I want to discuss a topic that some folks either ignore, are oblivious to, or just don’t understand.
Copyright.
I see it all the time. 420 Magazine forum is no exception. People take someone else’s photograph, and use it for themselves, without giving credit for it.
This can be something like creating/taking a GIF from another persons images, making a meme with someone else’s images, or the blatant “this is mine” type of transgression. Whatever the case may be, it’s wrong, and I will tell you why.
My photos are my own creations. I like to think of it as art as it is my creative outlet. I have spent thousands of dollars on equipment, countless hours studying or taking online courses, and thousands and thousands of photographs. Then I spend hours culling or editing. Work. People get paid to put that kind of work in. When someone takes that work without asking or giving credit, it saddens me. I am just a hobbyist. Imagine what a professional photographer must feel like.
I don’t often see my images used elsewhere. I don’t get too bothered by folks on 420 using them for promoting cannabis or in their journal. However I would take exception if someone used my images to promote their own needs (website, business, or otherwise) and folks here should too.
When I create presentations for my employer, I often try to use my own photographs to ease the workload of permissions/credit, but eventually I require the use of someone else’s material. All images are stamped with the original artists name accompanied by the (C) copyright logo.
I would like to see more people credit the original artist when stealing, yes stealing, someone’s work from google to illustrate their concept or get their point across in a journal. I won’t point to specific examples, but it’s here, and we should be respecting the efforts of the original artist. It’s theft if you take an image without asking or to use it without giving credit. There are potential legal consequences as well.
Now there are varying degrees to copyright.
There are strict “no use” copyrights. This means under no circumstances can anyone use the image. Typically applied to high end images for sale. Landscape/Architecture photographers would limit use.
There are free use types of copyright. Meaning anyone can use the images for anything. Educational type of stock images are a good example.
Most copyright categories are somewhere in between. I fall into the “credit for personal use” category. Meaning I will let folks use my images for personal journals or profiles or non-business related activities so long as you give me credit for the image. It’s a courtesy thing. I don’t want anyone using my images for the sale of anything unless I get some form of reimbursement. I accept trade of goods for the use of a photo.
It’s important to educate yourself in this area. Particularly as the quality of our photographs improves. You must take ownership of your work. Protect it. Protect others. We owe that to ourselves and to other artists. I don’t work for free and folks don’t get to use my work for free.
I over simplified the issue as an introduction to the topic but the concern is valid just the same. There are a few old pro’s here who can provide a better perspective but I wanted to bring it up after seeing some pretty blatant examples today.
to use as they see fit, but I’m thinking beyond these forums.
