[Leica] Draconian "Release"

[Dennis Kushner]

More should stand their ground like you did.

On Tue, Sep 13, 2016 at 5:52 PM, Montie <montoid at earthlink.net> wrote:

> A brave new photo world...I read stuff like this and then thank God I'm
> retired.  Your work, your copyright...I would have done the same, good
> on you!  I suppose some young fledgling might want to published a photo so
> bad they'd be willing to relinquish all rights to it...can't picture it
> personally (pun intended).  :-)
>
> Montie
>
>
> >>LUG -
>
> I'm sure you've heard more than enough about the Syrian refugee project but
> I've run into a problem and would like your opinion.
>
> The local newspaper The Herald - which has been bought out by McClatchy,
> along with every other newspaper around - asked for some of my photos to
> illustrate an article about the project.  I sent them several photos two
> weeks ago with permission to use them in the newspaper and on their website
> with a copyright notice.  I didn't hear anything for two weeks.  Today I
> got an e-mail saying that they could not use the photos with a copyright
> notice and if I gave them permission to use them without the copyright
> notice, I would also have to sign a release giving the Herald "an
> irrevocable, royalty-free license to publish, republish, resell,
> distribute, copy and edit the submission an unlimited number of times in
> any print, electronic or other medium."
>
> I explained to them that I could never sign a release that gives away all
> rights to my photos - that it would not be fair to me or the subjects of my
> photos.  I explained that I never lease photos as royalty-free and that any
> royalty-free photo that featured an identifiable person would have to have
> a model-release signed by that person.  All of my photos are rights managed
> for editorial use only.
>
> I told them they were welcome to use the photos with a copyright notice.
> Now I have to explain to the committee why the photos won't be in the
> Herald :-(
>
> What do you think?
>
> Tina
>
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