How Do I create Copyrighted Photo?

[blackcat_gemini]

Hello, How do I create Copyrighted Photo that I'll upload in my Yahoo album? I also plan to put them on a Photo VCD using Nero Vision. Is it possible to disable right click function to copy?

Thanks!

[Bodyslide]

You can use different Photo software to create a watermark on the images. Do a search for creating a watermark. I know there is a way to disable the copy feature but I'm not sure how to do it.

[canadateck]

Bodyslide
Beat me to it..

[blackcat_gemini]

Thanks for the reply...I do know about putting watermark on pics but I prefer my friends to view pics as they are in my yahoo album but I don't want my pics printed or reproduced without my consent.

I've tried to copy & paste some pics on some site before (yes, shame on me!!!) but it showed :It's not nice to steal!! Or the right click simply did not work..I wonder what program is avail for this function.

[thecoalman]

Try digimarc for watermarking. To claim copyright you only have to have an original image and plainly state it's copyrighted. You can't hide the fact that it's copyrighted. Either stamp it plainly or have some text on the page. Look up copyright on Google, last time I looked the US Copyright page was first.

You can disable right click using a script but since you have no control over the page code that's not possible in your case. Besides the fact that is easily bypassed, you can simply take a screenshot, load the source image or even copy from the cache on your computer. It's impossible to stop someone who is determined.

[Redd]

©

[lordsmurf]

©

Darn, beat me to it.

[TheUnknownComic]

It's been a while since I read up on it, but it seems like "technically" you have a copyright as soon as you take the photo. The danger comes afterwards. If you distribute it widely without a notice, then you've essentially given up your copyright. As previously stated, put a statement on the webpage or even on the photo (which is safest, but probably not as pretty). As I recall, you don't HAVE to file a copyright with the Library of Congress, but it does help to prove your case later, if necessary.

As for the right-click thing, yes, there's a java script you can put in the body of your HTML (if you're coding your own, which I don't think you are). The other thing you'd want to do is add the tag in your header that disables Internet Explorer's little pop-up image bar that lets people save, print and e-mail photos straight from a website. Again, you have to do this in your HTML, which I think is going to be a problem if your using an online photo album.

Another trick when you're coding your own page is to break the image up into several pieces (like a checkerboard). That way there's no easy way to right-click and save it. Again, ya gotta be able to write your own HTML, though.

As stated previously, people can still get around any measure you take by simply hitting the Print-Screen key which copies the entire screen to the clipboard (and can then be pasted into a blank image in any graphics program).

[TheUnknownComic]

Here's a site with code to disable the right-click:

http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex9/noright.htm

The line to add in your header to disable Internet Explorer's image tool bar is:

<meta http-equiv="imagetoolbar" content="no">

[adam]

I think he meant to ask about copy protection rather than copyright. As already stated you gain a copyright the second you take the picture. Its a good idea to include the (c) logo and the date you claim your copyright, on your webpage but failing to do so has no effect on your copyright. That's just one less piece of evidence you have to establish a priority date in the event someone tries to steal your work and claim their own copyright in it.

[guns1inger]

The Cary Grant film Charade is in the public domain apparently because when the credits were added, they actually omitted a copyright statement.

[thecoalman]

The digimarc I mentioned above is pay for BTW, it's been a while since I've been there and now that I look I can't even find a price.... it wasn't much before. Anyhow another alternative if your intention is to sell the images is to create lower quality images, half an image, put your copyright right in the middle or watermark it yourself. The digimarc watermark from my understanding is invisible to the eye but you can create your own that isn't. Open in a imaging application and in sert the text and make it transparent. All these options of course ruin the image for the people who are looking at them.

Its a good idea to include the (c) logo and the date you claim your copyright, on your webpage but failing to do so has no effect on your copyright.

Adam, I know you know your stuff but I would think that if you failed to make people aware that it's copyrighted and they used it you would have no recourse. Let's say for example I have an image on my website with no copyright notification anywhere, couldn't someone assume that there isn't a copyright? Suppose they use this image and print 10,000 pieces using it? Couldn't they claim that they were not aware that it was copyrighted since there ws no notification? Or do they have a obligation to find out the copyright status?

