How to Copyright Your Photos
What Is Copyright?
When you possess copyright of a photograph, that means that you have exclusive right to reproduce the work, to create derivative works based on it, to distribute copies, and to display it in public.
In the United States, when you take a photograph, you automatically have the copyright of the image as soon as the shutter is released (as long as it isn’t a photo of an existing artistic work). However, this isn’t the case if you’ve been commissioned to take the photographs by an employer they would hold the copyright since they’re footing the bill.
If you don’t register your copyright with the US Copyright Office before an infringement, or within three months of its first publication, you will only be entitled actual damages. This amount is calculated based on your normal licensing fees, and sometimes any profits made from the illegal usage.
What Is Poor Man’s Copyright?
You may have heard of “poor man’s copyright,” which some posit as a basic alternative to proper copyright registration. The idea is that you register the date of creation of the media using an alternative source, such as a notary, via an email, or another method that establishes possession at a specific time.
While poor man’s copyright can help establish legal ownership in countries without strong copyright law, there is no provision or protection in US copyright law for this method.
How to Register Your Copyright
If you do decide to register your copyright of a particular image, head to copyright.gov and click Register a Copyright.
Next, you need to specify that you want to copyright a photograph.
On the next screen, click the Register a Photograph link.
Now you’ll need to create a user account. When you’ve done this and logged in, you should see the screen below. Click Register a New Claim.
Read the three questions on the next screen carefully and answer them to begin the registration process. You’re then asked to select the Type of Work you want to register. Choose the Work of the Visual Arts from the dropdown menu.
Make your way through the form, filling it out in as much detail as possible. Anything you omit is only going to delay the process later on, so it’s best to be thorough. Once you’ve given the Copyright Office all the information it requires, you need to pay the $35 fee (if you’re registering a single photograph) and send them a copy of the photograph.
How to Enforce a Copyright Claim
The most extreme way to protect your copyright is to get in touch with a lawyer and file a copyright infringement lawsuit. However, in most cases, that won’t be necessary.
If you’re happy with someone using your photograph, but you want attribution, get in touch with the owner of the website. In most cases, if you explain your stance, they’ll be happy to comply to keep the content intact.
However, if you decide that you want the photo taken down, it’s best to raise the legal consequences. You could write up a cease-and-desist letter, or have a lawyer do so on your behalf. A DMCA takedown notice is probably a simpler option.
Can You Use a Watermark to Copyright a Photo?
If you don’t want to pay to register a copyright, you do have another option. Placing a watermark over your photograph doesn’t do much to enhance your legal position, but it does offer two major benefits:
Anyone who infringes upon the copyright cannot claim ignorance, which might dissuade them from using your work.
A properly placed watermark will require some slick editing if whoever is infringing upon your copyright doesn’t want to give you credit.
The correct format for a copyright watermark is the word “copyright” or the copyright symbol followed by the year it was created and the name of the author.
For example:
© 2020 | Gavin Phillips
To create a copyright watermark, open up your photograph in your preferred image editing software. If you don’t have an image editor installed, check out these free online image editing tools instead. Add a text element with your copyright information. It’s worth choosing a thicker, bolder font that’s going to take up as much space as possible.
Next, position your watermark, so it’s taking up as much space as possible. You want to make sure that anyone that’s looking to use your image without permission can’t just crop it out. Now is a good time to make adjustments to its color, and while it’s best to stick to either white or black, see what looks better against the predominant colors of your photograph.
