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27 November 2020
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Houston Photographer Filed a Copyright Lawsuit Against NFL Star for Posting on Instagram

27 November 2020
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Photographer Sues Deshaun Watson for Copyright Infringement on Instagram Be careful of what you post on Instagram - even if the subject of the photo is you. Deshaun Watson, the quarterback for the Houston Texans, is learning this the hard way. A Houston-based freelance photographer has sued Watson for the alleged unauthorized use of his photos. The lawsuit stems from Watson's posting of pictures of himself on Instagram- photos that another person took. Watson had not secured permission to use those photographs. Aaron Sprecher, an independent contributor to The Associated Press, said that Watson infringed on his copyright when Watson...

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19 November 2020
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Copyright Lawyers Help Photographers and Others Understand DMCA

19 November 2020
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How Does the DMCA Affect Photographers' and Creative Professionals' Copyrights? You have surely seen the letters "DMCA" somewhere when you were buying music, downloading a movie from the Internet, or even while uploading your own work to an online platform. It is not surprising, considering that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) covers the use of copyrighted materials online. The DMCA was enacted in 1998 to address issues related to copyright in the growing community of online platforms and ultimately protect copyright holders in today's fast-paced technology-filled world. The DMCA is a US law that implements various intellectual property treaties...

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31 October 2020
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Collecting Copyright Damages for Unauthorized Use of Photographs and Other Work

31 October 2020
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Collecting Damages For Copyright Infringement of Photos and Other Work If you are a professional photographer or creator of original content, you may be entitled to substantial damages if someone violates your copyright. Speak with our copyright lawyers today to assess your rights. Do you earn a living as a creative artist? A photographer, illustrator, writer or other creator? If so, you should know some basics about copyright law and what remedies you have when someone violates your copyright. If you think someone is violating your copyright, you might be able to file a claim and seek damages for infringement....

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30 October 2020
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Stopping Copyright Infringement and Remedies

30 October 2020
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What is Copyright Infringement, and What are Its Remedies? Copyright is one of the trickier parts of being a content creator. With the advent of social media and various platforms for content sharing, it is still quite surprising that creators are still unaware of copyright infringements and the many ways that they can protect their works. If you are a photographer, videographer, graphic artist, or any kind of content creator, then read on to see how copyright infringement may occur and how you can use various remedies to ensure that you preserve your rights. What is Copyright? Simply put, copyright...

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28 October 2020
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Licensing Agreement and Copyright Lawyers

28 October 2020
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Can a Licensor Sue a Licensee for Copyright Infringement? There are times when content creators such as videographers or photographers license out their works. Licensing material is a good income stream for creative professionals, especially since a licensing agreement allows them to license their work to various people and platforms of their choosing. But what happens if there is an alleged copyright infringement even with the licensing agreement in place? How can the licensing agreement protect the creators? What is a Licensing Agreement? A licensing agreement is a contract between the copyright owner, the content creator, and another who wants...

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27 October 2020
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Copyright Enforcement and Social Media

27 October 2020
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Enforcing Your Copyright on Your Social Media Photos Social media has become a massive part of everyone's lives over the past decade. People nowadays post about almost anything on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and various other social media sites daily. One thing people love about social media is that it makes anyone with a smartphone an instant photographer. Many snap pictures of their food or drink before taking their first bite. Others post pictures of scenic views or significant events in which they are participating. While social media has made it easy and fun for people to share their favorite pictures...

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30 September 2020
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Creative Commons Licenses

30 September 2020
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Using Creative Commons Licenses to Protect and Enforce Your Copyright As a photographer, you might have read this somewhere when you uploaded your photos on the Internet: "Do you want to license this under Creative Commons?" It might have led you to think about what exactly Creative Commons is, and what kind of protection it can give you and your photos. Most artistic creators, including photographers, have probably wondered the same thing and have chosen whatever the default license is. But what is it really? Can a Creative Commons license protect your copyright? Does it force you to forego some...

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27 September 2020
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Facebook and Copyright

27 September 2020
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Is Facebook Selling You Out? With Facebook steadily increasing in size and reach, especially in these pandemic times, knowing your rights when using the platform should always be very important. Unfortunately, many of the over 3 billion users as of last quarter are in the dark regarding their copyright protections. This monolith though, has provided many good opportunities for its users. As reported in Wall Street estimates in 2019, the company's growth was valued at $21.08 billion in revenue, increasing 25% year over year. Part of that revenue is from marketing, using its own membership's material posted on its platform....

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22 September 2020
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Copyright Basics

22 September 2020
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Photographers: You Should Understand how Copyright Relates to Pictures You Take Copyright means you have ownership rights to your photographs. They are your property and, therefore, you should have control over them. At its core, copyright bestows four exclusive rights: The right to reproduce and copy the picture The right to create work that derives from the picture The right to distribute the image however you see fit (sell, lease, loan, free-for-all) To publicly display the picture If you are a photographer with copyright, the rights above are yours. YOU own and control the use of the picture. Do Photographers...

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19 September 2020
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Fair Use Simplified

19 September 2020
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Simplifying the Fair Use Doctrine, so Photographers Understand Their Rights "Fair use." As dedicated copyright lawyers who devote our practice to helping photographers enforce their rights, this is a phrase we often hear, usually from defendants trying to avoid paying compensation to our clients. Fair use is a commonly used defense to copyright infringement claims, but it is one that can be confusing. Here, we will try to simplify some of the basics of fair use and how it might affect your rights. What is the Fair Use Doctrine? Under the fair use doctrine, there are circumstances under which someone...

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