[e404pnf]

Copyright is as quite unusual in that you don't need to apply for it, pay for it or inform anyone that you have it - ie it is an unregistered right. The (c) indicates to the world that you are likely to defend your copyright, but is not mandatory (in UK law anyway).

If copyright is infringed but the (c) isn't noted, the level of recourse is limited (probably just preventing further infringement). It may also be difficult to prove that you are the rightful owner of the copyright, and from what date.
However, if the item is marked as being copyright protected you could take stronger legal action if your copyright is violated and will find it much easier to prove you own the copyright.

Like most IP rights, copyrights have a limit lifespan. But for copyright this is 100 years so I should worry about this too much! (Although this can be extended by creating a new piece that uses the original, as is the case with Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children who own the copyright for Peter Pan, a gift from J. M. Barrie)

- e404pnf

[bugster]

I don't want my pics printed or reproduced without my consent.

Well, don't publish themn on a public website then

If Hollywood cannot succesfully copy protect their Cd's and DVD's, how do you expect to copy protect a still image on a public website

[e404pnf]

If Hollywood cannot succesfully copy protect their Cd's and DVD's, how do you expect to copy protect a still image on a public website

A good point well made

[adam]

All of my posts lately seem to go off topic with legalities...sorry.

I guess I should have been more specific. I was referring to US law. Here, the only way to lose your copyright is make an express public dedication, waive your rights of enforcement, or to let it lapse. Copyright subsists in all original works of art as soon as they become fixed in any tangible medium. Failure to give notice of that copyright when you publish the work, which is what you are doing when you post pictures on the internet, has no detrimental effect on your copyright. You just can't enforce that copyright until you give notice by filing with the US Copyright office. Ignorance of the law, or in this case the existence of a copyright, is no excuse. Yes there is a burden to attempt to find out if it is copyrighted, but the fact is that basically any work of art created in the last ~80 years or so is copyrighted unless the author has expressly put it in the public domain. But, the fact that there was no notice is evidence that you did not willfully infringe and this will limit the damages that can be sought against you.

However other countries use a publication system to create a copyright. You have no copyright until you publish the work with a copyright notice. Failure to do so could essentially deprive you of your copyright in that country only because someone could take it and publish it themselves with the copyright notice. But you'd still have your US copyright no matter what. Furthermore, many countries requires specific "magic words" to create your copyright. These magic words are "all rights reserved" or some equivalent.

So, whenever you publish anything online it is a good idea to put (c) and the year that you first published it. If you make any changes then you put a dash and that year, like (c) 2001-2004. You should also include the language, "all rights reserved." Finally, if you do federally register your works you should change that (c) to an (r).

guns1inger, Charade was filmed and published in 1963. Copyright law was different before 1976. It used to be more of a publication system where you had to put copyright notices on your works. Not anymore.

[garryheather]

Disabling the "right click" won't stop people hitting the Print Screen button and then pasting the clipboard into their favourite paint package, either. Or people viewing the HTML code for the location and filename of your image and downloading that on it's own. Then of course there are screen capture utilities and operating systems that don't have a right mouse button... sorry to sound so negative but as soon as you place something in the public domain it's pretty much open season. Most people end up enforcing copyright laws instead of protecting their material in the first place - assuming you can prove it's yours in the first place.

[pyscrow]

Bung a logo on your picture in a place that cant be cropped off without stuffing the picture. A reasonably skilled person will still be able to remove your logo fairly easily, but it will stop the amature crooks!

You other option is to share them as downloads in password protected compressed files linked off a small thumbnail - probably your safest option.

[blackcat_gemini]

Thanks! Guys and to theunknowncomic for the link, that is quite helpful!

I was more concerned about copy protection than copyrights, at least my friends won't be able to send my pics to some websites for singles without my consent!

[thecoalman]

I was more concerned about copy protection than copyrights,

Again, can't be done.