Copyright Images

[aweaver]

I have a few questions:

1) If I create a disk with digital images and sell it to a client, is there something I can do to the disk to keep the client from copying 10 or more copies?

2) I have read some sample contracts and some state that all rights are reserved to the photographer so that the client cannot publish or sell the images they receive for a profit without written consent. How can you ensure this really happens? Do you put a copyright message on the back of the images when you order prints? Is this the only way or are there other suggestions?

3) I need a place to get a preferably free, legal, general contract. Can anyone suggest a source?

[daveb]

Question 1:
Not that I know of ...

Question2:
There are a couple things that I do to "protect" prints (both digital and traditional). I watermark EVERYTHING (small and unobtrusive but still watermarked). If the customer goes to most any place to get copies the watermark will stop many places from even doing a single print. With the order I include on the disk a license grant that says that the attached images can be printed up to X size and quantity. Doesnt stop them from going to another place and doing more ... but hey it slows them down.

In addition I ensure that my copyright notice is in the exif data ... many of the small run lab machines will pick up on that and flag the operator.

I have gotten calls from digital print customers asking for another copy of the license grant so they can have stuff printed... that is cool by me because I can usually convert that into another print sale by offering them discounting printing. But yes it does indeed work .

Question 3:

Dont trust the freebee contracts ... barter with a lawyer and have it done right

[J Eddington]

If you are really concerned about how many prints they make then don't sell the images on disc.

For contacts check out Business and Legal forms by Tad Crawford
Amazon.com: Business and Legal Forms for Photographers, 4th Edition (Business & Legal Forms for Photographers) (9781581156690): Tad Crawford: Books