Photo copyright release form?

[borisplante]

My understanding from researching it a bit online is that some photographer brought his photos in and had a store print them. He then sued them and won, even though he trapped them into it. So now alot of the big boxes are doing this stupid copyright release thing, or just not giving you the photos at all unless you have a signed release from the photographer. First of all, if somebody comes in and wants 20, 50, 100 prints of the same thing, then I completely see their point. The guy is clearly doing something with all those photos of the same thing. But some poor schmuck like any of us printing the one-off 8X10 to get signed and hang off our wall? I personally don't see why that's such a bid deal to anybody, including the photographer. The second the internet became what it is today, this sort of thing was bound to happen. I suppose the chains feel like have to protect their butts and there are big fines if they are caught. But seriously, for what we all do with the stuff, it's just a pain in the neck. I will probably start having mine shipped to me, because I heard 2 or 3 other similar stories just yesterday at an autograph show. It's a pain, because sometimes signings come up at the last minute and shipping isn't really convenient.

[treywilson757]

I have used Rite Aid for printing without any problems for photos when I have needed them.

The only time I ever encountered any sort of trouble was when I tried to print through a locally owned printing shop. I won them over by manipulating Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, claiming that my printing of the photos was not for profit and did not directly effect the profitability of the copyrighted work.

Would that work in a courtroom? Probably not. But it worked that day. Thank you, college.