Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Understanding Your Rights to Use Images
While some indigenous peoples hold the belief that cameras steal one's soul,
and some psychics tune into a person's energy using a photo, before you start
snapping photos of people or scanning printed matter, it pays to educate yourself
about the law. I'll compare and contrast using your own images versus using
other people's images.
Certification
Objective
Using Your own Images
You might think you can use any image you capture with your camera, right?
Well it's just not that simple. The legal repercussions depend on what exactly
you frame in the viewfinder and where you are in the world when you press the
shutter release.
If a photo contains a recognizable human face, then you must get permission
from the model to use their likeness.
i'm not a lawyer, so
take my recommen-
dations with a grain
of salt and research
the law as it applies
where you live.
Get models to sign release forms.
It is a very good idea to get the subjects of
your photos to sign model release forms (also known as liability waivers) so that
they have less chance of successfully suing you should you ever make money off
of their image. Do a Google search for “model release form” for some boilerplate
templates.
In addition, be aware that some jurisdictions have personality rights applying to
living individuals and even those recently deceased. It is your responsibility to
ensure that you do not infringe upon someone else's personality rights by pub-
lishing their image without their written permission. This is especially critical
should you ever decide to use a person's image for parody or social commentary
or should the model feel that your image of them is unflattering.
Copyright your work.
In some jurisdictions, copyright is implied in anything
you create, while in others it is not. No matter where you are it is advisable to
register your copyright with the relevant authority because this improves your
chances of winning a court battle should someone not respect your copyright.
In the United States and Canada, it is very easy to register copyright and costs
only a nominal fee. You should also use the copyright symbol © with your
name or business name and year of publication (which is required in at least
20 countries).
In the United States:
www.copyright.gov
In Canada:
www.cipo.ic.gc.ca
