Author Topic: Copyright Primer - ASMP (Read 3767 times)

RacePhoto · « **on:** March 29, 2013, 10:16 »

http://www.asmp.org/pdfs/guides/primer.pdf

Updated and just released, might be helpful reading for those of you who register in the US.

Some days I don't know how my paying $30 helps stop infringing. In a major use and someone you can track down and prosecute, it makes sense.

In the world of Microstock theft, "free wallpaper", free downloads, Flickr, Pintrest and some more, I don't know if it does anything at all?

click_click · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2013, 10:54 »

I'm kind of too busy trying to produce content than diving fully into the copyright infringement thing, therefore I'm not very informed about all details of copyright registration here in the US.

As much as I can say is:

When I submitted my second batch to register at the US Copyright office I was called back from them telling me I cannot submit a batch of images if they were not taken on the very same day!!!

Years ago, when I first heard about registration of copyright on the SS forums a bunch of old timers were bragging that they submit their content in batches collected over the course of 3 months so they submit 4 batches a year.

Apparently this isn't possible with the ECO online registration.

I did my first registration the same way and nobody contacted me but when I spoke to a copyright attorney I was also told that this type of registration wouldn't be water tight and in case of defending copyright or litigation this would have to be amended with the copyright office which isn't a big deal though...

When I talked to a rep from the Copyright office he mentioned that they were in the process of setting up a system that allows us to register batches, created during a period of time. No idea what the status of that is and if it already exists.

After that I was pretty much not interested anymore in registering...

Go figure.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #2 on:** March 29, 2013, 11:21 »

Actually I can go figure, that you and many other people are correct click_click. This must be frustrating to have paperwork returned for technicalities and also the lawyers (who else?) Say if you file wrong, you may not be protected. What a bunch of gibberish.

Not only that, we pay to register for "protection" and then have no legal teeth to enforce that protection, from those same laywers.

I think if you read the new Primer, there have been some changes made to the Group Registration. There's still conversation and debate over the Federal Small Claims Court for this kind of thing.

Other concerns beside yours:

Yes I know the first naysayer will say, "If you win you still can't collect."

But how about now, where you can't even go to court, no attorney will take a $50 lawsuit. (they won't even write a threatening letter for $50?) Or few hundred for that matter. If you win, you lose money and guess what... you still can't collect!

So instead of all the negatives and how small claims court won't work, maybe get some laws that protect us and have some teeth, instead of paying for a registration that is a nice piece of documentation, that is almost totally useless. I don't want to pay $180 a year so I can file worthless DMCA take downs.

My answer is still the equivalent of a parking ticket. Saw someone finds an illegal or infringing use on a blog. We file, they (whoever THEY is) goes and confirms our claim, sends the registered owner a fine of $100. $50 goes to us, $50 goes to the agency. They have funds to operate, we have something that stops people from "not knowing it was illegal" and the ignorance is immunity defense.

In short time the word will get out and something like Instant Education will miraculously occur.

Pinocchio · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2013, 12:03 »

Quote from: click_click on March 29, 2013, 10:54

...

When I submitted my second batch to register at the US Copyright office I was called back from them telling me I cannot submit a batch of images if they were not taken on the very same day!!!

....

When I talked to a rep from the Copyright office he mentioned that they were in the process of setting up a system that allows us to register batches, created during a period of time. No idea what the status of that is and if it already exists.

...

The ECO now allows you to upload material in batches. The first batch I uploaded (late last year) contained unpublished images from 2010, 2011 and 2012; no problem getting ECO to accept them and issue a certificate.

If you are not yet aware of the services available at www.ImageRights.com I suggest you go take a look. Based in Boston, they are building a reputation for dealing with infringement effectively at reasonable cost. If I recall correctly, one of their services allows you post their logo on your website with a statement to the effect they will protect your interests, no cost till you have an infringement that is (economically) worth pursuing. As I said, this is from memory, much better for you to check yourself. There are several threads on Alamy that comment favourably on Image Rights....

Regards

click_click · « **Reply #4 on:** March 29, 2013, 12:51 »

Quote from: Pinocchio on March 29, 2013, 12:03

...The ECO now allows you to upload material in batches. The first batch I uploaded (late last year) contained unpublished images from 2010, 2011 and 2012; no problem getting ECO to accept them and issue a certificate. ...
Regards

I know about the batches and I know that I can register unpublished images that I created over the course of the last x years as well.

The problem is that I would have to hold back my new uploads for let's say 3 months, register them as unpublished and then upload them because I cannot register already published images as I'm producing them on a daily basis.

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Author Topic: Copyright Primer - ASMP (Read 3767 times)

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