Law

Copyright Registration to be Limited to 750 Photos Per Claim: A Big Fee Hike for Some

The US Copyright Office has just announced new rules regarding the group registration of photographs. One of the biggest changes is the fact that only 750 unpublished photos can be registered at a time with each claim, when previously there was no limit. For photographers who regularly register extremely large batches of unpublished photos, copyright registration will soon be much more expensive.

Who Owns the Copyright to Your X-ray?

A friend recently posted an X-ray of his ankle replacement on Facebook, which led me to wonder “who owns …

How My Photo Ended Up in the New York Times Without Credit

The Internet is becoming a hectic and volatile place for photographers to share their work. Social media enables photos to be put in the hands of tens, thousands, and even millions in a matter of minutes. However, one small break in this sharing frenzy can lead to massive loss and frustration for the creators that dedicate themselves to doing their passion well.

Photographer Sues Cop Who Shot Him After Mistaking Camera for Gun

Back in September, Ohio photojournalist Andy Grimm was shot by a sheriff's deputy while photographing a traffic stop -- it turned out that the cop had mistaken Grimm's camera and tripod for a gun and decided to shoot first and look more closely later. Grimm is now filing a civil rights lawsuit against the officer and the city.

Trump Just Signed Mandatory Drone Registration Back Into Law

Back in May, a US federal court ruled that personal drones don't need to be registered as part of the FAA's mandatory drone registration program. That just changed: President Trump just signed a defense policy bill that restores the requirement that all recreational drone owners register their aircraft with the government.

Netflix Stole My VHS Cassette Photos for Its Stranger Things Boxed Set

Maybe you’re aware of Netflix. Maybe you even have a subscription for their services. You might have also heard of or watched a series called Stranger Things, produced by Netflix. But did you know that Netflix has been selling a Collector's Edition box set of Stranger Things that incorporates pictures from my webpage, The VHS Corner? I didn’t, until some kind netizens contacted me to tell me all about it.

Fujifilm: Polaroid Demanding Millions Per Year for White Border on Instax

Fujifilm has filed a legal complaint in the US, accusing Polaroid of turning against the company and demanding millions of dollars in royalty payments per year for the use of its white borders on its new Instax Square instant film. Polaroid is allegedly threatening Fujifilm with a trademark lawsuit if it doesn't comply.

Photographer Sues CBS for Copyright Infringement, CBS Sues Back

There's a strange legal battle going on right now between a photographer and a giant online media company. After being sued by the photographer for infringing on his photo copyrights, CBS has responded by filing its own copyright infringement lawsuit against the photographer... for sharing 59-year-old TV show still frames on social media.

Photographer Sues the NY Times for Discrimination, Misclassification, More

A photographer whose photos have appeared on the front page of the New York Times over 30 times has filed a lawsuit against the newspaper. He accuses the Times of misclassifying his employment status, discriminating against him based on age, denying assignments due to an arrest, and retaliating against him due to making these claims.

Drone Hits Passenger Plane in Canada

A drone struck a passenger plane in the skies over Jean Lesage International Airport in Québec City, the first time there has been a collision between a drone and a plane in Canada, the country's Minister of Transport says. The drone owner was flying illegally in a no-fly zone.

Why Photos of the Eiffel Tower at Night are Illegal

You can almost never find videos or photos of the Eiffel Tower at night on stock sites. Why is this? Because the Eiffel Tower is copyrighted when those lights are twinkling in the night sky. This 4-minute video from Half as Interesting explains why.

House Bill Introduced for Copyright Small Claims

Photographers in the United States are now one step closer toward seeing a copyright small claims system for pursuing infringements on a smaller scale. A new bipartisan House bill has introduced the CASE Act, which stands for the "Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2017."

FAA Bans Drones at Statue of Liberty and 9 Other Landmarks

If you'd like to capture close-up drone footage of the Statue of Liberty, you're going to have to do it very soon. The FAA has just announced that drones will be banned from flying close to the famous statue as well as 9 other landmarks. The restriction takes effect October 5th, 2017.

UN Calls for Global Drone Registration Database

The United Nations' own aviation agency, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is backing a move to develop a single, global database which would require all unmanned aircraft to be registered to it.

Los Angeles Bans Photos at Concerts in Public Park

The city of Los Angeles is banning photography at free concerts in a public park, and photographers aren't happy about it. Several prominent photographer, journalist, and civil rights organizations have joined forces in writing a letter that protests the policy.

UK to Require Drone Registration and Safety Tests

UK drone pilots have enjoyed some of the most relaxed regulations around the popular pastime, but now the government has proposed new regulations that will require all owners of drones over 250 grams (~8.8oz) to register their quadcopters, attend safety courses, and pass a safety test.

Photographer Sues Proctor & Gamble Over Copyright in $75 Million+ Case

A photographer is suing consumer products giant Procter & Gamble, accusing the corporation and the world's largest advertiser of not paying her for photos that have appeared on Olay packaging and marketing materials used around the world. An expert on the photographer's side estimates that P&G could owe more than $75 million.

Photographer Killed at SF’s Twin Peaks in Camera Robbery

Violent criminals are still targeting photographers in San Francisco for their valuable camera equipment, and the latest victim is a 71-year-old photographer who was shot and killed this past weekend at a popular tourist spot by two robbers who stole his camera.

Scammers Are Using Venmo to Steal Pricey Camera Gear

If you ever need to sell pricey camera equipment -- or anything else, for that matter -- stay away from buyers who want to pay you using the popular mobile payment service Venmo. A scammer in Los Angeles has reportedly bilked multiple people of up to $100,000 in camera gear in just two weeks.

Photographers, Register Your D*mn Copyright

Photographer Max Dubler struck a nerve last week with an article documenting the theft of one of his downhill skateboarding images. After finding a skateboard brand using one of his photos without authorization, he did as he always does: he contacted the offending party and requested a payment of $25 for social media usage.

Photographer Broke Due to Copyright Lawsuit by Monkey

Remember David Slater, the photographer whose camera was hijacked by a monkey and used for a series of selfies that went viral on the Internet? The photographer has spent years fighting a copyright battle in court over the photos, and now he's broke.

You Can Now Get a Drone Registration Refund and Deletion from the FAA

In late 2015, the FAA began demanding mandatory registration of most drones, including most consumer camera drones that were exploding in popularity. Earlier in 2017, however, a federal court ruled that casual drone owners do not need to register. Now the FAA is offering registration deletions and refunds.

Camera Drones May Soon Be Required to Have a Remote ID System

Ever since camera drones first became available to the average consumer, authorities across the world have had growing concerns about them. No-fly zones are being widely established, and regulations are becoming stricter to restrict when, where, and how the unmanned aircraft can fly. Now the FAA is looking into developing a system to identify drones from afar.

No More Light Painting Inside National Parks?

Buried within the 2016 Superintendent’s Compendium for Grand Tetons National Park & John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway is a small, pesky provision that disallows the use of strobes or other artificial light from dusk til dawn.