Copyright Question : AZBilliards News Articles

[smenzel]

Silly question that I'm not sure where to post. I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation. I just can't find the right person to enlighten me. Here goes :

Why does AZBilliards claim the copyright on my already copyrighted images when used for news articles?

This has happened on several of my images. It isn't like I don't include an ALL RIGHTS RESERVED copyright notice in the meta data. It isn't like I don't already include a copyright watermark of my own on the images.

I don't mind too much that AZBilliards adds a second watermark (their logo) to my images. It's when they add "©AZBilliards.com" that I begin to get concerned.

Interestingly, AZBilliards also strips out all of the image meta data.

 

[ElLeon]

Sandro,

Their use of your material is conditional based upon how you let them use it. Now, you have said you don't mind if they copyright over your material, that would indicate to me that you have given them unconditional rights to "own" your material.

On the other hand, you may give them conditional permission and "remind" them that the meta data on your property must be intact as a condition for them to use your images without payment. If they strip your data/ownership then it must follow that they are going to pay you for those images.

Hope that helps.

Ryan

 

[smenzel]

Their use of your material is conditional based upon how you let them use it. Now, you have said you don't mind if they copyright over your material, that would indicate to me that you have given them unconditional rights to "own" your material.

Thanks, Ryan. Perhaps I wasn't clear but AZBilliards uses two watermarks. One is their logo that they appear to add to every news image. The other is their copyright which, as far as I can tell, they only add to certain images (including mine). I'm ok with the first. It's the latter that I'm questioning.

My apologies for the double negatives earlier. I do copyright my images both in meta data and via watermark.

I don't submit my images directly. Rather, I send the images to someone local (representative of the event) who likely writes up the article and includes my image. I'm not part of the negotiation which could be a large part of the issue.

 

[Mr. Bond]

Silly question that I'm not sure where to post. I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation. I just can't find the right person to enlighten me. Here goes :

Why does AZBilliards claim the copyright on my already copyrighted images when used for news articles?

This has happened on several of my images. It isn't like I don't include an ALL RIGHTS RESERVED copyright notice in the meta data. It isn't like I don't already include a copyright watermark of my own on the images.

I don't mind too much that AZBilliards adds a second watermark (their logo) to my images. It's when they add "©AZBilliards.com" that I begin to get concerned.

Interestingly, AZBilliards also strips out all of the image meta data.

silly question:
Have you fully read the terms of use?
you might find the answer there, or better yet, contact the site owner(s) directly

 

[JB Cases]

your copyright notification and metadata should not be stripped out. nor should any other entity put a copy right claim on your images unless they bought or obtained the right to that.

likely there is some sort of automated process that is altering the images. Surely Mike will have your answer.

 

[azhousepro]

We certainly do not strip any metadata on purpose. All of the pics that we use for stories are served through an app called Slideshow Pro. We do that to handle multiple image sizes and just because it makes things easier. I will look into the stripping of metadata. I don't like that at all. If the second copyright is an issue (I know you said it was not), then we can put a work-around in place to make sure that your images don't have the second watermark added. Again, that is Slideshow Pro adding the watermark but we can set up specific images to not have it. Drop me a note here or email me at housepro@azbilliards.com and we can figure it out.

Mike