Copyright your photos

[Gnasher]

Does anyone use any software to copyright there photos?

If so what do you use...

We are currently using -

[URL="http://www.uconomix.com/umark/default.aspx?o=LWPhoto"]http://www.uconomix.com/umark/default.aspx?o=LWPhoto[/URL]

Umark Lite - which is great, but it drops their name on the bottom of the photos unless you pay for the pro version. We like it as it bulk copyrights all photos.

We are just wanting to ask around before we go ahead and purchase it to see if people think there are better ones around.

 

[Gnasher]

if anyone likes this - drop me a line as I can give you a code to give you a discount
or use

coupon code : LWPHOTO10

If I read it correctly this should get you 10% off it

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

I don't really see the purpose of it for a couple of reasons.

1. If you're going to pay to "copyright" your image, why not just pay the $35 and get an OFFICIAL copyright from the government? You can do it in bulk. Plus, this program does not provide an official copyright at all.

2. All it is is adding a watermark to the image, you can do that through any editor. They say that you can do it to hundreds of pictures at once, but if you're going to edit/process each picture anyway, it's just as simple to import a pre-saved graphic. For images that have already been created, it takes no time to copy/paste the graphic into the pictures you're going to upload.

3. Like they said on the website, ANYONE can copy your pictures, you're logo/watermark won't stop anyone. Even if you use a fancy watermark-program.

4. If you don't want people copying your pictures, don't upload them. If you do upload them, make sure they are lo-res. If you want to upload hi-res images, make sure they are watermarked in a way that it would be much more difficult to remove it with an editor.

 

[TexasCatholic]

There is no such thing as "officially copyrighting something" with the U.S. government in the sense of protecting your product. Maybe you're thinking of a patent or a trademark, which works much differently than copyrights.

The way you copyright something is a two step process...

a) you create it yourself
b) you write "© <insert name and year>" on the item (e.g. picture, book, document, musical composition).

Done.

-Michael

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

Yes you can officially register your copyright.

http://www.copyright.gov/register/visual.html
http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ40.html#copyright

You are right in that the copyright is automatic. But if you want to take someone to court because of copyright infringment you will do much better if you have gone through the governments hoops by registering your work with the copyright office.

Also my original point was that the way that program was advertised is misleading. It does not give you the benefits of actually registering it with the government. Also, it does something that any photo-editor is capable of.

 

[Gnasher]

that only works if you live in the US

 

[Gnasher]

but it also puts a mark on the photo, that will be harder to remove if someone takes your photo... hence why I thought people would like it

 

[Gnasher]

but it's a difference between :-

a $45 payment to "Register of Copyrights."

and

$17.99 for the software - 10% to be able to watermark your own photo's, I think I would prefer the software as it's cheaper

 

[Bevlina]

I use Digimarc.

http://blog.fotolia.com/us/innovation/digimarc.html
If anyone steals a photo, it tracks it to the computer it's been copied to. It's the best one can use.
The theft of photos is a serious offence and I have seen many people face court over it.

I started with a small digital, but now use a much better quality camera, and far more expensive!
Photo's I burn to disc and give to friends are not Digimarced, these are gifts for the entertainment of close friends only.

 

[Gnasher]

looks good... but does it only work if they host your photos?

 

[Bevlina]

No,no. What actually happens is your photo is digitally embedded with numbers nobody can see.
Digimarc can track your photo to any computer in the world if it has been stolen.
It gives the IP Address of which computer the photo is on.
Digimarc records the IP address and legal proceedings can be taken.

 

[Gnasher]

oh ok

 

[HHSZ]

Hi!
Thats sounds really good! I might try it too.
Im a professional and just starting a business corse this monday so I will know more about copyright, but until now, I just use Watermark professional or the Photoshop CS2 program to create my own watermark with the copyright symbol on it. And all my pictures I put up on the web are really low resolution picks so even if somebody puls it off cant really use it for print outs.
Well its work so far I think.
www.helgaphotography.com
Check it out
God Bless
Helga

 

[Gnasher]

um - I will stick with umark - as it's a lot easier...

HHSZ - you website is coming on nicely

 

[david594]

The issue here is a bit of a miscommunication. The original poster was saying "copyright" but was actually talking about a watermark. You watermark photos that you think someone could abuse or steal.

Example. I took photos at an autocross and posted small watermarked versions online of everything. By taking the photos I possesed the copyright to them. One of the people from the event entered one of my watermarked photos in a calendar contest and won a spot in the calender. But since it was watermarked he had to contact me to get my permission(and an unwatermarked copy) of the photo so that it could actually be used. Hence the watermark protected my photo from being taken and my copyrighted material from being abused.

 

[Bevlina]

The issue here is a bit of a miscommunication. The original poster was saying "copyright" but was actually talking about a watermark. You watermark photos that you think someone could abuse or steal.

Example. I took photos at an autocross and posted small watermarked versions online of everything. By taking the photos I possesed the copyright to them. One of the people from the event entered one of my watermarked photos in a calendar contest and won a spot in the calender. But since it was watermarked he had to contact me to get my permission(and an unwatermarked copy) of the photo so that it could actually be used. Hence the watermark protected my photo from being taken and my copyrighted material from being abused.

You were lucky! I didgimarc all photos and go through didgomarc to find if my numbers are on another computer. If they are, well ..... er hmmmnnn.

I like the idea of both didgimarc and watermarc and very, very low resolution online.

Also, all my photo's, once unloaded from the camera are burned to disc. It pays us as artists never to take chances as there are so many thieves in the world!

 

[Gnasher]

yep - hence me keeping all my online photos to a max 6 x 4 and with a watermark on them and the originals off the net

 

[HHSZ]

I just started a business school and we had a lawyer in today. I asked her about the copyright and she said, you cant really protect your stuff, make sure you have the original and put a watermark or say on it that copyright reseved. If somebody want to get it they will get it and photoshop the watermark out if they can. So just make sure you only put it up online in really low resolution. She also said you can buy a copyright number from the governament but she didnot know much about the details. You can go and register online I guess and you can ask some question about it as well.
Well thats how it works in Canada anyway.

 

[Gnasher]

the only way really to copyright a photo is to watermark it

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

I just started a business school and we had a lawyer in today. I asked her about the copyright and she said, you cant really protect your stuff, make sure you have the original and put a watermark or say on it that copyright reseved. If somebody want to get it they will get it and photoshop the watermark out if they can. So just make sure you only put it up online in really low resolution. She also said you can buy a copyright number from the governament but she didnot know much about the details. You can go and register online I guess and you can ask some question about it as well.
Well thats how it works in Canada anyway.

That's exactally what I was trying to say in post #3.