Ask a fellow photographer what the first thing he or she learned about copyright law was, and you’re likely to come up with a variety of responses that have little to do with the reason copyright law exists, what it seeks to protect or even what rights it confers upon owners. Yet, it’s these concepts that help photographers secure and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Whether negotiating the usage fees for stock images or the terms for an upcoming photo shoot, acquiring a working understanding of copyright law is as essential for a photographer as knowing how to complete the assignment or create the images in the first place.
According to the Greek philosopher Plato, “No law or ordinance is mightier than understanding.” Unfortunately, gaining a working understanding of copyright law is far from being a trivial task, in part because copyright law—like any other area of law—is subject to interpretation and reinterpretation by the courts. Even today, there are areas of copyright law that are in flux as the courts and scholars come to grips with changes in technology. However, once armed with a knowledge of some of the basics, photographers may be able to avoid the related pitfalls.
