the case of videographer and producer/director Rick Allen, who filmed the salvaging […]
Continue ReadingCopyright protection assigns specific rights to its author as long as the work meets various criteria. The primary purpose of copyright protection is to encourage idea sharing and development. Copyright provides a framework for how relationships should work for everyone involved: copyright holders, content providers, and consumers of the content. With guidelines in place to benefit all parties, people have more incentives to share their creative works. When it comes to sharing work globally, the […]
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