From: "vcmuseum" <vcmuseum@frontiernet.net> Subject: RE: Photo copyright issues Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:11:36 -0500 Message-ID: <000001c8e379$31233cc0$02fea8c0@museum01>
Don,
I am not a real big fan of Walmart but I know of good photo lab technicians
there. Suggesting everyone is a flunkie is very unfair.
Carol
_____
From: localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu
[mailto:localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu] On Behalf Of Don Jensen
Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 4:08 PM
To: localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu
Subject: Re: Photo copyright issues
As a professional writer, I am a strong supporter of protection of
individual, intellectual property rights and copyright protection. But
places like Walgreens and Wal-mart go totally overboard with their
restrictions. Professional photographers deserve the protection the
copyright laws and court decisions give them. But any fool, which includes
photo "technicians" at places like Walgreens and Wal-Mart, ought to be able
to distinguish between a studio print that someone is trying to copy on the
cheap AND your museum's "Brownie" snapshot from 1932, or, for that matter, a
19th Century studio print long since in the public domain.
First, I think most museums should prefer to deal with a real photographer
than with some 17-year-old kid running an automatic machine at Wal-Mart.
First, you will get better prints and, second, if you bring all your work to
a photographer, he gets to know you and you get to know him. A special rate
may be negotiated.
But if you have to deal with a Wal-Mart, I would suggest creating and
printing copies of a
letter, on museum letterhead, if possible and signed by your president or
archivist (with their title noted below the signature). It could say
something like: "I hereby certify that the photographic image to be copied
is the legally obtained property of the XXXX Historical Museum. I further
certify that the original image is either in the public domain or that this
institution owns the copyright and/or possesses the legal authority to have
this image reproduced photographically or digitally scanned."
It doesn't really mean anything, but it is impressive and if you give a duly
signed copy to a Wal-Mart photo flunkie I pretty much guarantee they will
copy your photo without a hassle.
--Don Jensen
Member, BoD, Kenosha History Center
----- Original Message -----
From: Bonnie Van De <mailto:b.vandehey@yahoo.com> Hey
To: localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu
Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 3:03 PM
Subject: Photo copyright issues
How does your society handle copyright issues with your photo collection?
Each time we try to have copies of photos from our collection made for
exhibits we have problems with the photo places (such as Walgreens and
Wal-Mart) wanting to have a copyright release from the original photographer
who, of course, no longer exists.
Bonnie Van De Hey
Wrightstown Historical Society