How do you phrase your print release?

[reader0428]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I have a full-page letter that goes in front of the excerpt I included in the OP that covers most of what Brad has (but not all, so thanks, Brad!). I guess what I was getting at (and didn't mention in the OP) is that I imagine quite a few clients will not take their CD I give them directly to the lab, but will copy the images on to their computer and upload them to a lab and order via the Internet. That was really where my question comes into play - if there is no CD brought into a store (and the print release authorizes "images on this CD..."), how is the lab to know whether or not the images being uploaded are OK to print? That's why I've been including file numbers in my print release of only the images they have purchased, (so that they don't have printing rights to the low-res images also on the disc - I give a low-res version of each image they order, whether a print or digital file, but they can only print the digital images they have purchased) but then again the client can always rename the files to fit with their organization scheme...

[brad]

Originally Posted by reader0428

Thanks for the replies everyone. I have a full-page letter that goes in front of the excerpt I included in the OP that covers most of what Brad has (but not all, so thanks, Brad!). I guess what I was getting at (and didn't mention in the OP) is that I imagine quite a few clients will not take their CD I give them directly to the lab, but will copy the images on to their computer and upload them to a lab and order via the Internet. That was really where my question comes into play - if there is no CD brought into a store (and the print release authorizes "images on this CD..."), how is the lab to know whether or not the images being uploaded are OK to print? That's why I've been including file numbers in my print release of only the images they have purchased, (so that they don't have printing rights to the low-res images also on the disc - I give a low-res version of each image they order, whether a print or digital file, but they can only print the digital images they have purchased) but then again the client can always rename the files to fit with their organization scheme...

Very true.. and file names can be changed. In an ideal world, I would take the time to include printed thumbnails of each of the images in the release...

Or maybe it wouldn't be ideal. I also feel there is a fine line between letting your client know what they can do with the digital images and treating the client like a criminal bent on ripping you off.

When I go over what the release allows, I keep it light hearted... I joke about why the "except where it is in direct competition" part is in there... saying "That's only in there because someone tried, can you believe that?" with a smile on my face. (There was nothing to smile about at the time.)

Copyright is a touchy subject. I like to believe that the majority of people out there are going to be honest about it and do the right thing... and honestly, the ones that aren't going to do it - there is little I can do about it. There isn't enough money in pursuing it unless it is a gross violation of the usage rights...