Copyright vs. Print Release - What's the Difference?

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Copyright vs.Print Release
​the differences and what you actually​ want and need.

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HERE'S MY OBLIGATORY DISCLAIMER ::
I'M NO LAWYER. EVEN THOUGH ELLE WOODS
DOES MAKE IT LOOK PRETTY DARN EASY.
BUT I'M NOT LEGALLY BLONDE, SO CAN I EVEN BE TRUSTED?
​THE JUROR'S STILL OUT ON THAT ONE.
WHEN I REFER TO LEGAL DEFINITIONS BELOW
THEY ARE TAKEN FROM NYS.GOV
​AND PUT INTO LAYMAN'S TERMS.
OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU NEED LEGAL ADVICE,
CONSULT YOUR OWN PERSONAL LAWYER
AND UNDERSTAND THE LAWS OF YOUR SPECIFIC STATE.

Phew, now that I've covered the mandatory snorefest schtuff,
let's dive right in.

"Do your sessions/weddings come with a copyright release?"

I can't tell you how many times I've been asked this question.
The answer is always the same.
"No, they do not."

Yet, as the British would say
"don't get your knickers in a twist, darling."
(You read that with an accent, didn't you?)
That's because you're still getting all the rights
you probably want and need already.
The technical lingo is just a bit different.

When it comes to client galleries and ownership
there can be some common misconceptions.
One of the biggest and most frequent
is the difference between
a copyright release and a print release.

Copyright, Print Release, what's the big deal?
Aren't they basically the same thing?

Negatory!
There is, in fact, a huge difference.

A COPYRIGHT belongs solely to the person who creates the art.
Whether that's photographs, artwork, writing or music.
The moment you create something,
you alone have the right to say
​how that work is used and distributed.
In the case of images,
the photographer is the only one with the right to edit them.
And the only one who can legally sell
​or make a profit from those images.

A PRINT RELEASE is different.
It gives someone, other than the creator,
the right to reproduce the artwork for their own personal use.
​Personal use includes the UNLIMITED printing of images
and sharing with friends and family,
both tangibly and on social media platforms.
That is something most artists actually encourage!
We want you to print your images.
To share your memories!
However, a print release
does NOT allow for the adding of IG filters,
which thereby alters the creator's original work.
It does NOT allow a client to enter images into contests
to win any money or prizes for said images.
It also does NOT allow a client
to offer images for use in a commercial setting.
Such as in a magazine or for use as stock photography.
​The images are not the client's work,
​therefore they have no legal right to sell them. 

The wording may not seem like a huge deal,
but when it comes to protecting the rights of the artist
​it is a priority.

So the next time you have a photography session
be sure to ask for a print release.
And by all means, feel free to plaster the walls
with your bright, beautiful smiling faces!

​>>>   <<<

Check out my post on Aspect Ratio
​for the best ways to print your images yourself!