Copyright Protections for Photographers

Copyright is the legal concept that once an original expression of a creative process is fixed in a tangible medium, like a photograph on film, that expression belongs to the creator who has the exclusive right to control and authorize its reproduction, distribution, public display, or performance. Copyright is the single greatest protection that any creator of intellectual property has at their disposal. It is what allows us to control the use of, and to profit from, the fruits of our creative efforts and to enforce certain claims against even much larger corporations. Copyright is not intended to stifle the sharing of information, merely to guarantee that the creators of that information have a right to make a decent living. There are plenty of exceptions to copyright protection written into the laws which guarantee the free exchange of information for academics, research, news, teaching, and other legitimate intellectual pursuits.

Read the whole article: Copyright Protections for Photographers