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<blockquote data-quote="480sparky" data-source="post: 248054" data-attributes="member: 15805">I think you're still confused as to copyright.&nbsp; You technically don't have a choice.&nbsp; You have a copyright on every image you take as soon as it's recorded on your memory card (or the shutter closes, if you shoot film).&nbsp; That's automatic.What you provide your clients with is rights to your copyrighted images.&nbsp; This is best done in writing if you are going to allow your client to make their own prints, post them on the internet, etc.&nbsp; You still own the copyright, they simply are provided with certain rights to reproduce your work.&nbsp; The rights may be merely to allow them to print them.&nbsp; You might allow them to post them on the internet.&nbsp; But you can also stipulate that they may not edit your work (beyond simple cropping and rotating, etc.).&nbsp; This way, you can prevent someone turning your images into a sick, gross-looking over-processing, PhotoShop'd vomit-inducing piece of crap they call 'art'.Now, there's two basic levels of copyright:&nbsp; The automatic type and really has no legal force behind it.&nbsp; If you are infringed, there's not a lot you can really do with your copyright.&nbsp; Showing that you have the original dated file or whatever has NO legal authority.&nbsp; What you really must have is a Registration from the US Copyright Office.&nbsp; As per law, infringement cases are a federal matter, and handled in federal courts.&nbsp; There is no state, county, local or 'small claims' for copyright infringement.&nbsp; Federal law dictates federal court system.&nbsp; And without a proper USCO registration number, no lawyer is even going to consider your case.Is it worth registering your images?&nbsp; Depends on how much legal protection you think you need.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="480sparky, post: 248054, member: 15805"] I think you're still confused as to copyright. You technically don't have a choice. You have a copyright on every image you take as soon as it's recorded on your memory card (or the shutter closes, if you shoot film). That's automatic. What you provide your clients with is [I]rights[/I] to your copyrighted images. This is best done in writing if you are going to allow your client to make their own prints, post them on the internet, etc. You still own the copyright, they simply are provided with certain rights to reproduce your work. The rights may be merely to allow them to print them. You might allow them to post them on the internet. But you can also stipulate that they may not edit your work (beyond simple cropping and rotating, etc.). This way, you can prevent someone turning your images into a sick, gross-looking over-processing, PhotoShop'd vomit-inducing piece of crap they call 'art'. Now, there's two basic levels of copyright: The automatic type and really has no legal force behind it. If you are infringed, there's not a lot you can really do with your copyright. Showing that you have the original dated file or whatever has NO legal authority. What you really must have is a Registration from the US Copyright Office. As per law, infringement cases are a federal matter, and handled in federal courts. There is no state, county, local or 'small claims' for copyright infringement. Federal law dictates federal court system. And without a proper USCO registration number, no lawyer is even going to consider your case. Is it worth registering your images? Depends on how much legal protection you think you need. [/QUOTE]

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