Georgia photographer inquires about copyright protection
Full Question:
Answer:
Copyrights are one form of intellectual property. Title 17 of the United States Code (the Federal statutes) is the copyright statute for the United States. The federal law of copyright preempts state regulation; therefore, there are no state copyright statutes. A link to Title 17 (the U.S. copyright laws) appears below. No copyright lasts forever. Moreover, no copyright is self-enforcing. Any work of original authorship is automatically copyrighted; however, to be effectively enforceable, the owner must register the copyright. Each copyright holder must enforce, directly or indirectly, his or her copyrights; however, please see the Creative Commons website for an alternative approach to copyright management.
This response is but a starting point for self-education about copyrights. Please read the links. The linked form is a form of "Release and Authorization to Photograph," not a form of copyright assertion. It is not what you are explicitly looking for, but it is a prerequisite to obtaining a copyright. Only a copyright holder has a legal right to reproduce an original work of authorship. But a photographer can lawfully reproduce only a photograph of persons who have authorized the taking of their photograph and who have released their interest in the photograph. Please note that the consideration can be any amount, even $1.00 or less.
Many books on copyright law are available at bookstores, retail or online. Also, an online search for copyright law will reveal many helpful websites.
