Copyright Laws & The Photo You Have Purchased

The general public are often unaware of the restrictions and copyright laws that apply to a photograph.

This covers only the very basics of copyright laws to inform people purchasing images what they can and can't do with that image they have purchased for personal use.

Copyright protects photographs and a range of other materials such as other artistic works including paintings, drawings and maps. Written material including novels, written articles, musical works and also films.

Therefore, unless there is an agreement to the contrary (such as a wedding contract where you are shooting for a client) the general rule is that the photographer is the owner of the copyright as the creator of that work.

Photographers that own the copyright to their photos have exclusive right to:

• reproduce the photos by making prints, copies etc.
• publish the photos and make them available to the public
• use the photos for advertising and marketing, putting on websites etc.

Photographers have moral rights that impose certain obligations on people who use a copyright work. As a photographer you have the right to:

• be credited as the creator of your photos
• take legal action if your work is used without permission
• take legal action if your work is distorted or mistreated in a way that harms your honour or reputation.

No photographs cannot be altered in whole or in part, reproduced, manipulated, scanned, copied, transmitted in any form be it electronic, digital or other, including but not limited to images being used and posted on other websites, for advertising, for personal use or for any other reason.
It is certainly cheaper to pay for the photo you want then end up knee deep in an expensive legal argument. It would cost more in fuel to get to court these days!
I won't go into depth about Copyright Laws, but if interested or if you are a photographer and want to know more about this subject then go to: http://www.copyright.org.au/

Back to Top

Back to Home