On Fri, 6 Dec 1996 22:06:58 -0500 Mulder, you're NUTS!! -Scully wrote: >> This information (regarding photograpers not owning copyright to >> the photos they create) is not correct. When a photographer takes >> a photograph of an inanimate object, that photographer owns the >> copyright exclusively to the image he / she has created. Trust me >> on this one--the law is very clear. A photograph of a person is a >> very different issue and has its own volume of laws concerning >> permissions. > >But what if that photographer was hired to take pictures for an institution >for their use like on commission or staff photographers? For example, if >I am hired to take pictures of a collection and I agree to give the >museum all my film to be developed and used by them, do I then give up >my copyright? First of all, you have or don't have copyright depending on what is written in your contract or work agreement. (And you'd better have a contract or agreement.... otherwise you'll spend a lot of time pondering these questions...!) Hypothetically you've agreed to give the museum all the film and rights to use the pictures. In Canada & Israel (and I think in England), the owner of the negative is the owner of the copyright. In the US, you as photographer probably own the copyright (as distinct from the physical photographs) -- unless your contract states differently, i.e. includes a transfer of copyright to the museum. The museum (as employer) is the owner of copyright in a staff photographer's (salaried employee's) work. ------------------------------------- amalyah keshet director, visual resources, the israel museum, jerusalem e-mail: [log in to unmask] date: 01/22/97 visit our web site at http://www.imj.org.il ------------------------------------- > >My line of thought comes from music and art law where if you do something >on commission like a logo or theme music, the person who paid you to >create owns the copyright. Like Chuck Jones originated and drew the >Looney Toons but he was working for Warner Bros. at the time so they now >own all of his work done while he was working for them even though the >cartoons are his creations. > >Deb