Recent Legal Articles

Rod Stewart Is Being Sued in Copyright Dispute Over Photo Usage at a Gig

Legendary rock singer Rod Stewart has joined the growing list of celebrity musicians being sued for copyright infringement. The case follows incidents involving Bruno Mars and Jessica Simpson, who both became embroiled in high-profile copyright court cases. Unlike his peers, Stewart is accused of using imagery for a gig backdrop without permission.

Photographer Has Close Call With Scammer

If you have a strong online presence or pay to market your photography business, bogus leads can bombard your inbox. Atlanta photographer Katie Coon received one recently.

Jail Inmates Given Photography Classes

Photography is not commonplace in America's jails. However, an article recently published in the Greenfield Recorder reports on photography courses given to inmates in Massachusetts and the reactions of the students.

USPS Licensed the Wrong Photo, Guy Makes $3.5 Million

In a court ruling last week, Robert Davidson, the sculptor of a Statue of Liberty replica in Las Vegas, was awarded $3.5 million because the U.S. Postal Service mistakenly licensed a photo of his statue instead of the real Lady Liberty.

Court Rules Images That Are Found and Used From the Internet Are 'Fair Use'

A legal battle that erupted between a photographer and a Film Festival after the latter used a copyrighted photo has concluded with a federal court in Virginia, which ruled that taking an image from the Internet without permission for a commercial website can be considered fair use.

What If Even the Smallest Copyright Infringement Paid Out $30,000?

As photographers, we all get annoyed when our images are being used without permission, and taking legal action is, for most of us, simply not a viable option. However, that might be changing as one law firm has discovered a means of making companies pay for even the smallest infringements.

Sweet, Sweet Justice: How a Stolen Photo Cost the Thief $60,000

It's no secret that photographers often have to deal with people stealing their photos and showing little respect for the hard work that goes into creating a quality image. So, it's always nice to see when a bit of justice is handed out and the photographer's rights are upheld.

How to Report an Instagram Copyright Violation in Under Two Minutes

Every day sees tens of thousands of copyright infringements on Instagram, and despite this vast number, reporting violations is very confusing — perhaps deliberately so. While my first attempt took almost 20 minutes, I can now complete a report in under 90 seconds. This quick guide walks you through the process and helps to make it as painless as possible.

The Perils of NOT Using Royalty Free Music

So, you’ve been told time and time again that royalty free music is the way to go when it comes to selecting beats for your videos. But part of you can’t help but wonder about the alternatives.

Lawyers Blame Photographer After He Was Shot by Deputy Who Mistook His Tripod for a Gun

You might remember Andy Grimm, an Ohio photographer who was shot by Deputy Jake Shaw after he stopped to take pictures of a traffic stop and his tripod was mistaken for a gun. Grimm filed a lawsuit against the county, but lawyers say not only were the deputy's actions "reasonable," but Grimm's own "negligence... contributed to cause the injuries."

Now or Never: Protect Your Rights With the CASE Act

It’s time to get involved in protecting your copyrights if you’re a photographer based in the USA. The H.R. 3945 CASE Act is a piece of legislation that has been winding its way through Congress since October 2017, and it would allow photographers to better protect and defend their copyrights, but it needs your help!

Making Heads or Tails of Flying a Drone Over U.S. Public Lands

Where you can or cannot fly a drone when it comes to United States public lands is a confusing topic with an answer that has to be pieced together by studying multiple government websites. Navigating the gauntlet of online information can be daunting but I'm here to help.