Hello all. I read somewhere that copyrights of graphics always belong to the creator, unless a written agreement specifically transfers those copyrights to a new owner. In other words, just because you pay for graphic content does not mean you own an exclusive copyright to do whatever you want with the end product.
I'm currently working as a photographer for an export company, shooting products for a catalog. It's not very exciting but I really like some of the shots and think I might be able to use them elsewhere or at least sell some of them as wall art. My employer is using the shots to sell these products on a web site, and some of the shots will be printed in a catalog for a summer mailing. This is the only use ever discussed, nothing has been signed, and the word "copyright" has never been mentioned in any conversation.
So my question is, do I still own the future rights to use all my shots in whatever way I please, including commercial, if I have not signed over any copyrights to my employer?
If I'm paid to shoot products that his company sells in catalogs and on web sites, I suppose that is an implied right of use that he is paying me for, but we have never signed any statement of work or any agreement of useage rights. If this means I still retain full ownership over the images I shoot, I'd prefer to keep it that way and not mention it, because he will probably want full owership of all images if he thinks he doesn't already have it. But the truth is he just isn't paying me enough for that.
So what is the situation I'm in at this point, in regards to ownership and rights of my images under his employment?
Christian
I'm currently working as a photographer for an export company, shooting products for a catalog. It's not very exciting but I really like some of the shots and think I might be able to use them elsewhere or at least sell some of them as wall art. My employer is using the shots to sell these products on a web site, and some of the shots will be printed in a catalog for a summer mailing. This is the only use ever discussed, nothing has been signed, and the word "copyright" has never been mentioned in any conversation.
So my question is, do I still own the future rights to use all my shots in whatever way I please, including commercial, if I have not signed over any copyrights to my employer?
If I'm paid to shoot products that his company sells in catalogs and on web sites, I suppose that is an implied right of use that he is paying me for, but we have never signed any statement of work or any agreement of useage rights. If this means I still retain full ownership over the images I shoot, I'd prefer to keep it that way and not mention it, because he will probably want full owership of all images if he thinks he doesn't already have it. But the truth is he just isn't paying me enough for that.
So what is the situation I'm in at this point, in regards to ownership and rights of my images under his employment?
Christian