Query Re :Press using my photograph

colmranger

Folks,

Apologies as i think this was covered before but cannot find it.

A photograph i took of a person i know well (family member) was used by our local paper to cover a story. I was asked for a photo and i duely obliged and emailed it.

A day later the same photograph and story appeared on the Daily Star.

I was never approached by the Star for the photograph and just curious have i any rights or is this common practise by the press to grab proples photographs without even saying thanks?

Paulw

Send them an invoice for the photo.

Were you paid for the first image? Did you specify terms of use? Is your local paper part of the same publication group?

colmranger

I was never paid for the photograph and i doubt very much that the local paper is owned by the Star.

I just was happy to donate it to the local paper only.

shepthedog

Breach of your copyright, send in a hefty invoice..

Dodgykeeper

Email: pictures@thestar.ie

mark it FAO Brian Dowling

Paulw

This is the problem when you give stuff for free, even just to local papers. People then assume everything you have is free.

Send them an invoice, and learn a lesson.

Mellor

bill the star, they are used to it, its very common

Eirebear

Chances are the Journo for the local paper has then sold the story onto The Star, its a fairly common occurance.

I was featured personally in a story a couple of years back, which the journalist sold on (giving me a cut of the money as i worked for the paper at the time) to The Star...which then led to Newstalk interviewing me on one of their shows...which then led to a scottish paper trying to pick up the sotry.

It was scary!

IrishHomer

Dodgykeeper wrote: »

Email: pictures@thestar.ie

mark it FAO Brian Dowling

Update: I emailed that guy last Monday leaving all my contact details and no response yet.

Paulw

Send them an invoice (registered post) for a nice amount. I'm sure you'll get a response then.

Anouilh

There is a nominal fee to join the freelance branch of the NUJ. All the information is quickly available from a web search. The practice of using amateur photos, without any consideration for ethics, is increasing everywhere, as it cuts costs. Newspapers are under increasing pressure as they compete with the more accessible Internet media.

I had an interesting situation once where an editor actually took a piece of copy out of another editor's desk and had it printed up. The hilarious part was that it had already been published the previous week.

It's a funny business.

decsramble

This is not the first time the Star has gotten mentioned in this context over the last few weeks. A year or two ago it was the free newspapers that I was reading about doing this type of thing. The problem seems to be spreading, newspapers must be making a killing using "free" amature photos even taking into account the few times they get caught.

OnLooker

Anouilh wrote: »

I had an interesting situation once where an editor actually took a piece of copy out of another editor's desk and had it printed up. The hilarious part was that it had already been published the previous week.

It's a funny business.

That happened me last week as well. :D

jlang

I had my Poolbeg picture printed without permission in the Sunday Business Post a few weeks back - I got on to the photo editor and he agreed they shouldn't have - and that I should send in an invoice for an agreed amount. Cheque came through this week so I'm pleased enough.