Picture used without permission - advice

mehfesto2

Okay, so Ive had a picture used before, but after a chat with the people involved, all was cleared up nicely and I felt there was no need to go any further.

However, I have just discovered one of my copyrighted photographs has been used in a lobby booklet by a pretty well-known union. It would appear that this is available in forms other than .pdfs, but regardless, one of my pictures was used without permission and it is not credited. The people involved are very easily contactable, but is there a road to go down before I start lashing out invoices?

I'd rather not mention names, etc., but I'd gladly accept advice on what to do, how to do an invoice if needs be and my other options. Anyone have this problem before?

Cheers.

Captain Flaps

Rather than immediately slapp them with an invoice, I'd calmly email them explaining that you are the original photographer, and asking where they obtained your image. It's quite possible that a stock photo site skimmed your image from somewhere, and the union bought it believing it to be legit. I've seen it happen before.

However, it's far more likely that the leaflet was put together by someone at the Union who had no idea about image copyright and didn't see any problem with taking your photo. At the very least you need to make them aware of the situation. It's up to you to gauge whether they knew they were breaching copyright, if not are they repentant, did they make any money off this leaflet, what kind of organisation they are etc.

Technically, regardless of the situation, you're entitled to be compensated if they've breached your copyright, but being civil about the situation will get you a lot further than emailing them an invoice.

FX Meister

Unions thinking it's ok to use someone elses work without paying them. Pretty ironic.