How would you feel if photos you created were used to sell million-dollar homes without your permission? That’s exactly what one real estate photographer alleges in a new lawsuit that’s making waves in the property industry.
Alexander Stross, a Texas-based real estate photographer, has filed a copyright infringement suit claiming that agents from two major brokerages – Compass and Side – used his listing photos without paying or crediting him The case highlights an issue you might run into if you do creative work: once your images are online, others may be tempted to grab them, but the legal rights still belong to you.
Allegations of Unlicensed Image Use
Stross’s complaint is straightforward. He says he took a series of professional photos of a property – eight specific images that he owns the copyrights to – and those photos later popped up in listings handled by agents affiliated with Compass Inc. and Side Inc. According to the lawsuit, the agents had no license or permission to use Stross’s images, yet they used them to market and sell homes.
It’s true that real estate listings can be a gray area. Often, when a house is relisted or agents change, photos get reused – sometimes without clear agreements. Photographers like Stross typically license images for a specific agent or time frame. Using them beyond that scope can violate copyright law. In Stross’ view, this isn’t just a minor mix-up; it’s part of a larger pattern of disregard for photographers’ rights in real estate marketing. His lawsuit points out that in the internet age, visuals drive home sales – high-quality photos attract buyers – so unlicensed use isn’t just unethical, it has real monetary impact.
Industry Impact
Essentially, companies should ensure agents either hire photographers (and pay them) or use only images they have rights to. It’s part of a broader push for professionalism as the real estate business becomes ever more visual and online-centric. Compass is a large national brokerage known for its tech-forward approach, and Side partners with boutique agencies, so both pride themselves on innovation. Being hit with a copyright lawsuit isn’t great optics for them. While neither company has made a public comment on the ongoing suit yet, you can bet their legal teams are paying attention.
From a legal standpoint, Stross is seeking financial damages for the alleged infringement. Copyright law allows a creator to claim not only lost licensing fees but also additional damages (sometimes up to $150,000 per willful infringement) to deter this kind of behavior. That means if the court finds Compass and Side liable, they could owe a significant sum – far more than it would have cost to just legitimately license the photos in the first place.
If you’re a photographer or any content creator, this story is a reminder to vigilantly protect your work. Stross had registered his images with the U.S. Copyright Office, which strengthens his case. It’s a good practice to formally register important photos or portfolios; it gives you more leverage if someone uses your work without asking. Also, keep an eye out for your images online – reverse image search tools can help you discover unauthorized uses. It’s unfortunately on you to police misuse, but cases like this show it’s worth the effort.
For the average person scrolling Zillow, this lawsuit won’t change their experience tomorrow. But it may gradually improve the ecosystem of how those beautiful home images get to your screen. Photographers deserve credit and fair pay, and when they get it, they’re able to produce more great imagery.
