i’m having issues with my old highschool/the person who is running the yearbook now. they’re new at it and have no idea what they’re doing yet. we agreed that i would come back this year and take photos of events for the yearbook. i have not missed a single home game this year, and i have taken thousands of pictures. suddenly this person decides they don’t want my help and won’t be using my pictures in the book. this is very much out of left field for me.

knowing this person, there’s a large chance they’ll end up using my pictures anyway. are my images protected by copyright in any way? what can i do if my pictures end up being used in the yearbook?

  • dan_marchant@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Sorry but if you allow this to become a legal dispute you are silly. This is an unpaid (hobby) you are doing to support the school. Why would you suddenly turn it into a legal drama?

    1. Yes you own the copyright on your images but…
    2. You already granted them the right to use the images. It was part of the initial agreement under which they granted you access to shoot the various events.
    3. The right to use them doesn’t mean they must use them, it means they can. If they choose not to that is up to them.
    4. Choosing not to use them doesn’t cancel their right to use them. If they change their mind and decide to use them then it isn’t “using without permission”.

    This isn’t an international company using your images for profit without your permission. It is at most a minor tiff with someone who doesn’t know what they are doing yet.

    You got to shoot events you wouldn’t have and many people got to enjoy the images. More people may or may not get to enjoy them.in the year book but is that really worth making a fuss over and potentially souring the relationship? Be the bigger person.