Photography

Using Photographs, Legally

Bangladeshi websites and newspapers has a nasty tendency of stealing photographs and graphics from Internet. What these ignorant people doesn’t tend to realise that it’s a serious offense, and they could be penalised for copyright and intellectual property infringement.
Leading Bengali newspaper Prothom Alo published a creative work of mine without permission and without giving any credit. That work was released under full copyright, but they didn’t bother to care. Almost all photographers in Bangladesh has a similar experience to share, where their work has been used illegally by these thieves.
I no longer release my photographs under full copyright, but under a Creative Commons license which states that you’re legally entitled to use my photographs for both your commercial and non-commercial needs; you’re entitled to modify them anyway you want to to suit yourself; and distribute them anyway you like; provided that you put my name on the credit line. You don’t have to take my permission, nor you’ve to pay me, all I want is you is to give me proper attribution.
I’d like to present you guys with one site that has used two of my photographers for their banner and in return gave me the credit:

Thanks to the developers behind this site for respecting my license. I hope fellow Bangladeshi countrymen and media would start to realise that copyright infringement not a harmless act but is a crime. The sooner this happens, the better.

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3 Comments

  • yep,
    cc is a great help, i admit! and kudos! i don't think i would ever have the heart to let anyone use my photos commercially without knowing what they are using my photo for, even if they attribute me.
    what if it's for a product that i don't agree with? say, what if it is a product that spreads propaganda against my country or what i believe in?
    maybe i'm paranoid, but i just don't want to take the risk!

  • @ Netty Gritty: Creative Commons has a choice for you too. You can use the non-commercial non-derivative license, which is more stricter than the license that I use. You can get royalty for commercial use of your work, and at the same time help the non-profit entities.

    If you want to discuss more about it, then please feel free to open a thread on http://forum.linux.org.bd/v… and throw in your questions.