Vufind - takes your images without permission

[TheFantasticG]

Say what? Your copyright is worthless (more or less) without registering your images. And just because you think they're worthless, doesn't mean some advertising company thinks that.

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by TheFantasticG

Say what? Your copyright is worthless (more or less) without registering your images. And just because you think they're worthless, doesn't mean some advertising company thinks that.

No true... your copyright isn't worthless without registering... but it is greatly limited. If you don't register, you can only seek the fair market value, for lack of a better term. You can require them to pay what the image would've been worth in that case. When registered, then you can get the big bucks. That is, assuming you have a way to actually collect, after the judgement. Many big awards go uncollected or are bargained down outside of court.

On a side note, the law "might" be changing in coming years, allowing copyright violations to be settled in small claims court. This is actually favorable to most infringements, since they'd usually involve an award/settlement of $5k or less.

[TheFantasticG]

Yeah, like I said, worthless without the teeth provided by registering your images with the copyright office.

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by TheFantasticG

Yeah, like I said, worthless without the teeth provided by registering your images with the copyright office.

registering doesn't provide any extra "teeth", just the ability to sue for a higher sum of money (in over-simplified terms). The ability to enforce any judgement (big or small) will be equal to a registered or non-registered work. Unfortunately, I've heard of way too many horror stories where an artist wins a judgement with a giant payoff, but never sees a dime. The defendant finds ways to skirt the settlement...