After our recent wedding, I took a CD of photos to the self-serve kiosk at Wal-Mart to print copies for inclusion in our thank-you notes. Imagine my surprise when, after spending 20 minutes printing the pictures I wanted, the worker printing out my bill refused to let me take home my pictures! I was informed that some of the pictures were obviously taken by a professional and I needed a written copyright release on the photographer's letterhead. I left my pictures and my future business at the Wal-Mart photo counter. I was later able to print my photos without incident at both Target and WalGreens.
On further research, I discovered that this is nothing new. It seems that after a large company or two got sued by photographers for copyright infringement, companies such as Wal-Mart instituted tougher policies on printing digital photographs. Check out these links for more information:
Signs on San Diego article
USA Today article
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00CVE6
The digital world makes the copyright issue complicated. I don't have a problem with companies protecting themselves against being sued. I don't have a problem with photographers sueing to protect their copyrights. I just want my pictures and a uniform policy to count on. My solution to my problem above? I would gladly have signed a legal form stating that I own the copyrights to my photos and I alone am responsible for any copyright infringement. This way, the companies won't be sued and the photographer's can still protect their rights.
Are you an above-average photographer? Get a lucky shot once in a while? Don't go to Wal-Mart. They won't let you print it.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
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