Well, it's kind of like calling out the names of the reindeer on my "I ain't protecting it yet" sleigh full of soundbytes that help advance our side in the Culture Wars and destroy the Democrats.
Merry Christmas everybody.
As a working photographer, I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to see my work used in print and online without compensation.
People think that the tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment that I bought and paid for grew on some tree in my back yard. Publishers of newspapers and web sites tell me that if they simply credit my work I should be happy. Of course, their children get fed on the fees they charge for their papers and other news information.
Some clients think it is cool to extend the time it takes to pay me from the agreed upon 30 days to 90 days because the “state” told them to change their payables cycle. Again, I need to dip into savings or go further into debt to pay MY expenses, because for some reason the mortgage company likes to get paid every thirty days. Should I tell them that the State of MA decided it would be best for everyone to wait 90 days?
The ONLY thing that gives me the legal authority to go after these thieves is the copyright laws. I can use them to collect fees that should have been paid. I can use the “threat” of invoking my rights to cause companies to scrap tens of thousands of dollars in advertising materials when I revoke the assigned rights due to non payment.
If this means I have to pay to go to the movies and I have to make sure I see “Its a Wonderful Life” only twice a year, then so be it.
These rules are made for folks like me, who work in the business. Once my photos leave my control, I have no control. These laws are the only thing that I can use to “prove in a court of law” that the work is mine and that I own it.
Please don’t start sounding like those people who think making a profit is bad, or who think its OK to download that photo off the web and send it to all of your friends, or publish it in the local paper without permission.
I love my work, but protecting it is one of those silly little things that keeps me under my roof and my kids fed.