Deleted and leaving this forum due to the actions of member rondon (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/member.php?userid=366)

I read about this link somewhere on this site and book marked it...I can't remember who posted it.

http://www.rightsforartists.com/ (http://www.rightsforartists.com/index.html)

Michael

Try this http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8363&highlight=copyright

Dave

from my understanding if someone hires you to do the work, they are the owner.

But I have asked, and recieved permission to use work in my portfolio from clients. Businesses I have worked for have done the same thing.
The release states that you are being given permission to use the material for promotional purposes only, limited to (brochure, portfolio, specific advertising period and so on.)

AHH copyright, a foggy subject at the very best......

The one thing I do know for sure is that the laws do have differences depending on where you live. I noticed that you are from the UK, the first answer is from a person in the USA, the second answer is from Canada.

The internet knows few boundries, but laws do, so make sure that your actions are based on the laws that apply to you in your country.

Good luck

Mike

Deleted and leaving this forum due to the actions of member rondon (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/member.php?userid=366)

Mostly good info here, but one or two misleaders.

Copyright laws are fairly similar through most of the world, though in the US copyright must be registered with the USPTO before action can be taken against an infringer.

In Europe, and I think in US also, copyright lasts for 70 years from the death of the originator and is a tangible asset that can be transferred just like any other property.

As has been said, the copyright symbol is nothing more than a reminder that copyright exists. Copyright is automatic on creation of a work.

Copyright law forbids unauthorised copying or adapting a work, therefore unauthorised restoration of a photograph that is still in copyright is illegal.

There's a bit more detail, mainly relating to the UK, in my Intellectual Property Guide at http://www.peterborough.net/business/articles/ipintro.asp.
(Note: I'm not a qualified IPR attorney but spent several years as an IPR specialist for an international engineering company before retirement in 2001)

For some reason the link I gave was abbreviated somewhere along the line. Rather than repeat it all and lose some of it again, I'll just say that the bit that was cut short is "...business/articles..."