Messages

1

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Copyright Ownership

« on: November 24, 2014, 12:00:03 PM »

Thanks for all your thoughts on this! The other company that is offering the photo has the photographer listed as: MASTERFILE and the artists name.

Ohh.... Wow! Visualphotos.com ALSO has this image on their site as well. Thank you! They list the Agency as Masterfile. I love the fact that they even use the same photo ID #. Although I can't help but wonder why that site didn't show up when I google'd the photo ID#.

At this point, the only contact I will be having with them is to request verification that they are in fact the exclusive copyright holder for that photo.

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Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Copyright Ownership

« on: November 22, 2014, 04:38:58 PM »

LOL No apology necessary for not being a Canadian! Although your quickness to apologize would imply that perhaps you ARE Canadian, since we do tend to apologize for everything regardless of fault LOL

I will be requesting MF to provide proof of exclusive Copyright Assignment and/or details of Partial assignment.

As for the mention of the dual watermark, turns out the image used did have the original photographers copyright watermark placed along the bottom of the photo (not placed obnoxiously across middle of picture like many image sites do, hence it's mistaken use).

Upon further research, I am not sure that MF has placed an "official" copyright watermark on their image. They seem to display their photos with either NO Masterfile watermark, or with it prominently displayed across the middle of photo. I suppose the question should have been worded "Once the author has transferred ownership of copyright, can they still watermark the photo with their name as the copyright holder?"

**Point of Interest, I JUST discovered that a Peruvian Photo Stock Company is also offering the sale of the same photo. As well as many other Masterfile photo's (www.perfotostock.com). So exclusivity may very well be in question.

3

Getty Images Letter Forum / Copyright Ownership

« on: November 22, 2014, 01:39:08 PM »

Hi everyone, firstly I wanted to say thank you to everyone here who contributes their time and energy into this forum. Without it, the average person wouldn't have a CLUE how to proceed in these dealings.

Having recently received a letter myself (and a follow-up registered email as it seems is their standard tactic) I am wondering about some of the Canadian copyright regulations. I know that this forum typically covers US regulations, and Canada is somewhat different, but I am hoping that someone may know the rules on this.

Can Masterfile *and* the original image author BOTH claim copyright of an image (with watermark)?
And if so, can Masterfile claim Infringement on an image that had the author's watermark on it?
Is that part of their allowances for a Rights-Managed image?

Thank you in advance for your help!